Claressa Shields’ bout against Lani Daniels on July 26 at Little Caesars Arena drew 15,600 spectators with 71% of tickets purchased by women.
Attendance at the arena was the most in Detroit’s history for a boxing event.
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“I just want to thank God,” said Shields. “I was praying for a sold-out Little Caesars Arena since the first time I fought here. Many people from around the world came out, and I am truly grateful for that.”
On Saturday night, Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight title against Daniels (11-3, 1 KO) in front of a global audience and a packed arena in Detroit.
A joint collaboration between Shields, Salita Promotions and Wynn Records bridged boxing and music as Shields was walked out by multi-platinum recording artist Rick Ross.
“I’ve been all over the world to some of the biggest boxing shows, and there is nothing like a Detroit crowd,” said Shields. “They were chanting ‘Whoop that Trick.’ This is definitely my house, and we blew the roof off. It was crazy. Throughout the rounds, I just heard how loud the crowd was. There was not a quiet moment the entire time I was out there.”
Following the bout, Shields was announced as an inductee into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, adding another historic milestone to her long list of accolades.
Just before Shields’ walkout, Salita Promotions produced a live in-ring tribute to some of the most influential women in boxing history. Honored were Jackie Kallen, the “First Lady of Boxing” and one of the sport’s most successful female managers; Ann Wolfe, a former world champion and one of the most feared punchers in boxing history; and Mary Jo Sanders, a Detroit-born multi-division champion who helped elevate women’s boxing on a global stage.
They were joined by unified world champion Franchón Crews-Dezurn, light heavyweight world champion Che Kanneally, and heavyweight contender Danielle Perkins.
The moment represented a symbolic handoff from the pioneers to the new generation and reflected Salita’s commitment to building careers with long-term impact.
Since the beginning of Shields’ professional career, Salita Promotions has championed her rise and redefined the economics around women in the sport.
In 2022, the company produced the first all-women’s headlined card with Shields vs. Savannah Marshall, a groundbreaking moment that helped deliver the sport’s first million-dollar payday for a female boxer.
Shields’ platform has created meaningful opportunities for Salita Promotions’ roster and will continue to do so.
Samantha “The Heat” Worthington (12-0, 7 KOs) captured the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title, co-promoted by Shields’ T-Rex Promotions.
Caroline Veyre (10-1, 0 KOs) claimed the WBC Silver Featherweight Championship in a high-stakes contest. These wins reflect Salita’s broader strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of world-class talent.
“Saturday night was proof of concept,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “We’re not waiting for the sport to evolve. We’re building the next era now. From the economics of the gate to global distribution, to fighter equity and generational storytelling, this is how the business of boxing should look moving forward.”
In a post-fight interview, Shields said her bout against Daniels was her last under Salita Promotions. Shields will now operate as a promotional free agent or under her own T-Rex Promotions company.