Claressa Shields expresses belief that confrontation with boxing great would establish unprecedented milestone in female boxing annals.
Claressa Shields expresses belief that confrontation with boxing great would establish unprecedented milestone in female boxing annals.
Claressa Shields and Laila Ali, two prominent figures in women's boxing, used to have a close relationship. However, things have changed, and Shields talked about the situation on Andre Ward's podcast, The Art of Ward.
Shields mentioned that while the issues between her and Ali haven't completely ruptured, there have been unsettled matters that need to be resolved. Their rivalry peaked in 2020, but it never escalated into a physical confrontation. Shields disclosed that Ali was offered the necessary funds for a fight, but the situation didn't progress further.
Despite never going head-to-head when their competition was at its height, Shields still believes that a fight between them could break records in women's boxing. Ward asked Shields why the proposed fight never materialized.
"Me squaring off against her right now would still be the biggest draw in women's boxing," Shields told Ward. "At this moment. There are top-tier fighters like Amanda Serranos and Katie Taylors, but Claressa Shields vs. Laila Ali—even in an exhibition match—still holds the potential to be the most significant event in women's boxing. So, why turn down such an opportunity?"
You can listen to the entire interview for a deeper insight. Ward's interviewing skills have made him one of the best in the combat sports industry, and his career is just starting to take off.
Ali, now 46, might find coming out of retirement less probable, but in the world of lucrative deals for fights between active fighters and legends, it's hard to say never.
Recently, Jake Paul fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a Netflix event, which broke viewership records. A Shields-Ali fight might not match those numbers, but it has the potential to be the most notable fight in women's boxing history.
Serrano-Taylor II was a part of the undercard for Paul-Tyson, and while it was the best fight of the event, its viewership was largely influenced by the main event. If it does occur, a Shields-Ali fight stands a good chance of being the main event in the United States.
A potential venue for this fight could be the same card as the much-discussed exhibition match between Logan Paul and Conor McGregor, should it happen in India. A card featuring Paul-McGregor and Shields-Ali has the potential to draw massive audiences and financially reward all the participants.
As for the ongoing beef, it would be beneficial to see Shields and Ali put their differences aside. Both women have made significant contributions to women's boxing, and they have represented the sport with integrity.
Shields, 29, is entering a new phase of her career. She aims to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, which would make her a four-division undisputed champion—a feat never achieved before.
With Shields' biopic, The Fire Inside, set to hit theaters on Christmas Day, and her continued drive for success in boxing, she appears to be at the pinnacle of her professional career.
Shields plans to retire at 38, but before that, she intends to return to the 154-pound weight class to take part in a few high-stakes fights. On February 2, she defends her WBC heavyweight title against Danielle Perkins.
Claressa Shields expressed her interest in facing Laila Ali in their next fight, stating that it would be the biggest draw in women's boxing. Ward questioned why the proposed fight between Shields and Ali never materialized. Despite Ali's age, the potential for a lucrative fight between the two boxing legends remains a possibility.