Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields is set to fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown against Brooklyn, New York’s Danielle Perkins on February 2 at the Dort Financial Center in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. The five-division world champion will compete in a 10-round bout, with each round lasting two minutes.
Despite the high stakes, Shields enters the fight as the clear betting favorite, while Perkins remains a relatively unknown challenger. The gap in professional experience between the two fighters is significant, further reinforcing Shields’ advantage. Regardless, Shields has yet to showcase the knockout power that typically drives pay-per-view sales. Still, both fighters are expected to earn a solid payday from this highly anticipated showdown.
How much will Claressa Shields earn against Danielle Perkins?
According to a report from USA Today, Claressa Shields claimed that her purse for the fight against Danielle Perkins would be around $1.5 million. However, a conflicting report from Total Sportal suggests that she is only set to make $500,000 from the bout. While the exact figure remains unconfirmed, Shields did reveal that the fighters involved will also receive a non-monetary bonus, though the specifics of this incentive have not been disclosed.
Since the fight is being offered for free to DAZN subscribers, neither Shields nor her opponent, Danielle Perkins, will have the opportunity to earn a share of the pay-per-view sales—often a crucial factor in increasing a fighter’s earnings. Despite this, Shields has a history of securing sizable purses. In her previous fight against Maricela Cornejo, she reportedly earned $500,000, and her payday for the Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse bout las year was estimated to be between $650,000 and $700,000.
Outside of her in-ring earnings, Shields has built a solid financial foundation through sponsorships and endorsements. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she is estimated to be worth $1 million as of 2025, with boxing serving as her primary source of income. Over the years, she has collaborated with several brands, including Swimsuits For All and Stage Front VIP, adding an extra stream of revenue through endorsement deals. However, these partnerships make up only a small fraction of her overall earnings.
If Shields’ claim of a $1.5 million paycheck for this fight is accurate, her net worth should see a noticeable increase. However, for her purse to continue growing significantly, she will need to secure high-profile matchups against other major names in women’s boxing.
With the sport gaining more visibility and female fighters advocating for equal pay, marquee bouts against top-tier opponents could be the key to Shields maximizing her earning potential and further solidifying her status as one of the most financially successful female boxers of all time.
Danielle Perkins fight purse against Claressa Shields
Compared to five-division champion Claressa Shields, Danielle Perkins remains a relatively unknown name in the boxing scene. The 42-year-old Brooklyn native has just five professional fights under her belt, having made her debut in August 2020 against Monika Harrison, where she secured a unanimous decision victory.
Perkins fought once more that year but managed only a single bout in 2021 before taking a two-year hiatus. She returned in 2024 against Timea Nagy and later defeated Christianne Fahey in July of last year. Now, she faces the biggest challenge of her career against someone as formidable as Claressa Shields.
On paper, this should be an easy win for Shields, but for Perkins to pull off an upset, she’ll need to deliver something extraordinary. While she does have some amateur experience, it pales in comparison to Shields’ Olympic pedigree—not to mention the challenge of competing at 42 against a 29-year-old.
Despite her limited accomplishments, Perkins is earning a significant payday for this fight. According to Total Sportal, she will take home $175,000—likely the biggest purse of her career. Additionally, she could receive a non-monetary bonus, further boosting her earnings. And while an upset seems highly unlikely, if Perkins defies the odds, her future paydays could skyrocket.
That said, both Claressa Shields and Danielle Perkins are set to walk away with hefty paychecks from their upcoming fight. But the real question is—do you think their fight purses are justified? Is this matchup big enough to warrant such payouts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Claressa Shields vs. Danielle Perkins Disclosed Fight Purse: How Much Will They Earn? appeared first on EssentiallySports.