Claressa Shields will "make more history on March 10 when she becomes the first female professional boxer to headline a show on a premium network," as Showtime has signed her up for a bout against Szilvia Szabados, according to Bob Velin of USA TODAY. Showtime Sports announcer Steve Farhood said that women’s boxing in the U.S. has its "best chance of a revival because of the emergence of Shields." Farhood: "Being the only U.S. boxer to win two gold medals, Claressa has instant credibility and star appeal and those two things are going to lead to wide exposure" (USATODAY.com, 2/7). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole noted the bout will be "six, two-minute rounds," and is "yet another milestone for Shields, whose goal long has been to erase any negative perception that exists about women in boxing." Shields: "This is a big opportunity to be on TV and give the fans the chance to see us and cling to us and like the way we fight. This is big.” The Shields-Szabados fight will be the "second televised women’s bout on Showtime this year." Amanda Serrano last month "successfully defended her WBO super bantamweight title against Yazmin Rivas" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/7).
