I need to be honest …
This should be light work for Claressa Shields and maybe that's the problem.
Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) is too good for her own good. She's running out of challengers, and was even before moving toward this heavyweight conquest.
Lani Daniels (11-2-2, 1 KO) is respectfully overmatched. But hey, it's boxing. Who knows?
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Odds
| Shields Odds | -2000 |
| Daniels Odds | +1000 |
| Over/Under | N/A |
| Location | Detroit |
| Bout Time | Approx. 10 p.m. ET |
| How To Watch | DAZN |
Odds via DraftKings as of Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Shields was last in the ring this past February, beating Danielle Perkins — who was outclassed, but a more legitimate challenge at heavyweight — via unanimous decision.
Shields won the bout with emphasis, scoring a knockdown in Round 10 before securing the victory in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Perkins was 5-0 with two knockouts against little-known competition.
Daniels is much more experienced, but the Kiwi is currently the IBF Light Heavyweight Champion of the world and moving up to face Shields for her Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.
Daniels' two losses came against Geovana Peres early in her career, a split decision in March of 2018, and a unanimous decision the following year when fighting for a vacant WBO Light Heavyweight Title.
The New Zealand native hasn't exactly beaten a who's who at light heavyweight, just whoever is in that division, which is among the weakest in all of boxing.
However, heavyweight might be worse.
Shields has a 5-foot-8 frame with a 68-inch reach, and advantages in both instances. Beyond that, she's bigger, stronger, faster, sharper defensively more advanced technically, so on and so forth.
Shields vs Daniels Pick
- Shields by KO/TKO (+190) on DraftKings
Shields vs Daniels Prediction
A loss for Shields would be the biggest upset in the history of women's boxing, and up there with Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas in terms of biggest upsets in the history of the sport.
Shields carries more power at heavyweight and has one stoppage and a decision across two fights. I think Shields can get the stoppage at +190 on DraftKings. It's not a big money play for me, but there's too big of a talent gap here for me to confidently project that Daniels goes for all 20 minutes.
