By Jake Donovan

Claressa Shields had a lot to say in the months waiting for her rescheduled World middleweight championship clash with Christina Hammer to come to fruition.

She also knew she had a lot to learn, wisely spending that stretch of time honing her craft through real-time ring experience.

The unbeaten two-time Olympic Gold medalist and current unified titlist from Flint, Mich. is brimming with confidence ahead of her showdown with Germany’s Hammer, which takes place this Saturday at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. The Showtime-televised headliner was originally slated to take place last November, but was pushed back after Hammer (24-0, 11KOs) fell ill and was forced to withdraw.

Shields still fought that night, appearing on a DAZN-streamed show in Kansas which was followed by her HBO debut just three weeks later.

“Just because she was sick, doesn’t mean I was sick,” Shields (8-0, 2KOs) pointed out during a recent media conference call of her decision to remain active while awaiting a rescheduled fight date. “I was only… 6-0 at the time. I wanted to get more fights under my belt and take advantage of that time.”

It wasn’t just about remaining active, unlike Hammer's recent rust-shaker versus an upside-down opponent this past February after having not fought since she and Shields appeared on the same Showtime card last June. For Shields, the time spent in the ring was more about finding the right opponents to further develop her skill set in the pro ranks.

Shields hasn’t been shy at all about fighting at an accelerated pace, as evidenced by fighting for her first major title in just her fourth pro fight and a willingness to face Hammer—a two-division champion and long-reigning middleweight titlist after just six pro fights. The fact that she was able to add 20 rounds of real-time ring experience can only be viewed as a blessing.

“I’ve only been a pro for two years. Just like that, I was able to fight against a girl (Scotland’s Hannah Rankin, former title challenger) who fights like Christina Hammer and I beat her all 10 rounds,” Shields notes. “Femke Hermans was also a strong, tall fighter like Hammer. I was able to learn so many things in those two fights.”

As much as she’s learned, Shields is even more eager to get to a weekend for which she’s waited nearly five months to occur. Her method of victory could prove even more dominant, but the fight—as she sees it—wasn’t one she ever believed wouldn’t any other way than with her arm raised in victory.

“I still would’ve won on November 17,” Shields insists. “I’m happy with the experience I got with the fight coming up now. But the outcome would’ve been any different.

“I’m just ready to beat Christina Hammer and shut her big mouth.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox