Okay, so lemme tell you about this deep dive I did on Claressa Shields’ fight purses. It all started with a late-night debate with my buddies about women’s boxing and who’s really making bank. Shields’ name kept popping up, so I figured, “Alright, let’s get to the bottom of this.”
First thing I did, I hit up Google. Straight to the point – “Claressa Shields fight purse.” I wasn’t looking for fluff; I wanted numbers. What I found was a mix of articles, forums, and some sketchy-looking sports blogs. Sorting through the noise was the first challenge.
Next, I started digging into fight records. Sites like BoxRec and Tapology can be goldmines, but sometimes the exact purse isn’t listed publicly. So, I started cross-referencing info from multiple sources. If one article mentioned a guaranteed amount, I’d see if another confirmed it or gave a range.
I realized pretty quickly that fight purses aren’t always straightforward. There’s the guaranteed purse, of course, but then you have potential bonuses for things like winning, knockout performances, or TV ratings. And don’t forget about sponsorships! That’s where things get even murkier.
To try and get a clearer picture, I started looking for interviews with Shields herself, her promoter (Dimitrius Salitas), or people in the boxing world who might have inside info. Sometimes these interviews drop hints or reveal specific details about past payouts.
One thing I kept running into was the disparity between men’s and women’s boxing purses. Even though Shields is a massive talent and a multiple-division champion, her payouts are often significantly less than male fighters with comparable records. It’s a tough reality, and it definitely factored into my overall understanding of her earnings.
Okay, so after hours of digging, I started compiling a spreadsheet. I listed each of her fights, the date, the opponent, and then my best estimate of her purse, based on all the info I’d gathered. I made sure to note where I got each piece of information, so I could back it up if anyone questioned my findings.
What did I find? Well, it’s hard to pin down exact figures without being in the room when the contracts are signed. But based on my research, Shields’ purses have definitely grown over time as her profile has risen. For some of her bigger fights, she’s likely earned in the six-figure range, but it’s not like she’s raking in millions like some of the top male boxers. It’s a grind, and she’s working hard to close that gap.
In the end, this little project turned into a pretty fascinating look into the business side of boxing and the challenges female athletes face in getting fairly compensated. It wasn’t just about the money; it was about understanding the bigger picture.
