Undisputed world heavyweight champion Claressa Shields will defend her belts against IBF light heavyweight champion Lani Daniels on 26 July in Detroit.

Shields, 30, became the first undisputed women’s heavyweight champion with a unanimous points win over fellow American Danielle Perkins in February.

The two-time Olympic champion added the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles to her WBC belt with her 16th professional win.

Shields added to her undisputed titles in middleweight and light-middleweight to become boxing’s first undisputed world champion in three weight classes.

Shields was suspended by the Michigan commission in February after she tested positive for marijuana following her defeat of Perkins.

The suspension was dissolved after evidence showed procedural errors occurred during the collection of Shields’ samples.

New Zealand’s Daniels, 36, is a former IBF heavyweight champion.

(Reuters) -Undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields will defend her belts against Lani Daniels on July 26, Shields announced in a post on X on Wednesday.

Undefeated Shields, 30, became the first undisputed women’s heavyweight champion with a unanimous decision win over fellow American Danielle Perkins in February, adding the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles to her WBC belt.

The two-time Olympic champion’s 16th professional win also crowned her boxing’s first undisputed world champion in three weight classes, as she added to her undisputed titles in middleweight and light-middleweight.

New Zealand’s Daniels, 36, is the IBF light heavyweight champion and former IBF heavyweight champion who is unbeaten in her last nine bouts, which include two draws.

(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

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.

Claressa Shields is applying that pressure and keeping her foot on necks! The boxer posted some new pics on the ‘gram, and the internet is losing it over how her fashion game is on the up and up!

Claressa Shields Pops Out & Breaks Necks

Claressa Shields dropped the heat on Instagram on Wednesday, April 23. She uploaded a photo dump that showed her rocking a black blazer that she paired with a bodycon minidress. Shields leveled up her look with a pair of platform strappy sandals, a Chanel bag, and a fitted cap. Her caption matched the energy in the photos perfectly as she wrote, “Killin You Heaux ”

Claressa didn’t just light up social media with her outfit — folks were here for Papoose poppin’ up in the post too. The rapper was boo’d up with his lady at what looked like an event. One pic shows Claressa with her feet kicked up on Pap while they are cheesing like two lovebirds.

Social Media Weighs In

The Roommates flooded The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions to Claressa’s pics. A bunch of folks gave her props for stepping out and looking fire. Peep some of their thoughts below.

Claressa Swaps Gloves For A Mic

Shields had the internet buzzin’ after she dropped a new freestyle on Instagram earlier this month. She posted a video of herself spittin’ bars while she posted up in front a luxury. Throughout her hot 16, Claressa called herself the “face splitter” and she also let folks know she’s in a different tax bracket. Peep Claressa’s full free style below.

Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano aren’t just two of the greatest women’s boxers in the world today, they are among the best of all time.

Over the past few years, the women have rarely spoken directly to one another on social media, but there have been a few references that fight fans could take as under-the-radar jabs from both sides.

Apparently, Serrano and Shields had time on Wednesday, April 16.

Whether you enjoy seeing them bicker or not, there’s no question their beef is good for women’s boxing. Here’s how the latest potentially foundational building block to an enormous event unfolded.

It took Shields just over an hour to reply, and she added a bit of emphasis on her response.

As others chimed in to make their opinions known, Shields’ manager Mark Taffet took to social media to defend his client. “Ain’t nothing in this world wrong with being second best to a once in a lifetime Claressa Shields.”

There is no love lost between Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano, who are two of the world’s best pound-for-pound female boxers. This is largely owed to past comments that Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founder Nakisa Badarian has made about Shields, the most recent of which came on April 13.

Badarian, who promotes Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner and has been trying to secure a fight between Baumgardner and Shields, said that Shields, “Is walking at around 190 [pounds] right now,” while Baumgardner is about 135 pounds.

“If Claressa Shields wants the biggest payday of her life, she’s going to have to get to a weight that makes sense for Alycia Baumgardner,” he added.

Shields didn’t appreciate this sentiment, which has been shown by a social media tirade over the past day or so.

Serrano has since called Shield out directly on X Wednesday by saying, “Claressa you are one of the best and I will always admire what you have accomplished. But over the past 3 years you have constantly made disrespectful comments about my company, my promoter, my accomplishments and the people I care about, who have changed my life and have made it a point to support women’s boxing on the biggest stages possible.

“It’s time to recognize this and move forward on separate paths. I will always be a big fan of your in ring accomplishments. Stay Well”.

It didn’t take long for Shields to respond.

“I’ve been took my Stand with you. I’ve never not once disrespected your accomplishments. 7 division world champ. The truth is you like being sneaky and dissing me in a nice way. Now that I’m calling it out it’s a problem. Your promoter, company came out the gate disrespecting me, you know it too. I personally inboxed you MYSELF! They continued. Now we are here: I’m not one of the best! I AM THE BEST! Focus on your fight @Serranosisters !!!!” she wrote.

There’s clearly some unresolved issues between these two parties.