Laila Ali is in no hurry to trade jabs—physically or verbally. The former boxing champion recently told fans to “practice patience” as speculation continues over a long-discussed, big-money bout with Claressa Shields.
The online feud between Ali, 47, and Shields, 30, has spanned nearly a decade, dating back to around 2018. It flared up again in 2020 when Ali said she would need $15 million to come out of retirement and face the rising star. Since then, the two champions have traded barbs on social media and in interviews, fueling rumors of a generational showdown.
In January 2025, their tension resurfaced during a podcast with Andre Ward, who asked Ali directly about her issues with Shields. Ali didn’t hold back. Shields clapped back harder, calling her out by name.
By mid-July, Ali increased her price tag, claiming she would only consider fighting for $15 to $20 million. Just days later, Shields claimed to have secured a $15 million purse and dared Ali to accept.
Shields renewed the challenge on July 18. Ali, however, sidestepped the buzz and returned to lifestyle content. On August 5, she posted on Instagram promoting her new cooking show and a Persian cucumber recipe. She also mocked the online chatter, trolling fans demanding a response to Shields’ offer.
Shields wasn’t amused. She fired off in the comments section of Hollywood Unlocked, writing, “I just wanna whoop her a**. She always disrespects me and talks sh*t. I wanna see her get dusted.”
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-division world champion, has dubbed herself “The GWOAT”—the Greatest Woman of All Time. Her credentials back it up.
She’s held titles in three weight classes and has positioned herself as the face of women’s boxing. Ali, unbeaten in 24 professional fights before retiring in 2007, remains a global sports figure thanks to her dominant career and iconic lineage as Muhammad Ali’s daughter.
Whether Ali returns to the ring remains uncertain. She insists she’ll answer Shields’ challenge on her own terms. Until then, the standoff between these two boxing titans remains frozen—caught between pride, legacy, and a multimillion-dollar prize.