Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse: Tale of the Tape

We analyze the credentials and statistics of Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse as the pair get set for a showdown in Detroit, Michigan on July 27.

This fight will be for Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC Heavyweight title, as well as the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title.

Continue reading for a complete fighter bio for both Shields and Lepage-Joanisse.

Fighter Bio	Claressa Shields	Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
Odds:	-2200	+1000
Age:	29	29
Nickname:	T-Rex GWOAT	Rampage
Height:	5 ft 8 in	5 ft 6 in
Reach:	68 in	N/A
Weight:	Light Middleweight Middleweight Super Middleweight Heavyweight (Moving up for this fight)	Heavyweight
Trainer:	Jason Crutchfield	Stéphane Joanisse
Record:	14-0	7-1
Last Fight:	Win against Marcela Cornejo by Unanimous Decision (June 3rd, 2023)	Win against Abril Argentina Vidal by Split Decision (March 7th, 2024)

Read Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse: Fight date, ring walk time, how to watch, undercard & odds

Claressa Shields record

Saturday’s fight will be a homecoming of sorts as Shields was born in Flint, Michigan on March 17th, 1995.

Shields became a professional boxer in November 2016, but long before that, she had an impressive amateur career. This includes winning a Gold Medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Gold Medals in the 2014 Jeju and 2016 Astana World Championships, and most importantly, a Gold Medal in the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics.

Following her Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics, she won her professional debut in November of 2016. This immediately led to a title fight in March of 2017 where Shields won the vacant NABF female Middleweight title. Her other title wins include the following:

• Vacant WBC Silver female Super Middleweight title in June of 2017

• The WBC and IBF female Super Middleweight titles in August of 2017

• WBAN Lineal Super Middleweight title in January of 2018

• Vacant WBC Middleweight title in November of 2018

• WBO and The Ring female Middleweight titles in April of 2019

• Vacant WBC and WBO female Light Middleweight titles in January of 2020

• IBF, Vacant WBA Super, and The Ring female Light Middleweight titles in March of 2021

With this impressive resume, Shields is a three-division champion and will be moving up two divisions on Saturday to try and claim the WBC Heavyweight title currently held by Lepage-Joanisse, as well as the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight title.

Over the course of her career, Shields has won a total of two fights by knockout and 12 fights by decision with no losses, giving her a professional record of 14-0.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Defensive abilities	Can be overaggressive
Good boxing IQ	Could throw more combinations
Boxing technique	Could slow down her punches

Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse record

Lepage-Joanisse was born in Saint André Avellin, Quebec, Canada on July 20th, 1995 and is 29 years old. She began her professional boxing career in March of 2016 where she beat Annie Mazerolle by split decision. After wins in May of 2016 and December of 2016, Lepage-Joanisse received her first title fight in August of 2017. This fight was against Alejandra Jimenez for the WBC female heavyweight division, a fight Lepage-Joanisse lost by technical knockout.

Following her first career loss, Lepage-Joanisse decided to take an extended break from professional boxing. This lasted more than six years with Lepage-Joanisse finally returning to the ring in March of 2023.

In her return, she beat Princess Hairston by unanimous decision, followed by Valeria Segovia Alonzo when she was forced to retire from the fight in May of 2023, and Timea Nagy by unanimous decision in September of 2023.

This win streak led to Lepage-Joanisse receiving another title fight in March of 2024 for the vacant WBC female Heavyweight title. This time around, Lepage-Joanisse was able to secure a win by split decision against Abril Argentina Vidal, marking her first ever title win.

In her boxing career, Lepage-Joanisse has won a total of two fights by knockout and five by decision. Further, the only loss in her career came by knockout.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Aggressive style	Knockouts
Physical prowess	Footwork
Throws good combinations	Limited number of fights

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.