The feud between Claressa Shields and Laila Ali has heated up once again. Recently, Claressa Shields, 30, took to social media to respond to Laila Ali, 47, who had called her out in a YouTube video. In it, Laila accused Shields of using her name for recognition and expressed her frustration about being mentioned in connection with Claressa.
Laila even suggested that if her late father, the legendary Muhammad Ali, were alive, he’d consider Claressa a “generic wannabe,” asserting that Shields doesn’t embody his legacy either in the ring or outside of it. This statement quickly ignited passionate discussions on boxing Twitter.
Claressa Shields, however, was not going to let that slide. In her fiery response, she proclaimed, “Laila Ali has been losing the fight against me for a very long time,” noting that when someone is on the losing side, they often resort to low blows. Claressa accused Ali of “hating on the youth,” not just her, but any woman in combat sports who is gaining popularity beyond what Ali once had. Claressa Shields argued that instead of uplifting the next generation of Black female athletes, Ali seems focused on undermining them.
Reflecting on their past, Claressa Shields mentioned that she and Ali initially had a supportive relationship after Shields won her Olympic medal in 2012, describing it as a “big sister, little sister” dynamic. However, tensions rose when Shields began making significant strides in her career and earning substantial income.
Claressa recalled that Laila had advised her to stay in the amateur ranks and collect Olympic gold medals, suggesting there was little opportunity for women’s boxing in the professional arena. Now, Claressa Shields questions whether that advice was sincere. Going professional and breaking records transformed Claressa’s career, making her the first woman to earn $1 million in boxing and showing that female boxers can achieve financial success and recognition.
In her closing remarks, Claressa Shields delivered a pointed line that quickly went viral: “You are officially the most obsessed with me.”
Fans have reacted passionately to the drama; some uphold Laila Ali’s legendary status, while others support Claressa Shields, condemning what they see as “bitter auntie energy.”
