Claressa Shields Eyes Rematch and Exhibition Bout, Promoter Says

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Claressa Shields, the undefeated women’s boxing champion, is eyeing two significant matchups for her future: a rematch with Savannah Marshall and an exhibition fight with Hall of Famer Laila Ali. Dmitriy Salita, Shields’ promoter, announced these potential events following her recent victory against Danielle Perkins in her homecoming fight.

Shields, who holds a record of 16 wins with 3 knockouts, clinched the undisputed heavyweight title by defeating Perkins via unanimous decision on February 3, 2025. However, the victory came with controversy as Shields tested positive for marijuana in a post-fight drug test conducted by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission. Shields and her team are contesting the results but the situation has yet to derail her career.

Looking to the future, Salita views a rematch with Marshall as a logical step. The two first fought in 2022, where Shields emerged victorious by unanimous decision in Marshall’s home country of the United Kingdom. “The fight with Savannah Marshall is a natural one that we’d love to make,” Salita told BoxingScene. “Claressa did go to England, thousands of miles away from home, in the peak of her career. Savannah would have to accept the fact that, for the fight to happen, it would have to be in the United States in order for us to seriously consider it.”

Despite the interest in a rematch, Marshall has not stepped into the ring since a majority decision win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in July 2023. Salita expressed confidence in pursuing the matchup but acknowledged the challenge of arranging it given Marshall’s recent focus on mixed martial arts.

Additionally, Salita has proposed an exhibition bout with Laila Ali, which, while not for a title, could shine a spotlight on women’s boxing. “An exhibition with Laila Ali would be fantastic for women’s sports and women’s boxing,” Salita said. “Laila might also be the best available contender.” This matchup is anticipated to draw significant attention, leveraging Ali’s legendary reputation in the sport.

Shields has gained popularity beyond the boxing arena, particularly with the success of “The Fire Inside,” a documentary chronicling her life. Her visibility has further increased due to her relationship with rapper Papoose. “Claressa has really broken through with popularity with her fights, and it’s pretty incredible,” Salita noted. “We’ve seen the numbers on social media and in other ways. She’s really breaking through in an incredible way to mainstream media. That’s really great to see.”

While she has explored mixed martial arts with a record of 2-1, boxing remains Shields’ primary focus. Her latest MMA win came from a split decision against Kelsey DeSantis in February 2025. “Savannah Marshall is at the top of the list just because it’s been talked about for such a long time,” Salita concluded. “We want to keep telling Claressa’s story, and I really believe she is one of the greatest athletes of this generation.”