3 Keys To Watch For June 22 In The Shields-Gabriels Middleweight Final Four

Michigan already witnessed one Final Four this year, June 22 in Detroit Shields-Gabriels headlines an all-women’s version on Showtime

Time is winding down to the exciting June 22 Showtime Boxing: Special Edition event featuring two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and current unified Super Middleweight champion Claressa Shields versus unified Super Welterweight champion Hanna Gabriels. Up for grabs, the vacant IBF and WBA Middleweight world championships.

Also on Showtime, unified Middleweight champion Christina Hammer defends her WBC and WBO titles in U.S. debut against former world champion Tori Nelson.

If Shields defeats Gabriels and captures the world titles to conquer her second weight division, and Hammer successfully defends her crowns against Nelson the winners would conceivably move into a de facto finals bracket. Throughout the rapid rise of Shields (5-0, 2 KOs) to world champion status, Hammer (22-0, 10 KOs) observed the Flint native’s handy work ringside. The German even entered the ring to critique Shields’ championship-winning performances, and even explained to viewers that Shields was no match for her skill.

A Shields-Hammer showdown is the big picture, but let’s back up and zoom in on some important details to look for next Friday night during Salita Promotions event also being referred to as “It’s Our Time To Shine.”

New Division, New Head Trainer

Shields heads eight pounds south for this clash – her first at 160-pounds. Yes, Gabriels is heading six pounds up in weight, but is this move one of relief to the 35-year old Costa Rican? Was she afforded a chance to not focus on cutting weight, and to devote more time and energy to sharpening up for a far less experienced fighter? Or, is Shields moving down to where she should be, and her power – which has been questioned – emerges as a real difference maker.

In addition to Shields’ new look physically, her team has undergone a drastic change. Shields’ longtime coach, Jason Crutchfield, declined the former Olympian’s request for him to join her in Florida to conduct training camp. In steps world champion trainer John David Jackson.

In a recent interview on Seconds Out Shields revealed the reasons for the change, and expressed feelings of disappointment in Crutchfield’s inflexibility. Part of the request was due to her belief that the scenery down south benefited her overall psyche. Another important comments leads into a second detail.

Will Doing Less Really Result In More? 

In putting away former Super Middleweight champion Nikki Adler, as well as Sydney LeBlanc and Szilvia Szabados, Shields repeatedly hit both women with her full arsenal of punches and combinations. Both Adler and Szabados ended with technical knockouts, as neither woman could respond offensively. Some critics, and fans too, are still looking for a knockout from Shields – a young, confident fight who publicly vows to walk away as the Greatest Woman Of All Time.

During the 13-plus minute clip with Seconds Out Shields mentioned that Jackson’s tutelage has resulted in her considering shortening up on some combinations. The new approach may look like 2-3 shots, and moving to catch her opponent with another 2-3 shots from a new angle. In addition to power, the shots that fighters neither see nor expect often result in knockouts.

Gabriels has been down before. Her February 2012 WBO Super Welterweight title defense against Oxandia Castillo was stopped in the second round. Castillo also put Gabriels down in the second round of their rematch in October 2017. Gabriels recovered and went on win the 10-rounder by decision.

Gabriels has faced adversity and survived, but with a large Flint constituency expected to be in Detroit’s Masonic Temple along with Showtime’s cameras, Shields will have a lot of incentive to test Gabriels chin in the right moment.

The right moment. This brings up the third and final detail.

Gabriels Travels Well 

No, Gabriels’ fights have all been fought in Central and South America, and June 22 will be her first time fighting in the U.S. But, unlike LeBlanc and Szabados, or Germany’s Adler; Gabriels fights in a rhythm. She moves, changes directions and utilizes the entire ring. She’s also six years younger than Nelson, and she is noticeably more fit than the 41-year Virginian we last saw as Shields’ last opponent.

Gabriels’ mobility and rhythm will cause Shields to make some adjustments we haven’t seen yet. Almost equally as important, once Gabriels begins to engage we should get to see how Shields reacts when she’s moving for a reason besides just getting a breather after her own combinations.

As a bonus, Hammer is known to utilize her length and move around outside a lot. So, if Gabriels fights from different ranges, we could get some idea of how Shields would look against Hammer’s movement.

Gabriels does have nearly a dozen knockouts in her 18 wins, but Franchon Crews-Dezurn has given us somewhat of idea on the sturdiness of Shields chin – but that was only a 4-rounder.

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Again, It’s Our Time To Shine very well could include the names of Shields and Hammer parenthetically, as both Salita and Showtime look for their investment in women’s boxing to culminate in an undeniable marquee matchup. But Gabriels and Nelson will both have their chance to have their say – the story lines are worth the watch.

In addition to the women’s final four bouts, the televised portion of the Showtime card also features Russia’s Umar Salamov (20-1, 15 KOs) will face Georgia’s Brian Howard (13-1, 10 KOs) for the IBF North American Light Heavyweight Championship.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the Masonic Temple Box Office at (313) 832-7100. VIP tickets are priced at $300, ringside tickets at $125, and remaining tickets at $75, $50 and $35.

Header photo by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime