Undefeated Boxing Icon Claressa Shields Confirms Next Fight and Opponent – Here’s What Fans Need to Know

Boxing superstar Claressa Shields extended her reign as the undisputed women’s heavyweight champion with a dominant unanimous-decision win over longtime rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn in front of a sold-out Detroit crowd, improving her professional record to 18-0 and silencing questions about ring rust after a yearlong hiatus. Less than 48 hours later the Flint, Michigan native mapped out the next phase of her career, telling reporters she wants two more fights before the end of 2026—one in early summer and another in the fourth quarter—while hinting at marquee showdowns with Shadasia Green and Mikaela Mayer. The 31-year-old also reiterated plans to explore motherhood in 2027, adding urgency to book the kind of legacy bouts that can cement her status as the self-proclaimed GWOAT—Greatest Woman of All Time. Shields’ hectic timeline is backed by unprecedented financial security. Last autumn she inked a minimum-guaranteed $8 million multi-fight deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, the richest contract in women’s boxing history. The landmark agreement not only set a new pay benchmark for female fighters but also guaranteed headlining slots in major arenas and premium streaming exposure, aligning perfectly with her goal of expanding the sport’s mainstream footprint. Inside the ring, Shields showcased sharper footwork and noticeably heavier hands against Crews-Dezurn, landing 48 percent of her power punches and out-jabbing the challenger by a three-to-one margin, according to CompuBox statistics released after the fight. Analysts believe those incremental gains stem from her recent training stints with heavyweight great Lennox Lewis, who focused on maximizing leverage without sacrificing the speed that carried Shields to two Olympic gold medals. Outside the ropes, the champion’s brand continues to diversify. A forthcoming Netflix documentary chronicling her rise from Flint’s tough north side to global stardom is in post-production, and her management confirmed exploratory talks with the UFC for a possible crossover bout in 2027. Although Shields downplayed the MMA chatter—“Boxing is my first love, everything else comes after,” she said—the prospect keeps her name trending in multiple combat-sports circles. What’s next? Sources inside Salita Promotions say Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and Madison Square Garden are front-runners to host the summer title defense, with unbeaten knockout artist Shadasia Green viewed as the most marketable opponent. Should Shields navigate that challenge, a blockbuster all-American clash with former unified junior-lightweight champion Mikaela Mayer could close out 2026, providing the kind of stylistic contrast and pay-per-view intrigue that boxing’s women’s divisions have rarely enjoyed. For now, Claressa Shields stands alone atop the pound-for-pound lists, her blend of unblemished record, historic paydays and relentless ambition making her the central figure in women’s boxing and a prime search topic for sports fans worldwide.