Claressa Shields (15-0, 3 KO) is back in the ring on Sunday in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Shields will be defending her WBC and WBF heavyweight titles and fighting for the vacant WBO and IBF crowns against Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KO).
Here’s how you can watch:
- Date: Sunday, February 2
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
- Location: Dort Federal Event Center, Flint, US
- TV/Stream: DAZN
Both fighters are undefeated, but not all undefeated records are created equally. Shields is the pound-for-pound best fighter in women’s boxing, while Perkins is a 42-year-old with five pro fights who was an absolute unknown before she signed on for what figures to be a one-sided beatdown from Shields.
Perkins defeated Christianne Fahey via unanimous decision in a six-rounder on the undercard of Shields’ TKO victory over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July 2024 in Detroit.
As it is, Shields has become the kind of attraction that always generates attention—no matter who she’s fighting. Some would like to see Shields come down from 175 pounds to a lower weight class where she’d be in range for some of the other big names in women’s boxing.
If she doesn’t, Shields probably isn’t going to get a competitive fight at heavyweight because the pickings are so slim. Very few of the top women’s boxers compete in divisions higher than welterweight.
Shields has talked about fighting MVP Promotions fighter and former world champion Shadasia Green. That fight would generate some buzz, although Green was dethroned by Franchón Crews-Dezurn in December 2023.
Green bounced back with two wins in a row, including a split-decision victory over Melinda Watpool in November 2024 on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson undercard. Still, Shields would be a major favorite in that fight as well.
At this stage of Shields’ career, she’d probably only be motivated to come down in weight if the matchup and money were right. We’ll see if the likes of Natasha Jonas or Mikaela Mayer want to move up to fight Shields. Those fights could bring a solid payday.
For now, we’ll have to settle for Shields vs. Perkins. Perhaps Perkins will deliver a better performance than anticipated. Even if she doesn’t, Shields’ homecoming will be a big night for her and women’s boxing.
What’s After Shields-Perkins?
The upcoming boxing schedule is strong. Take a look at these intriguing dates.
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Dereck Chisora vs. Otto Wallin
- Location: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: 2:00 PM (ET)
Friday, February 14, 2025
WBO World Lightweight Championship: (c) Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer
Vito Mielnicki vs. Connor Coyle
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes
- Location: The Theater at MSG, New York City, US
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza
- Location: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: Noon (ET)
Oscar Duarte vs. Regis Prograis
- Honda Center, Anaheim, California, US
- Time: 8 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 22, 2025
The Ring, WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF Light Heavyweight Championship: (c) Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
IBF Heavyweight Championship: (c) Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker
WBC Lightweight Championship (c) Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield
WBC Middleweight Championship (c) Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov
Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel
- Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, SA
- Time: Noon (ET)
Monday, February 24, 2025
WBC World Bantamweight Championship: (c) Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar Contreras
- Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JP
- Time: 2:00 AM (ET)
Saturday, March 1, 2025
WBA World Lightweight Championship: (c) Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr.
- Location: Barclays Center, New York City, US
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Friday, March 7, 2025
The Ring Welterweight Championship: (c) Natasha Jonas vs. Lauren Price
- Location: Royal Albert Hall, London, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, March 15, 2025
WBA World Featherweight Championship: (c) Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny
- Location: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Callum Walsh vs. Dean Sutherland
- Location: The Theater at MSG, New York City, US
- Time: 9:00 PM (ET)
