Get to know boxer Claressa Shields
Behind the scenes of “The Fire Inside,” the 2024 American biographical sports film about the early boxing career of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a fighter from Flint, Michigan.
IVA – Movie Extras
Claressa Shields is set to defend her undisputed heavyweight title Saturday, July 26, against “The Smiling Assassin.”
That would be Lani Daniels, a New Zealander with an irrepressible smile she wears everywhere but inside the boxing ring.
Daniels, 37, held the IBF world heavyweight title in 2023 and currently holds the IBF light heavyweight title. Quick and athletic, she’s won seven fights in a row. Yet she’s still a significant underdog against Shields, and for good reason.
Daniels did not start boxing until she was 24. Shields, 30, started her boxing career at 15 and since then has won two Olympic gold medals, world titles in five divisions and undisputed world titles in three divisions.
In Shields’ 80 fights as an amateur and pro, she has lost once (to Savannah Marshall in 2012). It’s unlikely Daniels will hand Shields loss No. 2.
USA TODAY Sports has you covered with updates, analysis and highlights from the Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels card here:
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels: Time, PPV, streaming for fight
Claressa Shields will face Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26 at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Date: Saturday, July 26Time: 6 p.m. ETClaressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels main event ringwalks: 10 p.m. ETStream: DAZN
Watch Shields v Daniels with DAZN PPV
Cameran Pankey def. Dominique Griffin by unanimous decision, featherweightJaquan McElroy def. Joshua Flores by unanimous decision, middleweightKahmel Makled def. Devario Hauser by stoppage, light heavyweightSardius Simmons def. Demetrius Banks by unanimous decision, heavyweightMain cardClaressa Shields vs Lani Daniels; Heavyweight, for the undisputed titleTony Harrison vs Edward Diaz; MiddleweightPryce Taylor vs Robert Simms; HeavyweightSamantha Worthington vs Victoire Piteau; Super lightweight, for the WBA interim titleCaroline Veyre vs Licia Boudersa; Featherweight
Fight card, according to DAZN and odds according to BetMGM on Saturday.
Claressa Shields (-2500) vs Lani Daniels (+1000); Heavyweight, for the undisputed titleTony Harrison (-1400) vs Edward Diaz (+800); MiddleweightPryce Taylor vs Robert Simms; Heavyweight (odds not listed as of writing)Samantha Worthington (-600) vs Victoire Piteau (+450); Super lightweight, for the WBA interim titleCaroline Veyre (-900) vs Licia Boudersa (+600); FeatherweightBleacher Report: Shields via fifth-round knockout
Staff writes: “Perkins comes into the bout looking to play spoiler. The 42-year-old will be the biggest opponent that Shields has seen in the ring, but is still considered to be a massive underdog.”
Sports Illustrated: Claressa Shields
Apratim Banerjee writes: “Claressa Shields is certainly the more decorated athlete heading into the contest and she is the favorite for a reason. However, Shields is making a jump to heavyweight. That said, Danielle Perkins is naturally a heavyweight and could have the strength and weight advantage over Shields, making her chances interesting. However, Shields is too experienced and crafty and should be able to manage a decision win against Perkins. A finish looks unlikely to take place.”
Sportskeeda: Claressa Shields via unanimous decision
Staff writes: “Shields is the more polished boxer and will control the pace of the fight. She will force Daniels on her back foot right from the opening bell. Her accurate jabs will prevent her opponent from gaining any kind of momentum. Shields will also target Daniels’ body to limit her movement inside the ring.”
Claressa Shields, the star of Salita Promotions, addressed whether Salita Promotions might one day be rivals with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Jake Paul. MVP partnered with Netflix on an all-women card held in front of a sellout crowd of 19,729 on July 11 at Madison Square Garden.
“Hey, they got all those good girls on the roster,’’ Shields said of MVP, “but they don’t have the greatest and that’s a problem for them.’’
Of course, Shields was referring to herself, the self-described G.W.O.A.T. (Greatest Woman Of All-Time).
“I wish them well, but at the end of the day, I’ve always been a one-woman army and looks like I’m winning the war so far.’’
Yet another Claressa Shields fight, yet another victim? She sized up her next opponent, Lani Daniels, during an interview with USA TODAY Sports.
“She’s not as big as Danielle Perkins,’’ Shields said, referring to her last opponent, “but she’s very elusive. She’s fast, she’s aggressive, she’s very awkward and I look forward to figuring it out and fighting her on Saturday.
“I am very great at being very strategic and figuring out how about putting my opponent through the most pain and beat ’em up in here. And that’s my own goal is just to beat her up. I want to beat Lani Daniels up. I want to put her on an entertaining fight. I want to collect some more belts and I want to continue to let everybody know I’m the greatest woman of all time because the things that I do these other girls can’t do.’’
Shields’ newest tattoo, apparent when she shifted the top of her swimsuit at the weigh-in, is “Papoose.’’ Papoose, born Shamele Mackie, is a rapper and Shields’ boyfriend.
Papoose, a New York rapper born Shamele Mackie who is Claressa Shields’ boyfriend, is embroiled in a messy divorce from Remy Ma, also a rapper from New York. On May 22, Papoose posted on Instagram what he said was confirmation that a complaint or divorce had been filed.
“The only reason I haven’t filed previously Is for the sake of my daughter,’’ he wrote on Instagram, suggesting the drama has turned the situation “into a circus.’’
Shields and Papoose acknowledged their relationship at the end of last year after Papoose and Remy Ma were estranged.
The net worth of Papoose (47), Claressa Shields’ boyfriend, is $500,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Shields (30) has a net worth of between $5 million and $10 million, according to Finance Monthly.
Remy Ma, the estranged wife of Papoose, in December posted text messages she said showed Papoose and Claressa Shields were having an affair before the boxer and rapper had publicly acknowledged the romance. Papoose fired back on Instagram, writing that Remy Ma chose “to cheat repeatedly.’’
Remy Ma is a four-time Grammy-nominated rapper from the Bronx who also has appeared on reality shows such as “Love & Hip Hop.”
On X, Shields wrote, “Everyone want they face in the camera. Sit down it ain’t bout you today.’’
Surely Shields means the camera is for her.
Claressa Shields is putting her undisputed heavyweight title on the line against Lani Daniels Saturday, July 26, but a piece of her mind is occupied by someone else.
Laila Ali.
Shields and her team have said they put $15 million in escrow for Ali — provided she agrees to fight Shields. Four days since they made the offer, Ali has yet to respond, according to Shields.
“Do you want to entertain a fight or do you not?’’ Shields said, referring to Muhammad Ali’s daughter. “And I think that she should let me and the public know because the public is very, very interested. …
Read more on what Claressa Shields had to say about rival Laila Ali.
World champion Claressa Shields joined The Pivot Podcast ahead of her highly anticipated fight against Lani Daniels in Michigan on Saturday, July 26, where she discussed her future outside of boxing.
The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor, featured a discussion with boxing star Shields. During the episode, she announced her plans to start a family with her partner, rapper Papoose, next year. She explained that one of the main reasons for this decision is her desire to be present for her children rather than waiting until later in her career to start a family. Although she plans to take time off to have a child, she intends to return to the ring to continue her boxing career at some point. — Elizabeth Flores
Claressa Shields says she has a gift beyond boxing.
“Attention has always just kind of came to me,’’ Shields told USA TODAY Sports. ” I can go and hide in the corner and people would still find a way to (approach her). People gravitate toward me and it’s been that way my entire life.’’
On Saturday, July 29, Shields is expected to fight in front of a sellout crowd of 19,000 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, according to Dmitriy Salita, promoter of the 11-fight card with Shields putting her undisputed heavyweight title against Lani Daniels in the main event.
Josh Peter has more on Shields and her gift beyond boxing.
Claressa Shields turned heads at the weigh-in a day before her fight against Lani Daniels in Detroit, Saturday, July 26.
The undisputed women’s heavyweight champion wore high heels, a fur coat, an eye-catching swimsuit and a G.W.O.A.T. chain.
Before Shields stepped on the scale, someone brushed her long blond hair and she flexed her biceps. Her official weight: 174.6 pounds.
Main card start time: 6 p.m. ETMain event ring walks: 10 p.m. ET (approximate)
Claressa Shields’ father, Clarence, signed her up for boxing, according to Shields. “…even though, he did not want me to actually fight!’’ she wrote on Instagram. “My dad believed in my dreams and me at very young age! I thank God for him! He’s who I get my loud laugh, Gift of gab and quick jab from: I can really write paragraphs about my dad!’’
Of her mother, Marcella Adams, Shields wrote on Instagram, “My mama is my biggest supporter and supports everything I do. She has a hard job because I ain’t the average woman. And wasn’t the average kid. Imagine a little skinny girl coming home with a busted lip or a black eye from boxing the boys.’’
Claressa Shields will face Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26, and the event will be streamed on DAZN. In the U.S., fans can purchase the event for $29.99.
“The Fire Inside,’’ a movie about Claressa Shields’ life and boxing career, was released in December. Ryan Destiny, the actress whose work includes roles in the FOX TV musical “Star,’’ played Shields.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie scored impressively – 93 percent based on 120 reviews and 94 percent based on more than 500 verified ratings. But the movie has generated $8.1 million at the box office, about $4 million less than its budget.
Claressa Shieldsvs.Lani Daniels16-0-0Record11-2-2USACountryNew Zealand5-foot-8Height5-foot-6 1/2174.6 poundsWeight170.4 pounds68 inchesReach67 inches