There aren’t many major boxing matches remaining for Claressa Shields.
That’s why Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) has hopped up and down in weight classes, recently jumping up to 175-pounds to capture a pair of world titles after previously being a titleholder at 168 and the undisputed champion at 160 and 154.
And it’s why Shields has also jumped at other opportunities, be it competing in mixed martial arts or promoting a new major motion picture about her life.
Otherwise, there’s just not enough depth at the heavier weight classes where Shields competes. What, then, can her promoter do to bring his fighter the attention and paydays she’s seeking?
“For Claressa, because of where she stands and what she represents for women in the United States and all around the world, it’s as important where she fights as who she fights,” Dmitriy Salita said on the Boxing with Chris Mannix podcast.
One potential choice in the “who” category is Savannah Marshall, who gave Shields her only amateur loss. But when they met in the pros in October 2022, it was Shields winning via unanimous decision. Marshall has since moved up to super middleweight, defeating Franchon Crews-Dezurn via majority decision to become that division’s new undisputed champion.
“Certainly the rematch with Savannah Marshall is always interesting,” Salita said.
But what about the “where” category Salita mentioned?
“We’ll fight in the Middle East. We’ll fight in Africa,” he said. “I believe that would be very significant and very special and something that can transcend sports. It’d be a human interest story that goes above and beyond the sport of boxing. That would be something I would aim to do. That would be significant and historic.”
Shields, a 29-year-old from Flint, Michigan, has fought outside of the United States before, of course during the amateurs and the Olympics but also twice as a pro, performing in London and Cardiff. In mixed martial arts, Shields competed this February at an event in Saudi Arabia.
For Shields, doing what brings attention isn’t just about marketing herself, but her sport as well.
“There’s been a lot of debate online about who the greatest woman is, and without a doubt it’s Claressa Shields. The only reason this conversation takes place is, most important, because of Claressa’s accomplishments but also because of her personality and because she puts herself out there,” Salita said. “She not only walks the walk, but also talks the talk, which is very important because women’s boxing is much better than it ever was, but it’s still going through birthing pains, and it takes a personality and a fighter like Claressa Shields to push the interest forward.”
Follow David Greisman on Twitter @FightingWords2. His book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
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