Feud Between Claressa Shields and Laila Ali in Women's Boxing
This year has been eventful for women's boxing, with a major story revolving around the ongoing feud between undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) and boxing legend Laila Ali (24-1, 21 KOs), daughter of Muhammad Ali.
Attempts to Arrange a Fight
Shields has been calling for a fight against Ali for years without much response. Ali, who is 17 years older and retired since 2007, changed her stance earlier this year by stating she would consider fighting Shields if offered $15-20 million.
Escalation and Public Calls
Following Ali's comment, Shields intensified her efforts, reportedly raising the demanded amount and publicly challenging Ali multiple times. Despite this, Ali has not officially confirmed her willingness to come out of retirement for the fight.
Laila Ali's Response
In a YouTube video published on October 16, Ali criticized Shields for what she called "disrespectful callouts" and described her as having a "divisive, vindictive, and malicious nature."
Ali concluded the video by announcing a follow-up where she would clarify whether she would accept Shields' fight challenge.
Author’s Summary
The heated exchange between Claressa Shields and Laila Ali highlights the struggle to finalize a proposed high-profile women’s boxing match, marked by public challenges and unresolved stances.