Hanna Gabriels on Claressa Shields: "I know I will win!"

By G. Leon

07/05/2018

Hanna Gabriels on Claressa Shields: "I know I will win!"

GL: How is everything going in preparation for your June 22nd bout with Claressa Shields? The preparation is doing well I have an amazing trainer, my husband Bryan Vasquez one of the best 130 lbs in the world, and one of the most talented and intelligent boxers I ever known, we do think we will be able to bring a lot to the table,so come June 22nd, I'm excited and looking forward for everyone to see the results of all we have worked on.

GL: What do you think about Claressa as a fighter?

Hanna Gabriels: The same opinion I have for every female boxer that has overcome obstacles and stereotypes to be a well and worldwide respected fighter. I'm just glad we're sharing the same timeline so we can represent our gender and people can keep on recognizing that women are great at this sport also."

GL: What do you consider your biggest advantage coming into this fight?

HG: "We all have advantages and disadvantages, I think that as long as you're in this sport as an active fighter, you have to continue seeking for excellence and a better version of yourself, If we do have advantages, we are about to show them soon."

GL: What weaknesses do you see in Shields that you feel you can exploit?

HG: "My team and I dont like to focus on her weaknesses, we believe she will keep on improving each fight, so what I saw as a weakness in her last fight might not be for this one ,maybe she worked hard on that and gotten better, so we focus on her strengths and we work based off of that. "

GL: What a victory over Shields mean to you? In your opinion, would it make you the best woman fighter in the world?

HG: "Only time will tell, I can tell you this, I definitely wouldn't think I'm the greatest woman of all time, first, because it takes more than being a great fighter or athlete to fulfill that very complex concept, 2nd, because Clarissa is far from being the GWOAT in the sport, there's many names that can dispute her statement.
I'm still learning and until the day I retire I will then see how far I got in the sport of boxing and history it self, I know I'm an elite fighter but it is too cocky to be calling yourself that so early, I know and can assure it will be a great night, I will finally get the exposure, people will see me, coming from a very small country were being an athlete is not a privilege, and resources are limited, it will be great to prove that we all have the capacity to achieve, and go far!"

GL: What's your biggest motivation coming into this fight?

HG: "I want to make my husband and daughter proud, I want my daughter to one day acknowledge how it is possible to achieve anything she strives for, the opportunities are there for you to take them, always showing respect to everyone and still manage to be a badass."

GL: What do you feel you bring to the table that Shields previous opponents did not?

HG: "I have a great learning capacity, what she saw on my last fight will be way different on June 22nd, that makes a difference, I won"t be predictable, you just wait and see! Come June 22nd,there will be fireworks."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

HG: "I am very grateful for the opportunity, I am just hoping that all the hard work and sacrifice translates into people talking about this fight for years, I don't like to be disrespectful in any way to anybody, but I do have a champions mentality, so I know I will win and regardless of the outcome I can assure you all, people showing up to the arena and people tuning in that day : you will be pleased with this combat."

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