Shields hints at potential Jonas and Harper showdowns on Twitter

Featured image: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.

Three-division champion Claressa Shields has hinted at potential fights against super-welterweight champions Natasha Jonas and Terri Harper on Twitter.

Jonas and Harper hold all four sanctioning body belts between them at 154lbs and the American has teased a potential move down from middleweight in her next bout.

“I think I want my next fight at 154!”, tweeted the two-time Olympic gold medalist on Saturday evening.

Shields has already won titles at super-welterweight, becoming undisputed champion against Canada’s Marie Eve Dicaire in March 2021.

I think I want my next fight at 154!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) July 29, 2023

Shields hinted at a move down to super-welterweight on social media.

Potential fights against Jonas and Harper

Jonas finally became world champion with a second-round blowout of Christian Namus for the vacant WBO title in February last year after moving up from lightweight.

The Liverpudlian later added the WBC and IBF titles with wins over Patricia Berghult and the aforementioned Dicaire before being linked with a potential showdown with Shields.

A fight between the pair failed to materialise however and Jonas has since moved down to welterweight to become IBF champion following a dominant showing against Kandi Wyatt at the start of the month.

Jonas remains open to a potential fight against the American however and told Sky Sports‘ Toe2Toe Podcast how she would go about beating Shields two weeks ago.

“Yeah, she [Shields] has fought them all but she’s also had it her own way”, Jonas said.

“What happens when she does get frustrated? What happens when someone hits back? What happens when someone’s not there to be hit?”

“I just think she’s done a whole lot but she’s had a lot of it her own way. She gets so emotionally involved that sometimes I think that could be her undoing.”

Jonas became a two-division champion following her victory against Wyatt. Photo by Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.

Harper meanwhile also stepped up from lightweight to defeat WBA super-welterweight champion and close friend of Shields Hannah Rankin in September last year.

Past history between the Doncaster fighter and Team Jonas has prevented an undisputed fight developing between the pair following their controversial split-decision draw for Harper’s WBC title at super-featherweight three years ago.

The 26 year old was set to face former welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekhus in May before the Norwegian withdrew through illness on the day of the fight.

Harper defended her title against Ivana Habazin the following week and remains an option for Shields should she look to claim her old titles at 154lbs again.

Harper claimed the WBA crown against Rankin in September last year. *Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.*

What next for Shields?

Shields most recently defended her undisputed middleweight titles against Maricela Cornejo in her hometown Detroit last month.

The American reclaimed her middleweight belts with a dominant victory over old rival Savannah Marshall in October last year.

Shields made the trip over to Manchester at the start of this month to witness Marshall’s return against Franchon Crews-Dezurn which saw the Brit claim all four major titles at super-middleweight.

Attention turned to a potential rematch with Shields post-fight, with the latter insisting she would face Marshall again at 168lbs providing the fight took place on American shores.

Shields’ latest tweet however suggests a move down to super-welterweight could be next.