What Is Claressa Shields’ Net Worth? How the Legendary Boxer Makes A Living

Claressa Shields, born March 17, 1995, is 29 years old. But at such a young age, the professional boxer is already in a league of her own. In February 2025, Shields made boxing history. She won a match against fellow boxer Danielle Perkins, becoming the first male or female boxer to hold undisputed belts in three weight categories. Shields is now the first woman to hold the title of undisputed heavyweight champion.

The fight was held in her beloved hometown of Flint, Michigan, so she celebrated the landmark win with her community.

“I looked around and I was like, ‘Wow, Flint, y’all really love me for real,’” Shields told The Detroit News the day of the fight.

Financially, the historic fight and successful win added some dollars to Shields’s pocket, although the exact amount is undisclosed. With undisputed titles and Olympic medals, Shields is proof that women can have a lucrative boxing career. This leaves people wondering what her net worth is.

How Did Claressa Shields Become Famous?

Shields’s rise to fame is entirely due to her impressive boxing career. She was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, where she experienced a tough childhood. Shields used boxing as an activity to release stress.

“I love boxing so much! man. From the time I walked into the gym and saw those two guys sparring for the first time to the day, I had my very first boxing match, threw my first punch, and even the time I got punched in the face, I just love boxing!” she told BuzzFeed in 2024.

During her teenage years, the boxer made especially huge achievements in the sport. In 2012, she became the first American woman to win a gold boxing medal at just 17 years old. This feat was during the 2012 Olympic Games, which was the first time women’s boxing was an Olympic event.

Claressa Shields’s Career Milestones

At a young age, Shields is one of the best female professional boxers in the world. In addition to earning her first Olympic gold medal in 2012, she took home another in 2016. She’s the first American woman to win gold at the Pan American Games in 2015.

In 2018, Shields was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

“I believe I am worthy of any honor, but I know things take time, and I always thought I would put in the Hall of Fame at the age 40 or 50. This is a big deal to me, and I feel so honored. Just to have my name mentioned alongside names of greats like Andre Ward and Roy Jones just really motivates me. I feel privileged,” Shields said at the event, according to usaboxing.org.

That same year, her gloves were enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Shields’ historic career from childhood to going pro is outlined in the 2024 film “The Fire Inside.” Executive produced by the athlete, the film sees actress (and fellow Michigan native) Ryan Destiny portraying her.

Claressa Shields Other Athletic Pursuits

After a huge boxing win, Shields isn’t only continuing with her professional boxing career but her MMA fighting as well. In 2024, the boxer announced her unofficial return to mixed martial arts. That same year, she signed a multiyear deal for the Professional Fighters League to play MMA.

“I am excited to return to a fighter-first organization and I can’t wait to return to the PFL SmartCage,” Shields said in a released statement. “My goal remains unchanged. I will be the first athlete to hold championships in boxing and MMA simultaneously. I have grown so much since my first MMA fight and cannot wait to put my skills on display.”

Although Shields never exactly left MMA, she hasn’t fought in the sport since 2021. She made her MMA debut on June 10, 2021, during a Professional Fighters League 4 fight against Brittney Elkin. The fight resulted in a win for Shields, though she lost her 2021 PFL World Championship MMA fight against Abigail Montes.

Advocating for Equal Pay In Women’s Boxing

Although Shields is a knockout (no pun intended) in boxing, she doesn’t make nearly enough compared to her male counterparts.

“We don’t get the equal TV time, the equal promotion, equal pay. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with my platform, make sure I get all of that,” she told The Associated Press in 2023.

As a female boxer, it’s even difficult to find networks that will showcase their fights. According to Shields, some of her fights scheduled months in advance will suddenly be canceled.

“It’s not just a women’s boxing match. It’s a fight for women’s equality, and everybody can play their part,” Shields told ESPN in 2021. “If you think that women deserve equal rights, equal pay, equal promotion, you will tune into this fight, even if you don’t like women’s boxing. You know, if you don’t like me, if you don’t like my opponent, whatever the case may be, if you believe in women’s equal rights, this is the time for you to play a part.”

What Is Claressa Shields’ Net Worth?

For example, some of the first American men to win a gold medal in boxing include George Foreman and Eddie Eagle. Foreman’s estimated net worth is  over $200 million, and he earned up to millions of dollars per fight at times. As a result, Shields uses her platform to advocate for equal pay in women’s sports, especially in professional boxing.

“It’s not just a women’s boxing match. It’s a fight for women’s equality and everybody can play their part,” Shields said. “If you think that women deserve equal rights, equal pay, equal promotion, you will tune into this fight, even if you don’t like women’s boxing. You know, if you don’t like me, if you don’t like my opponent, whatever the case may be, if you believe in women’s equal rights, this is the time for you to play a part.”

As an athlete, Shields’ primary source of income comes from boxing. Shields is earns money for each fight, but the amount she earns varies. For example, according to ESPN, she earned “$50,000” for a fight against Franchón Crews-Dezurn in 2016. The match marked her professional debut. Years later, in a 2020 fight against Ivana Habazin, she earned $300,000, also according to ESPN. Her most recent fight in 2025 left her with an alleged $1.5 million purse, which is the total amount of money a boxer is paid for a match. In addition, Shields probably earns money from endorsement deals and sponsorships.

A quick Google search reveals Shields’ alleged net worth is between $1 million and $5 million. But these are just claims. In addition, Shields probably earns money from her fights, endorsements, and executive producing credits.

The post What Is Claressa Shields’ Net Worth? How the Legendary Boxer Makes A Living appeared first on 21Ninety.

Claressa Shields Issues Challenge To Tesehki & Any Woman Who Wants Smoke With $100k Reward If They Beat The GWOAT

Claressa Shields will return to the ring on July 26 against Lani Daniels in Detroit, Michigan at the Lilttle Ceasar’s Arena.

Who Is Claressa Shields Dating? Everything to Know About the Undefeated Professional Boxer

Claressa Shields is one of the best in the professional boxing world. The female boxer is only 29 years old, yet has already left an indescribable mark on the sport. Shields won her last match against Danielle Perkins, becoming the first ever undisputed women’s heavyweight champion. The boxer recently had a movie release, showcasing her origin story. The movie, titled “The Fire Inside” starred Ryan Destiny and covered everything from her humble beginnings through her rise to basketball fame.

Here’s everything you should know about the professional boxer’s life outside the sport.

Is Claressa Shields in a Relationship?

Shields’s personal life is subject to intense scrutiny and curiosity. She recently opened up about her relationship with rapper Papoose.

The boxer and rapper’s connection became public in late 2024 amid Papoose’s separation from his estranged wife, Remy Ma. Despite the public scrutiny, Shields has expressed profound appreciation for Papoose’s unique support and understanding. She described their bond as transformative, highlighting how his encouragement differs from her past experiences. Shields emphasized that Papoose is not only her partner but also her best friend, with whom she shares deep conversations and mutual respect. Initially, she preferred to keep their relationship private to avoid external judgment, aiming to cherish their moments away from public scrutiny. However, following Remy Ma’s public disclosure of their relationship, Shields and Papoose have chosen to embrace their partnership openly. Papoose has been visibly supportive, accompanying Shields during significant events, including her historic title fight in Flint, Michigan, where she became the first boxer—male or female—to achieve undisputed status in three different weight divisions. Their relationship, though emerging from complex circumstances, appears to be a source of mutual support and affection, with both expressing happiness in their union.

Papoose and Remy Ma’s previous dates back to 2004. The two married in 2016 before welcoming two children, a daughter Reminisce Mackenzie and a son Jayson Scott. The influential hip hop couple announced their split in 2024, both Remy Ma and Papoose posting screenshots on their official Instagram accounts.

Does Claressa Shields Have Children?

As of February 2025, Claressa Shields does not have biological children. In 2014, she attempted to adopt her cousin’s newborn daughter, Klaressa, and cared for her for eight months. However, Essentially Sports reports that due to legal challenges, she lost custody. This experience has influenced her views on motherhood, leading her to focus on inspiring young girls through her athletic achievements. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Shields expressed, “I don’t want to have kids. I want to inspire young girls and give them hope.”

Early Life and Career

Born on March 17, 1995, in Flint, Michigan, Shields started boxing at 11. Her father, Clarence “Bo Bo” Shields, introduced her to the sport and was actually a former amateur fighter. Shields says that growing up in Flint wasn’t easy. In her adolescence, she tackled poverty, death and abuse. Boxing served as a creative outlet for her.

“You put in the hard work, you win. You slack off, you lose. So when I say boxing is the only thing that loved me back, I put in so much heart into boxing, and guess what I did? I won,” she said on the sports podcast “The Art of Ward.” “I keep winning because it loves me how I love it.”

By the time she was 17 years old, Shields was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. She trained for those 2012 Olympic Games under the leadership of Jason Crutchfield, who became a father figure in her life.

Claressa Shields’s Track Record

Since then, Shields has increasingly excelled in her professional boxing career. During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she won a gold medal. In 2019, Shields defeated Christina Hammer and made history, as the only boxer, male or female, to unify all four major boxing titles (the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) in a single weight class. As of today, her record stands at a 16-0.

What Is Claressa Shields’s Net Worth?

Although Shields solidified her status as one of the best female boxers in the history of the sport, the boxers’ estimated net worth is around $1 million. Throughout her career, she has used her success to shine a light on the pay disparity in women’s sports, especially in boxing. After her 2025 historic boxing match, she spoke about wanting more profitable endorsements.

“I think I want to keep fighting and let it set in at the very end because I haven’t gotten all my endorsements and all my sponsorships yet,” she told Fight Sports. “I have some, but it’s like I’m waiting to get that $20 million from Adidas or $30 million from Under Armour and Nike. I’m looking to get there, you know? I want to represent all these companies, so I have some work to do.”

The post Who Is Claressa Shields Dating? Everything to Know About the Undefeated Professional Boxer appeared first on 21Ninety.