Danielle Perkins

Danielle Perkins, born on August 30, 1982, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American professional boxer competing in the heavyweight division. Before transitioning to boxing, Perkins had a distinguished basketball career. She was an All-American high school athlete and played collegiate basketball at St. John’s University. After her college career, she played professionally overseas until a car accident ended her basketball journey.

Perkins had a solid amateur career, winning several national-level titles, including the 2019 USA Boxing National Championships. Perkins began her boxing career later in life, making her professional debut on August 20, 2020, at age 37, with a unanimous decision victory over Monika Harrison at the Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan.

On March 5, 2021, she secured the WBC Silver female heavyweight title by defeating Harrison in a rematch. She went on to win the inaugural WBC female heavyweight title with a unanimous decision against Julija Pajić on June 5, 2021.

Fought against on February 2, 2025, against Claressa Shields, one of the greatest female boxers in history. February 2, 2025, against Claressa Shields In this highly anticipated showdown, Perkins lost by unanimous decision while attempting to defend her WBC female heavyweight title.

Outside the ring, Perkins serves as a manager in the personal training department at Equinox, a high-end fitness chain, and is currently pursuing an MBA in finance.

Renowned St. John’s Athletics program, her foundation is built on years of honing her craft through structured training and competition. This background has shaped her into a fighter whose style blends physicality with technical precision, making her one of the most dynamic heavyweights in the sport today.

Perkins carries a top-heavy frame reminiscent of a wrestler, using her natural strength and leverage to control exchanges in close quarters. Her punches have a distinct “wing-back” trajectory, delivering powerful, looping shots that keep opponents cautious. Yet, despite her physicality, Perkins is far from a one-dimensional brawler. Her approach to the ring embodies the definition of fundamental boxing, much like the fighters in Terence Crawford’s stable, who are known for their technical brilliance and adaptability.

One of Perkins’ standout weapons is her lead hand. Whether she’s using it to establish range, disrupt her opponent’s rhythm, or set up a combination, her lead hand is always active and effective. She’s particularly skilled at the pull-counter - a defensive maneuver that involves baiting her opponent into overextending, then slipping back and returning fire with precision. This ability to anticipate and react makes her a dangerous counter-puncher.

Footwork is another key element of Perkins’ style. She’s a pivot fighter, always moving, always angling, creating openings that allow her to strike while staying just out of reach. Her ability to box “toe-to-toe” while maintaining defensive awareness is a hallmark Mike Plania