Getty
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Claressa Maria Shields of the United States celebrates victory over Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands in the Women’s Middle (69-75kg) Final Bout on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro – Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Getty
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Claressa Maria Shields of the United States celebrates victory over Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands in the Women’s Middle (69-75kg) Final Bout on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro – Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Claressa Shields has paid a touching tribute to late NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and Hollywood actor, Chadwick Boseman ahead of her fight. The American pugilist wore special fight trunks in honor of them.
Getty
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 04: WBA, WBC and IBF Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields poses for the media before her workout at 5th Street Gym on April 4, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Shields is training to fight WBO Middleweight World Champion Christina Hammer for the undisputed middleweight world championship April 13. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Watch What’s Trending Now!
The American champion is taking on the Canadian, Marie-Eve Dicaire, to become the only boxer to become a two-division undisputed champion. And for the historic fight, Shields has paid her respects to the influential figures.
‘The GWOAT’ took to Instagram to break the news. She posted a picture of the gold and purple trunks she is wearing for this historic fight to honor Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020. It is a fitting tribute for the three personalities.
The event is an all-women’s card with Shields vs. Dicaire as the main event. Thus, given the outspoken nature of all three personalities, it is a touching tribute to all of them. Moreover, all three personalities stood for the same principles that Shields has advocated for.
READ: Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire: Fight Analysis and Prediction
Can Claressa Shields match Kobe Bryant’s influence in basketball?
Bryant was arguably the greatest basketball player the world has ever seen. Besides his skill, it was the legend’s work-rate and desire that made him an influential figure in the sport. The Los Angeles Lakers legend set the bar high, and thus everyone looked up to him. So can Shields do the same with boxing?
The ‘GWOAT’ is definitely trying her level best to be as influential as she can in the sport. She has advocated women’s boxing on multiple occasions and showed her desire to create a better atmosphere in the sport for younger girls who are getting into boxing.
Therefore, if Shields can be an influence on the sport like Bryant, it will be the greatest tribute she could pay to the basketball icon. And the first step in doing so will hinge on her ability to outbox Marie-Eve Dicaire to claim a huge win.
What do you make of the post from Claressa Shields? Do you think the ‘GWOAT’ can match Kobe Bryant’s influence in basketball?
READ: Claressa Shields or Amanda Nunes: Who Is the Real GWOAT?
