Claressa Shields vs Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse Prediction, Odds & How to Watch (Saturday, July 27)

Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Professional boxer Claressa Shields arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

• Claressa Shields vs Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse takes place on Saturday, July 27th
• Claressa Shields is the heavy -4000 betting favorite, while Lepage is the +1600 underdog
• Check out the full preview, analysis, and prediction for this women’s heavyweight title fight

On Saturday night in Detroit, Michigan, we’re set for a huge clash in the women’s heavyweight division as undisputed middleweight champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields takes on WBC heavyweight titleholder Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

Shields enters as a massive -4000 betting favorite, while the underdog Lepage-Joanisse is listed at +1600 on the moneyline.

Here is our Shields vs Lepage prediction, along with betting odds and tale of the tape breakdown.

Shields vs Lepage Odds

In the Shields vs Lepage, ‘GWOAT’ is the massive -425 favorite, giving her 93.6% implied win probability.

Odds as of July 25, at DraftKings Sportsbook.

This intriguing matchup will go down at the Little Caesars Arena on July 27th, and you can catch all the action live on DAZN.

Shields is looking to become a four-division world champion by adding the WBC heavyweight strap and the vacant WBO light heavyweight title to her already impressive collection.

Claressa Shields Betting Analysis

There’s a good reason why Claressa Shields is such a heavy favorite here – she’s simply one of the most dominant and accomplished female boxers of all time. The 29-year-old American owns an unblemished 14-0 professional record, with two knockouts to her name.

Shields has won undisputed titles at middleweight and junior middleweight, and she’s also a unified super middleweight champion. Her boxing skills are truly elite, as she possesses a stinging jab, outstanding footwork, and superb ring generalship.

Shields is also an excellent counterpuncher, and she has the ability to control the pace and distance of her fights.

In her most recent outing back in June 2023, Shields defended her undisputed middleweight titles with a unanimous decision win over Maricela Cornejo. That fight marked her first action in over a year, but there’s no reason to believe Shields’ skills have diminished at all during that time on the sidelines.

Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse Betting Analysis

While Claressa Shields is the clear favorite, Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly. The 29-year-old Canadian is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, having won the title with a split-decision victory over Abril Argentina Vidal back in March.

Lepage-Joanisse owns a 7-1 professional record, with two knockouts. Her lone defeat came way back in 2017 when she was stopped in the third round by Alejandra Jimenez.

Since then, Lepage-Joanisse has won four straight fights, showcasing her physical strength, relentless pressure, and heavy-handed power.

While Lepage may be a step below Shields in terms of overall skill, she could present some real problems if she’s able to make this an ugly, close-quarters fight. Her willingness to march forward and let her hands go could disrupt Shields’ rhythm and comfort level.

If Lepage-Joanisse can land some of her heavy shots, she may even have a puncher’s chance of pulling off the massive upset in the Saturday boxing odds.

Tale of the Tape

Shields vs Lepage Prediction

As good as Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse is, it’s hard to bet against the all-around brilliance of Claressa Shields. The American superstar has proven time and time again that she’s on another level compared to her peers, and I expect that to be the case again on fight night.

Shields’ superior boxing skills, footwork, and ring IQ should allow her to control the pace and distance of this fight. I envision her using her stiff jab to keep Lepage-Joanisse at bay, and then mixing in accurate combinations to outbox the Canadian champion over the course of the 10-round affair.

Claressa Shields announced Tuesday she is moving up two weight classes to challenge women’s WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on July 27 in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/fJHJJboNdB

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 4, 2024

While Lepage-Joanisse’s power could make things interesting if she’s able to land flush, I just don’t see her being able to consistently solve the puzzle that is Claressa Shields. My prediction is ‘GWOAT’ to win this fight by unanimous decision, likely by scores of 98-92 or 97-93.

The best bet for this matchup is Claressa Shields to win by decision at -250. There’s certainly no value in backing the American on the moneyline, so it’s all about finding the right prop bet to maximize your return on Shields’ victory.

• Pick: Claressa Shields by Decision or Technical Decision (-260)

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