Boxing legend Laila Ali, 47, addresses rumors claiming she would return to boxing from retirement to fight another champ: Claressa Shields, 30. According to Ali herself, she would do it, but needs a cool $15 to $20 million to hop back in the ring.
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While speaking with FightHype after the Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight on Friday (July 11), Laila Ali shared the news. After speaking about the Taylor-Serrano fight, Laila Ali addressed rumors about returning to boxing from retirement to face off with Claressa Shields.
She at first asked, “Where did that rumor come from?” She continued to say, “The rumor that I heard was that I said, ‘Unless somebody had $15-$20 million, don’t even call me about this. That’s all I heard.”
Ali continued:
“Unless somebody calls me and says they have it, we’re not even going to have a conversation. I’m not trying to come back and fight. But, if someone offered that kind of money, I would actually have to think about it. Do I look like I can fight again? I think so too.”
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Laila Ali’s latest comments about returning to boxing from retirement to fight Claressa Shields spawned a reaction from the latter. While taking to her official X account, Shields fired off:
“What a great weekend of boxing 🥊! Really motivated! Now @TheRealLailaAli I’m the GREATEST NOW! Be careful what you ask for ! You know I’ve been wanting to make you eat your words! You not a better boxer than me & at 175 I’ll put you on your back! BEEN READY FOR YOU! #GWOAT #ClaressaShields.”
Laila Ali And Claressa Shields Addressed Each Other Earlier This Year Over Face-Off Comments
The latest commentary from both Laila Ali and Claressa Shields arrives just months after the two went viral for talking about a face-off. In January, Laila Ali sat down with Andre Ward on his ‘Art of Ward’ show. During the interview, Ali addressed her prior “online beef” with Shields.
Ali said she “had no hard feelings” towards Shields. She further claimed that Shields did “a lot” when she tried to come for Ali’s legacy and force the fans to pick a side. She said:
“I don’t have any hard feelings against Claressa, in general. I got a lot going on to be worried about any of these young girls like that. But, at the same time, I see that she gets into it with a lot of people. She gets into it with a lot female fighters. She gets into it with male fighters, obviously that’s a thing for her. Hopefully, she’ll figure that out.”
Days after Laila Ali’s interview surfaced, Claressa Shields broke her silence. She claimed she hasn’t talked about the legend in a while, but has come to realize that “she’s jealous” and “acts like I owe her something.” Shields continued to claim, “Laila Ali is not a champion. She hasn’t been inside the ring in 18 years.”
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