CLARESSA SHIELDS, the two-time Olympic gold medallist, is going pro.
The American middleweight, who is signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, is set to make her debut in Las Vegas next month.
Shields, 21, has been confirmed for the undercard of Andre Ward’s title showdown against world light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev on 19 November.
Her opponent has not been confirmed but the fight will take place over four two-minute rounds.
“I am thrilled to take the next big step in my career, fighting professionally and leading the rise of women’s boxing worldwide,” she said.
Shields’ decision comes at the same time as reports linking Ireland’s Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor with an imminent pro move.
— An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Shields as the only two-time Olympic gold medallist in women’s boxing. Nicola Adams also won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016.
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