Claressa Shields Challenges Laila Ali Over Fight Refusal
The heated dispute between undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) and boxing legend Laila Ali (24-1, 21 KOs), daughter of Muhammad Ali, has become a key story in women's boxing this year.
Shields has long sought a match with Ali, who is 17 years her senior and retired from boxing in 2007, yet Ali's response remained minimal for years. That changed earlier this year when Ali mentioned she would consider fighting Shields only if offered $15-20 million.
This statement spurred Shields to intensify her efforts, allegedly raising the demanded sum and persistently calling out Ali in interviews and public forums. Despite Shields' persistence, Ali has not officially confirmed whether she would return from retirement to fight, even for the proposed amount.
Laila Ali's Response
On October 16, Ali released a YouTube video criticizing Shields' repeated challenges, describing Shields as having a “divisive, vindictive, and malicious nature.”
Ali said, "Shields has a divisive, vindictive, and malicious nature."
She concluded the video by announcing a forthcoming follow-up to clarify whether she would accept Shields' fight proposal.
Summary
This rivalry highlights contrasting perspectives on respect and competition in women's boxing, with Shields pushing for the bout and Ali remaining cautious about a comeback.