Claressa Shields defended her undisputed heavyweight world championship with a 10-round unanimous decision over New Zealander Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Shields, a Flint native, put up a strong defense against Daniels, who attempted to pin Shields in corners to prevent her attacks. Despite that, Shields was the more powerful puncher and ultimately prevailed in 10 rounds.
Before the fight
Claressa Shields is in the spotlight once again.
The Olympic gold medalist and undisputed heavyweight champion in women’s boxing makes her first defense of the heavyweight title as a heavy favorite Saturday, July 26, against Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
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Shields, the self-proclaimed greatest women’s boxer of all-time, who was just elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2025, is the only boxer, male or female, to hold all four major world titles in three weight classes.
Daniels’ IBF light heavyweight title, won in 2023 and successfully defended in her most recent fight in September 2024, is also up for grabs. This is Daniels’ first-ever fight outside her native New Zealand.
Watch Claressa Shields fight on DAZN
Shields’ most recent fight came Feb. 2 in Flint, in a 10-round unanimous decision against Danielle Perkins, shrugging off a shoulder injury for a historic third undisputed world title.
However, after the fight, Shields was tested for marijuana by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission, which reported a false-positive test. Shields defended herself, saying she had “never smoked weed,” and the commission later determined it was a “procedural error.” Shields, suspended for one month, has been cleared of wrongdoing and promised to prepare for a “spectacular knockout” in this bout.
THE FIGHT: Weigh-in puts styles of Claressa Shields, Lani Daniels on display in Detroit
We will have live updates ringside from Little Caesars Arena, tracking results from the undercards and round-by-round analysis from the main event of Shields vs Daniels. Main event ringwalks are scheduled for 10 p.m. Follow along below.
Updates to come.
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels
Winner: Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields defeated Lani Daniels by unanimous decision,100-90, 99-91, 99-91, in ten rounds, to retain her title as undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Round 10: Claressa Shields and Lani Daniels end match trading blows
A very even 10th round ended the match, perhaps to the disappointment of the crowd, who would have liked to see a knockout from Shields. Daniels more than held her own, but Shields’ responses were always brutal and right at Daniels’ head. The 10th was more even than previous rounds as both landed tough blows over the three-minute period. Both raised their arms in victory at the final bell.
Round 9: Claressa Shields using ropes to her advantage
Even when Daniels has Shields backed into a corner, she isn’t doing as much damage as Shields is at any other point. Shields is still getting put on the ropes, but she’s managed to find ways to hit Daniels back even when she’s pinned.
Round 8: Lani Daniels returns fire, Claressa Shields answers
Daniels backed Shields into a corner quickly in the eighth round and was able to stop Shields’ momentum from the seventh. Despite that, Shields got herself off and again returned fire with her strong jab. At the end of the round, Shields was once again in a corner but was clearly the aggressor, landing a powerful one-two-three on Daniels in the last ten seconds of the match.
Round 7: Claressa Shields finds her rhythm against Lani Daniels, stays off the ropes
The seventh began with a solid bout between the two, but Shields quickly got the upper hand. She was able to both evade Daniels and land the more vicious of the punches, including three stunners in the middle of the round. Daniels was not able to keep Shields on the ropes as she had earlier in the match and Shields was able to work more in the way she prefers. By the end of the round, the crowd was back on their feet, chanting “Whoop that trick!” which they had also chanted earlier in the match.
Round 6: Claressa Shields lands brutal blows against Lani Daniels
Shields is utilizing more left jabs against Daniels, including three successive ones early in the fifth round. Shields is having some trouble connecting her punches due to Daniels’ evading tactics, but when she does, the blows are absolutely vicious. Daniels returned fire, but not to the same extent.
Round 5: Claressa Shields gets off the ropes, lands hooks against Lani Daniels
When Daniels gets Shields up against the ropes, Shields is having a difficult time breaking herself off. But once she did, she landed a vicious flurry of blows on Daniels, who does not have the same physical power, near the end of the round.
Round 4: Lani Daniels finds response against Claressa Shields
Daniels found a bit of a response and had Shields on the ropes near the end of the round. Shields is having to contend with Daniels’ speed and the response she’s now found.
Round 3: Lani Daniels and Claressa Shields settle into rhythm
The fight seems to have settled down now. Daniels is not dancing around the ring as much, and the two are feeling each other out in a more traditional sense. Daniels landed a few hooks but Shields still has the superior response.
Round 2: Claressa Shields outpunches Lani Daniels
More dancing from Daniels, who can’t match Shields’ punching power. Daniels is evading as much as she can, but when Shields lands punches, it’s absolutely dominant. Daniels can’t return fire in the same way and evading may not last her long.
Round 1: Claressa Shields chases Lani Daniels
Daniels spent the better part of the three minutes dancing around the ring while Shields pursued. Near the end, Shields became frustrated and managed to land several hard hits on Daniels.
Broadcast card: Tony Harrison defeats Edward Ulloa Diaz
“Superman” is doing well at the box office, and a slightly different version is doing jsut as well in the boxing ring. Tony “Superbad” Harrison, in his first fight in two years, defeated Diaz by unanimous decision, 96-93, 98-91, 97-92, in ten rounds. Harrison put on the most entertaining fight of the night, recovering from an early onslaught from Diaz and finishing the fight strong.
The crowd was on Harrison’s side from the beginning as he walked in rocking a Seven Mile Avenue sign, Lions jersey and Hawaiian blue-trimmed shorts, but they had cause for concern through the first three rounds. Harrison was clearly rusty, and Diaz took advantage, landing punch after punch while Harrison struggled to find his rhythm.
By the end of third and into the fourth, however, Harrison began to regain form. He began using his superior reach and four extra inches of height to block Diaz from taking up inside position. He also began utilizing his jab more to keep Diaz at a distance, and had Diaz stumbling in the fifth.
Despite that, Diaz still had plenty of momentum. Harrison fell down in the seventh, but it was ruled a slip due to water on the mat. Diaz also at one point picked Harrison up over his shoulder, drawing condemnation from the crowd. And in the ninth, Diaz sent Harrison to the mat for real, knocking him down on a counter.
But Harrison came back in the tenth, and the two battled out the most entertaining round of the night, trading consistent blows for the better part of the three minute round. By the end of it, Harrison had Diaz swinging at the air, but the fight was far from decided. The crowd roared when Harrison was announced as the winner, triumphant in his re-introduction to the ring.
Broadcast card: Pryce Taylor defeats Robert Simms
Pryce Taylor handed Michigan its first loss of the night as he defeated Saginaw native Robert Simms by unanimous decision, 80-72. Simms was clearly outmatched for most of the night, assuming a defensive stance that Taylor penetrated again and again with jabs to the face. “The Pryce is Right” was faster and clearly wanted to utilize his speed, but was forced to fight at Simms’ slower pace, leading to a fight with only sporadic action. As their native son lost in an unsatisfying fashion, a restless crowd of 15,366 was booing throughout the fight. Pryce is now 9-0.
Broadcast card: Samantha Worthington defeats Victoire Piteau to claim WBA Super Lightweight World Interim title
Samantha Worthington defeated Victoire Piteau by unanimous decision, 99-91, 95-95, 96-94, in 10 rounds to claim the WBA Super Lightweight World Interim title. The 29-year-old claimed the belt despite Piteau’s surge in the later rounds where she battered Worthington, forcing the typically-aggressive Worthington into a more defensive stance. Worthington still prevailed, however, seizing the upper hand in the earlier rounds and pulling out a victory in the closest mach of the night so far. Worthington is now 12-0.
Broadcast card: Caroline Veyre defeats Licia Boudersa, claims WBC Silver Featherweight title
Caroline Veyre defeated Licia Boudersa for the WBC Silver Featherweight title by unanimous decision, 99-91, 98-92, 99-91, in 10 rounds. The Montreal native bested the French fighter in an intense and bloody match. While Veyre had the upper hand early, battering Boudersa and drawing first blood in the sixth, Boudersa found her rhythm in the eighth and ninth rounds, landing more punches on Veyre. Ultimately, Veyre’s speed and nimbleness were too much for Boudersa. Veyre moves to 10-1 in her career.
Undercard: Ryan Wilczak-Leon Lawson III fight postponed
The Ryan Wilczak-Leon Lawson III fight will now be contested after the conclusion of the Shields-Daniels match later tonight as there was not enough time to complete the match before the start of the broadcast at 8 p.m.
Undercard: Da’Velle Smith defeats Martez McGregor
Five straight Michigan natives have won their bouts as Da’Velle Smith defeated Martez McGregor by unanimous decision, 79-72, 80-71, 80-71. Smith, boxing in his hometown, recorded a knockdown in the fifth round and thoroughly overpowered McGregor in eight to remain undefeated. He is now 13-0 in the super middleweights.
Undercard: Cameran Pankey defeats Dominique Griffin
Pontiac native Cameran Pankey defeated Dominque Griffin by unanimous judge decision, 59-55, 60-54, 59-55, in six rounds in the featherweight category. Pankey overwhelmed Griffin with frequent flurries of punches that the Texas native had no response for. Pankey moves to 12-1 in his career.
Undercard: Kahmel Makled, Jaquan McElroy win bouts
Macomb fighter Kahmel Makled won his third pro fight as a light heavyweight, defeating Devario Hauser via TKO in Hauser’s pro debut. Makled scored three knockdowns before the bout was decided by referee stoppage.
Flint native Jaquan McElroy defeated Joshua Flores in four rounds in the middleweights. McElroy scored a knockdown en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Undercard: Sardius Simmons downs Demetrius Banks by decision
By unanimous decision, Flint native Sardius Simmons defeated Detroit native Demetrius Banks, 40-36, in four rounds. Simmons, a decorated amateur, won his pro debut in June and is now 2-0 in his career.
Claressa Shields fight today start time
- Date: Saturday, July 26.
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
- Undercard start: 5:30 p.m. ET.
- DAZN broadcast fight card: 8 p.m. ET. (available to watch).
- Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels main event ringwalks: 10 p.m. ET.
The event will be streamed on DAZN. Fans in the U.S. can purchase the event for $29.99.
What apps have DAZN?
According to DAZN, you will be able to watch the fight on all of the apps below:
Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire Tablet, Android Phone & Tablet, iPhone & iPad, Android TV, LG, Smart TV, Panasonic Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, SmartCast, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Roku.
Fights tonight ahead of Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels
The broadcast card features five fights: three women’s fights and two men’s fights, with Shields-Daniels as the final battle:
- Samantha Worthington (11-0-0) vs. Victoire Piteau (14-2-0) for the WBA Super Lightweight World Interim Title.
- Caroline Veyre (9-1) vs. Licia Boudersa (23-3-2) for the WBA Silver Featherweight Title.
- Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (8-0-0) vs. Saginaw native Robert Simms (12-4-1).
- Former WBC Super Welterweight World Champion (and Detroit native) Tony Harrison (29-4-1) vs middleweight contender Edward Ulloa Diaz (15-6-0).
- Claressa Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) vs Lani Daniels (11-2-2).
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