Khalilah Ali, Muhammad Ali’s ex‑wife, has publicly picked Claressa Shields to defeat Laila Ali.
At a weigh‑in event before Claressa Shields’s July 26 title defense in Detroit, Khalilah Ali spoke to FightHype. She said, “I don’t care how much money. She’s going to get whooped.” She added when pressed on rounds: “Three or four. Maybe. Three or four, she got to go.”
Khalilah had previously been supportive of the idea, even rallying for the fight before Shields had the purse. She noted, “That’s right! That’s right! I told you. It’s time to come on.”
Fight Offer Meets Demand
The tension comes as Shields publicly confirmed funding for a proposed bout. In a video to TMZ, she declared, “Laila, I’m here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million!”
Shields added: “Let’s make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The greats versus the greats. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali’s daughter.” Her promoter has also secured venues and dates, according to reports.
Laila Ali had previously responded in an interview that she might consider returning if the payout met her threshold. “Unless somebody calls me and says they have it, we’re not even gonna have a conversation… if someone offered that kind of money, I would actually have to think about it.”
Stakes Rising Amid Family Drama
This unfolds as Shields remains unbeaten at 16–0 and recently retained her undisputed heavyweight titles. Media outlets have framed the potential match as a generational clash. Shields is the recognized GWOAT, while Laila remains undefeated from her early 2000s career.
Khalilah Ali, in this context, is the former wife of Muhammad Ali (married 1967–1976) and the step‑mother of Laila. Her harsh stance on Laila’s chances adds fuel to the narrative. Reports suggest bitterness over Ali’s marriage to Laila’s mother may underlie Khalilah’s support for Shields.
Shields, for her part, has been vocal on social media. She wrote, “You not a better boxer than me & at 175 I’ll put you on your back!” She also claimed Laila “let women’s boxing die” and that the sport only revived when she arrived.
Laila Ali has not formally accepted the fight offer. As of now, she has made no public response to the $15 million offer via Shields’s team.