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PULLING PUNCHES

It’s the biggest fight in women’s boxing history so here’s how Christina ‘Lady’ Hammer and Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields match up outside the ring

The stakes are high for boxers Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer as the pair are set to clash in a bid to be crowned the undisputed middleweight champion of the world

IT'S the clash being touted as the 'biggest fight in women's boxing history'.

So when two time Olympic gold medallist Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields and Christina 'Lady' Hammer' - the youngest WBO boxing world champion of all time - come face-to-face in the boxing ring at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, the stakes are high.

 Christina Hammer is undefeated in 24 fights
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Christina Hammer is undefeated in 24 fightsCredit: Instagram/Christina Hammer

One of the two high-profile athletes, both of whom are undefeated, will become the undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

Based on their illustrious boxing credentials, the result of the next bout - which was initially scheduled for last year before Hammer fell ill - is almost too close to call.

But how do they compare outside the ring?

Here, The Sun Online take a look at how the pair match up...

Fighting Poverty, sexual assault and developing a love of boxing

Claressa Shields, 24, has won all eight of her fights, two by knockout, and got into the sport aged 11.

She's had to overcome a lot, including a speech impediment, bullying and being sexually assaulted at the age of just five.

The athlete - who is 5ft 8in - was repeatedly assaulted and raped by a friend of her alcoholic mother, and her dad Clarence was in prison for much of her childhood for breaking-and-entering and drug dealing.

"I was raped. It happened every day for about six months by a person known to the family," she told the .

"I couldn't speak well as a child so when she [her aunt] asked me what had happened I wasn't able to say it. She gave me a doll and I was able to show her.

"I was kind of terrified of men for a while and my anger was really bad."

 Christina Hammer has always had a powerful punch
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Christina Hammer has always had a powerful punchCredit: Instagram/Christina Hammer

At 28, her opponent, Christina - also known as Lady Hammer - has a few more years' experience in the sport than her competitor, with 24 wins and 11 knockouts.

Born in Kazakhstan before migrating to Germany with her family at one, Christina - who is 5ft 11 - began boxing at the age of 13.

“My whole family is very athletic and loves boxing," she told

“My uncle started boxing in the gym. I tagged along a few times and instantly fell in love with the sport.

"I didn’t box to get out of poverty and although we emigrated to Germany, I never lived in the ghetto and boxing is not a ‘way out.’

"I do love boxing because I fight for my dreams, literally and figuratively."

Lingerie modelling and lucrative sponsorship deals 

Whatever the outcome of their big fight, there's no denying the pair have both done very well for themselves financially.

Christina is thought to have a £4million net worth.

She has a lingerie modelling deal with Anita Underwear, and a sponsorship deal with Mercedes.

 They both have lucrative sponsorship deals
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They both have lucrative sponsorship dealsCredit: Instagram/Christina Hammer

Claressa, meanwhile, reportedly has a net worth in the region of at least £2million.

She's cashed in on sponsorship deals with sports energy drink company Powerade, clothing company Zappos and a partnership with Mini Cooper.

Claressa is also the subject of an upcoming Hollywood biopic being written by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins.

She was also the star of 2015 documentary, T-Rex: Her Fight For Gold.

Knocking blokes out at a disco and fluctuating bra sizes

Christina can also be equally as strong outside the ring - and even knocked a man out at a disco in Germany when she was 18.

Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer face off ahead of their big fight

Speaking to , Christina admitted: "A girl I knew came up and pushed me. I don't know why but I got mad and slapped her.

"Then the girl's boyfriend came over and slapped me! I couldn't believe it . So I punched him and knocked him out.

"Three security guards came over and threw me out."

When asked if she puts on weight in between fights she replied: "Only in my chest - I always go up one cup size!"

 Christina Hammer describes herself as a beast in the ring and a beauty on the street
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Christina Hammer describes herself as a beast in the ring and a beauty on the streetCredit: Instagram/Christina Hammer

Fighting talk

Neither Christina nor Claressa holds back when talking about the sport - or each other.

"I think this is the biggest fight of my career because I've been looking forward for a long time to unify all these belts and I think it's every boxer's dream to unify all these belts," Christina revealed to

She's also pretty confident in her talent too, telling : "I believe boxing is the best sport in the world and emphasises speed, strength, technique, tactics.

"You have to use your intelligence and physical advantages together every moment.

"My looks outside the ring is a statement about the duality of boxing. I am a beast in the ring and a beauty in the street."

Speaking about the upcoming fight Claressa said: "I'm going to beat her.

"She's a good fighter but she's not great.

"She has a lot of flaws but they haven't been exposed because her opponents are girls who probably couldn't even run a mile on a treadmill."

Whatever the outcome of the fight, it's clear neither of the athletes hold back when it comes to pulling punches - both in and out of the boxing ring.

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