Boxer Claressa Shields Lands Historic $11M Deal

Claressa Shields is rewriting the rules for what female boxers can earn, and the numbers are staggering.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist just landed an $8 million multi-fight deal with a $3 million signing bonus. That $11 million total makes it the largest contract ever signed by a woman in boxing, and Shields says it might be bigger than most deals for male boxers too.

"I have never heard of a man getting that kind of signing bonus," Shields told BBC Sport. "I've heard of men getting a $1 million signing bonus but never $3 million."

The 30-year-old American has earned every penny of that historic payday. She's undefeated in 17 professional fights and has won world titles in five different weight classes. She's also a three-weight undispided champion, meaning she holds all the major belts in three separate divisions.

Shields won her first Olympic gold at just 17 years old in London, then repeated the feat four years later in Rio. When she turned professional in 2016, she expected a million-dollar signing bonus. It never came.

"When I came out of the Olympics with two gold medals, I should have got a $1 million signing bonus," she said. "Now it's years later but I'm getting it all back."

This Saturday, Shields defends her heavyweight titles against Franchon Crews-Dezurn in a fight that completes a remarkable full circle. The two first faced off at the 2012 Olympic trials when Shields was just 16. She beat the heavily favored champion then and has beaten her three more times since.

Why This Inspires

Shields calls herself the Greatest Woman of All Time, and her resume backs it up. But what makes this story truly special is what it means for the next generation of female fighters.

For years, women in boxing struggled to get fair pay and major promotional deals. Shields proved her worth in the ring over and over, becoming undisputed champion multiple times and maintaining a perfect professional record. Now she's finally getting compensated like the elite athlete she is.

The deal signals a shift in how promoters value women's boxing. When the best female athlete in the sport commands an $11 million contract, it raises the ceiling for everyone who comes after her.

Shields isn't slowing down either. She plans to keep fighting until she's 38, leaving plenty of time to add to her legend. Champions like Lauren Price and Mikaela Mayer have called her out, and Shields welcomes all challengers at the right weight.

The girl who pulled number one out of a hat at the Olympic trials now holds the number one spot in boxing history books.