Claressa Shields just secured the $15 million needed to drag boxing legend Laila Ali out of retirement for what could be the biggest women’s boxing match in history. And she did it with a giant check and a challenge.
Claressa Shields isn’t just talking the talk. She’s coming with the bag.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time) has officially secured a whopping $15 million purse to finally get Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, back in the ring.
In a bold video message sent to TMZ Sports on Thursday, Shields stood with her team and proudly announced the news while holding a massive $15 million check, courtesy of Ruben Branson’s Wynn Records.
“Laila, I’m here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million! 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,” Shields declared.
For years, fans have fantasized about this dream matchup, two undefeated champions (Shields at 16-0, Ali at 24-0), representing two generations of greatness in women’s boxing. But until now, it felt like nothing more than a fantasy.
Laila Ali, 47, has long maintained she’s comfortably retired. However, in a recent interview with FightHype, she teased that if someone came with a serious bag, somewhere in the $15 to $20 million range, she’d consider stepping back into the ring.
Well, consider the offer delivered.
This beef has been simmering for years.
Back in 2019, Laila Ali made waves in a radio interview where she dismissed Claressa’s skills, saying, “[Shields] could never beat me.” Shields, never one to back down, fired back, pointing out that Ali’s 24-0 record came against opponents who, in her words, “wouldn’t make it out of the second round with me.”
Since then, the two women have traded verbal jabs. But the possibility of them actually fighting seemed like a pipe dream. Now, with Shields’ team securing two of the biggest arenas in the country, T-Mobile Arena in Vegas and AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the pipe dream might become reality.
