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.”

Before the error was revealed, the World Boxing organization threatened to strip Shields’ title.

Claressa Shields wants folks to keep the same energy, and she’s calling everybody out until they do so. The newly named boxing Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world made recent headlines after a drug test came back positive for marijuana, but turns out, everything isn’t exactly how it seems.

On Tuesday (March 18), the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs confirmed the positive marijuana test was actually inaccurate. According to Baller Alert, the false positive was due to a procedural error during the sampling process. So now, Shields’ name has been cleared, but she wants everyone to remember exactly how they treated her before she had a chance to prove her innocence.

“Officially unsuspended ! But y’all a little quiet! Y’all was real loud about me ‘supposedly’ smoking marijuana and being suspended,” Shields wrote on X after the discrepancy was revealed. “And still an Undisputed heavyweight champ! I have the Order to prove it,” she continued saying.

But if you thought a tweet was the end of Shields’ call out, you’d be mistaken. “Let me give it up to God again for proving what I already knew,” she later said on Instagram live. “They had us smeared all over these big networks,” she continued before asking “do it look like I need some damn weed?”

The 30-year-old champion was suspended following her win over Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2. Ever since then, Shields has been doing all she can to clear her name. But despite her now proven innocent, she hasn’t forgotten how the media treated her.

“Mannn listen every network that posted I was suspended for a positive Marijuana test, YOU BETTER POST THAT IT WAS AN ERROR WITH A FAULTY TEST!” She continued on X. “Y’all Just ready to report anything bad on me! Y’all ain’t never gonna have nothing on me! Give it up! I’m going to always Win,” she declared.

But wait… there’s more. The athlete also called out the World Boxing Organization for threatening to remove her title. “I’ve been a champion for y’all organization for many years so to threaten to strip me for my title that I worked VERY HARD FOR & not stand behind me and supporting me til I atleast had a chance to prove my innocence! That was FOUL,” she said.

The organization has not responded to Shields’ demands yet, but it doesn’t look like she’s willing to give them any leeway until they do so. For now, the fiery boxer can revel in the fact that she was telling the truth all along. Fans of Shields are ready for her next fight to be scheduled now that she’s been unsuspended.

Claressa Shields has built an extraordinary legacy in boxing, but her personal life has recently eclipsed her athletic achievements in public discourse.

The multi-division world champion finds herself at the center of controversy due to her relationship with Brooklyn rapper Papoose and the involvement of his estranged wife, Remy Ma. While Shields’ dominance in the ring remains undisputed, her private life has become the subject of intense speculation, fueled by social media and celebrity gossip.

During a recent appearance on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, the conversation took an unexpected turn when host Keke Palmer asked Shields, “When are you going to knock out Remy Ma?”

The question, though playful, underscored the intrigue surrounding Shields’ entanglement with Papoose and Remy Ma. Palmer’s blunt inquiry mirrored the ongoing discussions that have kept fans and media fixated on the unfolding drama.

Shields’ romance with Papoose surfaced publicly in 2024, shocking many who had long associated the rapper with his marriage to Remy Ma. The revelation ignited widespread debate, particularly after Remy Ma confirmed the affair via social media.

What followed was a media firestorm dissecting the complicated relationships among the three figures. The situation intensified when Shields and Papoose began making more frequent public appearances together, including at Hawaii Fest in early 2025, signaling that their relationship was far from a fleeting rumor.

Despite the controversy, Shields has largely maintained her composure, focusing on her boxing career while selectively addressing the speculation. Her ability to navigate the chaos with poise has only added to the public’s fascination. The dynamic between Shields, Papoose, and Remy Ma has evolved into an ongoing narrative, captivating audiences beyond the sports and music industries.

Palmer’s question, though lighthearted, reignited interest in the situation, reinforcing how Shields’ personal life has become as much of a headline-grabber as her accolades in the ring. While some fans saw the humor in the moment, others interpreted it as a reflection of the unresolved tensions at play. The exchange demonstrated how Shields, despite her fierce reputation in boxing, now finds herself battling an entirely different kind of public scrutiny.

As speculation continues, one thing remains certain: Claressa Shields commands attention, whether in the ring or in the headlines. While her relationship with Papoose fuels debate, her resilience—both professionally and personally—remains a defining trait.

Regardless of how this chapter in her life unfolds, Shields’ legacy in boxing is secure, but her personal narrative ensures she will remain a central figure in cultural discussions for the foreseeable future.