DETROIT – Even if it’s not being outwardly marketed this way, it’s clear that Che Kenneally’s upcoming fight could set her up as a potential opponent for one of the women in the main event – heavyweight champion Claressa Shields or challenger Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
Kenneally, 5-0 (2 KOs), is a 31-year-old from Australia who is defending her WBA light heavyweight title against Danielle Perkins on the undercard this Sunday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Perkins, 5-1 (2 KOs), is a 43-year-old from Houston who lost a unanimous decision to Shields in February 2025 and is now signed with Shields’ T-Rex Promotions.
“She's strong. She likes to take command of the ring, but she's beatable and I'm here to beat her,” Kenneally said in an interview with BoxingScene. “My youth is on my side. I am fit, I am strong, I'm underestimated, and I'm going to be using that to my advantage.”
Kenneally believes she is being underestimated because she is “the away girl,” and also because people think she’s on the lighter end when they look at her. Kenneally’s height is listed at 6ft, and she came in a smidge above 170lbs for her title win over the 14-4-3 Angie Paola Rocha in July 2024. That was Kenneally’s last time in the ring.
“They think I'm nice and kind,” said Kenneally, whose nickname is “The Fight Mum.”
“When I’m in there, I’m vicious, and I can't wait to show that.”
Perkins weighed in between 195 and 198lbs for her first three pro fights, in 2020 and 2021. After a three-year layoff, she has been between 175 and 178 in her three most recent outings.
“She’s come down, so she will look bigger, and she does have a lot of muscle mass,” Kenneally said. “But it doesn't really matter how big your muscles are.”
Kenneally arrived on Sunday after a long flight from Australia and then another from California to Detroit, using those many hours to catch up on sleep, as well as the television show “Suits.” Her previous five pro bouts were all in Australia. The traveling was worthwhile not only for this specific match, but also for what could come after.
“I think this is me putting myself on the international stage and showing what I have and, yeah, hopefully getting that fight with Claressa or Franchon,” Kenneally said. “I think it’s just really making my mark in America and showing that I deserve to be here and hopefully getting bigger opportunities.”
Although Shields is the heavyweight champion, her three previous bouts in the division all saw her come in lighter than 175lbs. Crews-Dezurn, meanwhile, is a unified super middleweight titleholder who used to be undisputed at 168. It wouldn’t be a stretch for Kenneally to fight the victor for the heavyweight championship.
And Kenneally predicts that Shields will be the one with her gloves raised.
“Claressa’s the GWOAT [Greatest Woman of All Time] for a reason. And I think she's too good and she’s too strong,” Kenneally said. “She's definitely settled into the heavyweight division. I think she's just going to put on a clinic.”
Women’s boxing has grown in Australia. Kenneally is one of four current major world titleholders from the country, alongside middleweight titleholders Desley Robinson and Kaye Scott, as well as bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson. And women from numerous countries are getting the spotlight from both Most Valuable Promotions and Salita Promotions, the latter of which has Kenneally in its stable and is promoting Sunday’s show.
“It's great that the world gets to see us and we're performing and we're coming to the platform and doing really well,” Kenneally said. “I think we can only get better when we're given the opportunity, so it's great.”
Kenneally is returning after 19 months away. She signed with Salita Promotions in April 2025.
“My career was kind of on pause for a year and a half just because I didn't get a fight, and I kind of dropped below everyone. I didn't really get recognized,” she said. “But I think this is a great chance for me to step up and show everyone that I still exist, that ‘The Fight Mum’ is here, and just perform really well and show everyone what I’m made of and make my mark.”
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
