Claressa Shields, widely regarded as one of boxing’s greatest, stirred controversy by accusing retired legend Laila Ali of being “scared” to meet her in the ring.
Shields made the claim during a TMZ Sports interview on August 8 in Los Angeles, confronting the fallout of a proposed “mega-fight” that reportedly carried a $15 million offer. She said Laila’s camp flatly declined, prompting her to question the reasons behind the refusal. “Layla and her representatives have told us no… She doesn’t want to fight,” Shields said. “And that’s fine. I have no problem with that. I’m not upset. I mean, I wouldn’t fight me either… I understand that she’s scared. I’m moving on.”
A $15 Million Offer Turns Sour
Shields claimed she went through the effort to meet Laila’s financial demand. “I thought that she was about all that talk. She wanted $15 million. I went and got the $15 million. And now it’s all this backpedaling,” she said. “So… congrats to her on whatever she’s doing. But I’m moving on with my career.”
Highlighting generational differences in women’s boxing, Shields remarked, “We’re in a generation now where the women fight each other. We don’t duck each other. And back in [Laila’s] generation, that’s all she did. So it is what it is.”
Pressing further, Shields added: “Muhammad Ali would never. Her daddy would never. If you called out Muhammad Ali, he was coming to check you, and he was coming to lay hands on you. Maybe she don’t have that in her genes.”
Family Fires Back
Hana Ali, Laila’s sister, responded via Hollywood Unlocked’s Instagram comments. She praised Laila’s enduring power and instinct, calling Shields’s remarks misdirected. “Claressa Shields is a great fighter… They’re a stepping stone, not a final measure of greatness,” Hana wrote. She added that Laila’s combat instincts run deep. “But they don’t determine who hits harder or who fights with more instinct… Claressa should be grateful she came up in boxing after Laila retired.”
While the showdown with Laila is now off the table, Shields shows no signs of slowing down. She reaffirmed her commitment to her sport and her pursuit of historic fights. “I’m moving on with my career,” she stated confidently.