Claressa Shields Eyes $8M Payday
Claressa Shields prepares for a high-profile bout against Franchon Crews-Dezurn with an $8 million purse at stake, marking a full-circle moment as the two first met at Olympic trials a decade ago. Shields, undefeated in 17 fights with three knockouts, represents the growing commercial heights of women's boxing.
- This bout is a rematch of their professional debuts in November 2016, where Shields won by a unanimous decision after four rounds. - The fight will be for the undisputed heavyweight championship, with the event taking place at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on February 22. - Shields boasts a decorated amateur career, including two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals. - Franchon Crews-Dezurn is a former undisputed super-middleweight champion, who has since regained the WBC and WBA titles after a loss to Savannah Marshall in 2023. - The $8 million purse is part of a larger, multi-fight promotional deal for Shields, considered the most lucrative in the history of women's boxing. - The two fighters also have a history at the amateur level, with Shields having defeated Crews-Dezurn during the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials. - Shields is a world champion in five different weight classes and is the only female boxer to have held all four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) in three weight classes simultaneously. - Interestingly, the boxing ring for this fight will be 16 feet by 16 feet, which is smaller than the standard 20 by 20 feet ring.
