Daniels meets the reigning queen in Detroit on July 29 in a bid to make New Zealand history as the first ever fighter to unify the world heavyweight belts. Photo: Photosport
If the belt was decided by a war of words, Claressa Shields would barely break a sweat against Lani Daniels.
The Kiwi appeared visibly intimidated when trading barbs with the larger than life American, alas it will be fists which determine the true baddest woman on the planet.
Daniels meets the reigning queen in Detroit on 29 July in a bid to make New Zealand history as the first ever fighter to unify the world heavyweight belts.
But standing in her way is the phenom of the women's boxing world, and Shields was quick to remind Daniels of the monumental task awaiting her when they met at today's press conference.
After thanking her ancestors, Daniels shared her gratitude for the opportunity.
"One thing my coach has taught me is to respect boxing and it will respect you. So I am planning to come here and win and I've been preparing and I am preparing the best that I can to give a mean fight. And I know it's going to an entertaining one and the only way I'm going home is on a stretcher."
But Shields wasn't in a cordial mood, and was vicious with her retort.
"I promise you - you said stretcher? You will be going out on one!" she said.
"Lani, if you come out there and try to stand there in front of me and brawl with me...come get inside the ring and prove your point, there is no woman in the world that can beat me in a fight, I'mma lay your ass out, and then your coach will have to pick you up, I'm not playing around."
Daniels and Shields will fight for the undisputed, unified heavyweight championship, an accolade no Kiwi has achieved in any division.
After initially predicting a round seven finish, Shields altered this after hearing Daniels' coach John Conway say they plan to brawl.
"I was giving Lani round seven, but from what her coach got there and said today, that done piss me clean off, saying that she gonna stand there and fight me...second or third. I'm gonna make Lani quit. I'm gonna make her throw in the towel."
Daniels though, offered her own opinion on when the bout will end.
"If we are talking numbers, I think I stop her in round nine."
Asked what she has to do in order to finish the champ in the ninth...
"I have to make it there."
Shields vs Daniels
Undisputed world heavyweight title
July 29 Detroit
