Shields to Fend Off Unfavored Lepage-Joanisse

Claressa Shields holds all five middleweight titles and now seeks three heavyweight titles. The dominant American, who is the -3000 favorite per the Lepage-Joanisse vs Shields odds, is expected to roll through another opponent and improve to 15-0.

Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse is 7-1 and a natural heavyweight, but despite Shields rising in weight class, she is the overwhelming underdog. Shields is widely expected to add more belts to her already mind-boggling tally.

The latest boxing news is that Shields has made the rise in weight well, so she is ready to win another big fight. For the best odds, check out BetMGM.

Can the Heavyweight Champion Retain?

Lepage-Joanisse is the heavyweight champion, but she’s the +1000 underdog with Lepage-Joanisse vs Shields odds. There is a good reason for this and it’s mostly because Shields is that good. However, we won’t discount the chances of Lepage-Joanisse, who has earned the right to be champion.

Having a 7-1 record and being a champion doesn’t advocate for the division’s depth, which is why Shields is expected to win.

Lepage-Joanisse is a 29-year-old from Canada, who won the WBC vacant title when beating Abril Argentina Vidal in March. This was a split-decision victory, so it wasn’t overly convincing, and that’s why boxing odds have her at +1000 to beat Shields.

We can’t see much money coming for Lepage-Joanisse throughout the week. She’s already the big betting underdog, but her odds could drift throughout the week.

Our major concern is her loss to Alejandra Jimenez when fighting for the WBC heavyweight title in 2017. She lost by TKO in the third round, and her opponents since have been moderate at best.

She defeated fighters with records of 2-1-1, 1-3-1, 3-1, and 10-1, so the heavyweight division is seemingly hanging by a thread.

Shields Wants to Dominate Boxing

Shields is already a three-division boxing champion and has a great chance to create history this Sunday. Her boxing schedule in 2024 has yet to start, so this is her first fight of the year, but that shouldn’t count against her.

She defeated Maricela Cornejo in June last year to defend her five middleweight titles. It has been over a year since she fought, but as the -3000 odds suggest, it won’t matter.

There is a real lack of depth in the heavyweight ranks, and for a non-heavyweight to be a -3000 favorite with Lepage-Joanisse vs Shields odds is telling.

“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become world champion in my fourth weight division,” Shields said. “It’s an exciting time for women’s sports, and I thank DAZN for providing a global platform for women’s boxing. I plan to do what I do best: bring that GWOAT energy and continue putting women’s boxing on the map.”

There is every chance of Shields dominating this fight, but will it go the distance? Shields, despite being the dominant force in women’s boxing, doesn’t have knockout power.

She has only two wins by knockout from 14 fights, so it’s likely to go the distance. She hasn’t won via knockout since 2017, when she fought a 4-1-1 Sydney LeBlanc.

An Easy Parlay Inclusion

There isn’t an easier parlay inclusion this week than Shields at -3000.

It’s a short quote for the favorite, but bettors get better odds for Shields to win by decision, so that’s also an excellent parlay wager.

Lepage-Joanisse vs Shields odds could have had Shields at -5000 to win, which would have been a respectable price for arguably the best women’s fighter of all time.

The jury is out for the women’s heavyweight division. There is very little depth in the ranks. Shields should have no problem winning the fight on the judges’ scorecards.

Even a lack of recent ring time for Shields isn’t enough to stop her winning. She was only ever pushed by Savannah Marshall in 2022, otherwise, she wins most fights without barely losing a round.

We expect Shields to win the fight without losing a round. It could be that dominant of a performance. Our only worry is that the team of Lepage-Joanisse throw in the towel, but given that it’s a title fight, we’re hoping that doesn’t happen.

For more sports odds, news, and betting analysis, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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