Heavyweight Undisputed Champion Claressa Shields’ power and resilience are undeniable. Shields has arguably ‘been that girl’ in her arena as a four-time undisputed boxer and 17-time world champion who earned a gold medal at 17 at the 2012 Olympics.
Nevertheless, as a woman in the boxing industry, she has had to go up against opponents like unfair pay and double standards in sports marketing. Having won the gold twice and countless championship titles before turning 30 this month, Shields is now training herself as a businesswoman and entrepreneur outside of the ring and strategizing ways to help other women in the sport reach the million-dollar mark for their talent.
Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Shields strongly desired to win and create a new life for herself and her family. In 2024, parts of her life were depicted in the autobiographical motion picture The Fire Inside, directed by Rachel Morrison, starring Ryan Destiny, and screen-written and produced by Barry Jenkins. Through the film, people get to step into a flashback of Shields’ life while on her journey of overcoming adversity to become who she is today, the greatest woman boxer of all time.
The Fire Within
When asked where she draws her power, Shields said, “I come from a strong family and line of powerful women. I’m inspired by representation, too. When I was growing up, I looked up to Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Anne Wolf, and Laila Ali. They showed me that women could be successful in sports.”
Having created a successful career, Shields became the first woman boxer to earn $1 million in 2022 in a two-fight deal with British broadcaster Sky Sports. Three years later, she was still fighting for equal opportunities and was paid similarly to her male counterparts. She has also scored sponsorships and partnerships with brands such as Bose, Dicks Sporting Goods, Celsius, Everlast, and Ethika.
“I’m a 17-time world champion, the only four-time undisputed champion in boxing three different weight classes. If you watch boxing, and you watch me, you know that my skills are unmatched,” said Shields.
In 2023, CBS reported, “TV and streaming deals are 10 to 20 times more lucrative for men than women, according to Shields’ promoter, Dmitriy Salita. Male boxers make about $3 million per fight while female fighters just recently started getting seven figures for a night in the ring, while some earn more and many make much less.”
Punching Above Her and Winning In Every Weight Class
On February 2, Shields sold out an arena of x people in her hometown of Flint, where she defeated Danielle Perkins and became the first-ever women’s undisputed heavyweight champion and the only three-division undisputed champion, male or female, of the four-belt era. That night, she earned $1.5 million.
However, as one of the few women to cross the million-dollar threshold, Shields wants more money, opportunities to be on high-profile fighting cards, and advancement among her peers in the sport.
“I want bigger paydays, bigger opportunities, and to be able to fight on some of these main cards with the men – even if it’s being a co-main event. I’m fighting for women boxers’ recognition for their accolades and greatness. I’ve been taking huge strides and bringing a couple of girls along with me, so we are getting somewhere, said Shields. In addition to that, she aspires to fight on a big card. “I would love to fight on the undercard of Terence Crawford versus Canelo Álverez in September co-main event TV opener.”
In the meantime, instead of asking for what’s next, she’s creating it.
Create What’s Next
“When negotiating something and you don’t get it, you must create it. If you want wealth, and they won’t give you opportunities, create your own wealth. Figure out different avenues to make your own money,” said Shields.
With two Olympic gold medals, world titles, and nothing left to prove, Shields is creating new revenue streams by leaning into her creativity while building her personal brand. As her brand grows, Shields believes that access to opportunities in boxing and outside of the sport will present themselves.
“There’s nothing else I can do inside boxing to earn an equal pay day as the men. I’ve done everything as a 17-time champion and four-time undisputed boxer in the history of the sport. I fought for a million dollars a couple of times. I must keep good at my brand outside the ring and become a big star. People respect numbers,” said Shields.
She has amassed over a million followers on social media and began documenting her life outside the ring as an artist on YouTube. She’s earning thousands of dollars as a creator on the platform and is focused on creating her own doors and table.
Focus
“There have been months where I earn $5,500 on YouTube, and I knew that if I posted more, I could get up to $10,000,” said Shields. To move the needle on her earnings, she said the key is to focus and silence the noise of others.
“Focus on the positive. When you are entertaining negativity, it distracts you from your greatness,” said Shields.
Money management is another key focus for Shields. The investment to train, be promoted, and invest in your holistic well-being comes with a hefty price tag and financial discipline.
“Money management is something many people lack in every category regardless of what sport you’re in. Everything costs. Nobody works for you for free. Everyone gets paid – from publicists to hairstylists, makeup artists, lawyers, and managers,” emphasized Shields. “When I make money, I save 75 percent and play with 25 percent.” Being financially sound has allowed Shields to sustain herself at different levels of her career.
Paying It Forward
When she is not in the ring or building her brand, Shields finds time to give back through her non-profit organization, The Claressa Shields Community Outreach Program. Youth in the program learn to leverage the discipline and skill development from boxing and apply it to their daily lives to combat trauma and build mental fortitude.
“I remember being told me that boxing wasn’t for girls. I was 13 years old, yelling, ‘I’m going to the Olympics in four years.’ People laughed at me. I turned 17 and went to the Olympics, and I won a gold medal,” said Shields.
She often shares her story with youth to inspire them as they train their minds and bodies. Her message to others is, “Don’t be afraid to be different or let people discourage you. Your dreams are not for other people to understand.”
