Boxing - Claressa Shields & Savannah Marshall Press Conference - Genesis Cinema, London, Britain - October 13, 2022 Claressa Shields during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
(Reuters) -Five-division world champion Claressa Shields has signed an $8 million multi-year deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, the promotion company said on Thursday, calling it the richest contract in women's boxing.
The 30-year-old is undefeated in all 17 of her professional bouts and became the first undisputed women's heavyweight champion with a win over Danielle Perkins in February, adding the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles to her WBC belt.
"Today marks a groundbreaking step for women's boxing and for women's sports," Dmitriy Salita said in a news conference in New York on Thursday.
"This is the richest agreement in women's boxing, including a minimum guarantee of $8 million across multiple fights."
Shields, who won middleweight gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, said male gold medallists are typically awarded lucrative contracts when they turn professional.
"When a man has an Olympic gold medal and turns pro they sign him to a million dollar signing bonus, well I didn't get that even though I have two Olympic gold medals," the American said.
"But now I have an $8 million two-year deal with a $3 million dollar signing bonus, and that's before I get inside the ring."
While her opponents under the new deal were not revealed, Shields suggested she would like a fight with fellow American Mikaela Mayer.
"In 2025 or 2026, I would love to fight Mikaela Mayer because of the way she beat Mary Spencer, I'd love to see her throw those punches at me," she added.
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
