
Boxing: Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels
Boxing: Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels
The GWOAT, Claressa Shields (16-0, 3 KOs), will return home on Saturday, July 26, when she puts her Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship on the line in the main event at Little Caesars Arena against the reigning IBF Lt. Heavyweight World Champion from New Zealand, Lani Daniels (11-2-2, 1 KO). Shields vs. Daniels will air live on the global home of boxing, DAZN.
Shields, the most decorated female boxer in history, made headlines earlier this year by becoming the first woman ever to claim the Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship—and the first boxer, male or female, to achieve undisputed status in three weight divisions.
Undefeated and seemingly unstoppable, the Flint, Mich., native is riding high after a dominant performance in February, where she dismantled the towering and dangerous Danielle Perkins in front of a roaring hometown crowd at the Dort Financial Center in Flint. With the win, Shields cemented her place as the inaugural undisputed women’s heavyweight champ.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Shields now looks to extend her reign against former heavyweight titleholder Lani Daniels, as she continues rewriting the history books one fight at a time.
“I am so excited to be defending my Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena,” said Shields. “My fights continue to get bigger and better. My opponent, Lani from New Zealand is coming to bring all the smoke, or so she says! This fight will be a sellout of 19,000 so get your tickets and be there to witness herstory on July 26 with the GWOAT.”
Daniels, coined “The Smiling Assassin,” is the former IBF Heavyweight World Champion, looking to regain her crown and add three more world title belts to her collection in July.
“To be the best you have to fight the best. I te pō pouri rawa, ka ara te marama, ā, ka kitea te pono,” said Daniels in her native Māori. “On the darkest nights the full moon will rise and the truth will be revealed."
Recently signed to Salita Promotions, Daniels made history of her own when she became the first New Zealand-born fighter to win two world titles, and the first to win world titles in two different divisions when she defeated Desley Robinson in 2023.
On the strength of seven-straight victories, Daniels has proven to be a fighter inside and outside of the ring. At 14-years-old, Daniels tragically lost her younger brother to leukemia, sending her down a troubled path with drugs and suicidal thoughts. Today, Daniels is a champion of mental health and takes opportunities to inform, educate and support mental health awareness both at home and abroad. Daniels has become an inspiration for her home country as she continues to lead a worthy cause and challenge herself inside the boxing ring.
“Women’s boxing has grown by leaps and bounds since Claressa Shields headlined the very first women’s main event on a nationally televised card,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Now, she stands atop the mountain, defending the undisputed women’s heavyweight world title for the first time. Over a century ago, Jack Johnson traveled to Australia to become the first African American heavyweight champion of the world. On July 26, Claressa Shields writes her own chapter in that on-going legacy—bringing the fight home to Detroit and facing a significant challenge in the reigning light heavyweight world champion, Lani Daniels. This is more than a fight—it is a defining moment in the evolution of boxing and women’s sport. Claressa is linking generations, breaking barriers, and etching her name deeper into the fabric of the sports history.”
Michigan is a world-renowned hotbed of boxing talent and history that runs deep. Producing legends in the sport, including Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and James “Lights Out” Toney, Michigan, the greater Detroit region in particular, continues to breed the best of boxing. Salita Promotions features an impressive roster of Michigan-grown fighters including Shields, Ardreal Holmes Jr., and rising Michigan stars Joshua James Pagan and Joseph Hicks Jr., as they continue to build their legacy in the sport. Marking Shields’ seventh time competing professionally in Detroit, Salita Promotions will spotlight the rich history and world-class talent in Michigan once again on July 26.