The co-main event for the upcoming Claressa Shields vs. Hanna Gabriels rematch is set, as unbeaten super welterweight Ardreal Holmes battles Wendy Toussaint in June.
Claressa Shields-Hanna Gabriels 2 Receives Co-Main Event
The co-main event for the upcoming Claressa Shields vs. Hanna Gabriels rematch will feature another Flint, Michigan native.
Unbeaten super welterweight Ardreal Holmes will take on Wendy Toussaint on June 3 for the USBA super welterweight title.
The event takes place from Detroit and Little Caesars Arena, streaming live on DAZN. Shields and Gabriels square off for a second time in the main event.
Holmes Jr. (13-0, 5 KOs), known in the ring as “Bossman,” is a 6-foot-2 southpaw and 2016 U.S. Olympic alternate coming off a pair of impressive professional victories. In March of last year, he scored a nationally televised unanimous decision over Chicago’s once-beaten Vernon Brown (then 13-1) and followed it up with a nationally televised split-decision over then undefeated New Yorker Ismael Villarreal (then 12-0) in February of this year.
“It means the world to me to be fighting in front of my fans in Michigan,” Holmes said. “I want to put on a great performance in this fight and open the doors toward contending for a world title in the near future. Flint watched me and Claressa train together for years, so it’ll be a treat for them to see us in action and in person on a night that’s going to be one to remember.”
Originally from Haiti, Huntington, New York’s Toussaint (14-1, 6 KOs), known in the ring as “Haitian Fire,” stands just over 5-10. The 31-year-old has served as one of the main sparring partners for former WBO world light heavyweight champion, Joe Smith Jr. and was last seen scoring a near-shutout unanimous decision over then 15-4-1 Asinia Byfield in June of last year.
“I’m really excited for this fight,” Toussaint said. “Winning this fight is going to propel me where I want to go, which is the top of the sport. I’m really happy with my team and promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing for putting me in this position.”
Joseph Hicks-Antonio Todd For Title Also Set
The 29-year-old Hicks (6-0, 5 KOs) started boxing at 19 and became a standout amateur before entering the pro ranks. He was set to captain the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 games before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the proceedings.
Todd (14-7, 8 KOs) already owns a stunning victory in Michigan and will be looking for a second. Last January, he bested Hugo Centeno, Jr., who was ranked at the time, in Dearborn.
