Claressa Shields’ Promotional Free Agency
Claressa Shields, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and widely regarded as one of the best boxers in women’s history, recently revealed the details surrounding her promotional free agency, which she announced in July after her decisive victory over Lani Daniels to maintain her status as boxing’s undisputed women’s heavyweight champion. Shields mentioned that her decision attracted considerable attention from various promoters, including Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
Negotiating Her New Contract
In a candid discussion on The Ariel Helwani Show, Shields described the challenging nature of negotiating her new contract. She recounted,
“It was a tough process, I had to evaluate four distinct contracts, and it was incredibly stressful trying to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.”
Despite being close to signing with MVP, she ultimately felt their financial offer fell short of her expectations.
“I genuinely appreciate what they’re doing in boxing, especially how they promote their fighters, but the financial aspect wasn’t sufficient for me,”
she explained.
Renewing Partnership with Salita Promotions
Shields also disclosed that Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, which has been a significant player in the development of women’s boxing, expressed interest in her signing as well. However, she chose to renew her partnership with Dmitry Salita’s Salita Promotions and Wynn Records in a lucrative two-year deal that guarantees her $8 million, along with a signing bonus of $3 million. Having worked with Salita for nearly a decade, she was comfortable returning to him, particularly because she has a strong vision for her brand.
“With this agreement, I have the creative control I wanted, and the financial backing was the best compared to other offers. I want my events to be monumental and perform exceptionally in the ring,”
Shields stated.
Future Fights and Potential Matchups
Looking ahead, Shields is gearing up for a return to the ring in early 2026, though she clarified that a match against legendary boxer Laila Ali, who previously expressed interest in facing her, is not in the cards. Ali, now 47, retired undefeated in 2007 and reportedly declined a lucrative $15 million proposal to fight Shields.
Currently, the leading contenders for Shields’ next bout appear to be unified super middleweight champions Shadasia Green and Franchon Crews-Dezurn, with Shields indicating that she is open to fighting either of them—or any other formidable opponent coming from her management team.
Amidst potential matchups, Shields also acknowledged the significant allure of facing unified 154-pound champion Mikaela Mayer, who recently claimed three super welterweight titles. The prospect of a fight against Mayer is intriguing for Shields, who believes it would benefit women’s boxing, especially given their shared Olympic experiences.
“Fighting someone on the pound-for-pound list, especially with our backgrounds, would be fantastic for the sport,”
she concluded.
