Claressa Shields recently weighed in on the controversy between boxing and MMA. The former professional boxer-turned-cage fighter recently revealed which sport is the most difficult according to her.
“In a way, boxing is hard, yes. I’ve been doing it for 15 years. One loss my entire life. But it’s like, MMA training is so much harder because it’s so many different arts. So many different ways to do one thing,” Shields said in an interview with TheMacLife.
Shields believes cage fighting is more difficult than straight boxing because MMA requires mastery of many disciplines.
She said, “…In boxing, you train for a year and anybody can get in there. Like you’re not gonna win but at least you can put up a decent fight. You know, bills and toughness, but in MMA, you gotta learn all these stuff.”
Where is Claressa Shields training?
Shields has been practising with UFC legend Jon Jones at the Jackson-Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in preparation for her MMA debut.
Shields, a former boxer who is new to MMA, acknowledged that she is concerned about the hazards associated with MMA that she did not have to consider in the ring.
Shields said, “I’ve been having anxiety about being choked, about being slammed, about being on the ground and not being able to get back up.”
However, Shields announced that her latest teammate, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has been giving her some sound advice.
“[Jon Jones] was like, ‘Hmm. Alright. Get on your back’. And I was like, ‘What?’…‘Get on your back’. And that’s when we started the jiu-jitsu training. And he was just like this is how you do it. And I’ve learned that the more that I put myself in those scary positions, the more comfortable I am,” Shields state.
When will Shields make her MMA debut?
Shields will begin her career as a mixed martial artist on June 10 after a dominant run in boxing. She will make her pro-MMA debut against Brittney Elkin under PFL.
The 26-year-old, however, will not play in the PFL’s regular season. Her bout against Elkin will be a featured in the women’s lightweight division.
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