Claressa Shields, 29, the reigning women’s boxing champion, has recently responded to remarks made by former boxing champion Laila Ali, 47, claiming that Ali is "jealous" of her accomplishments. The dispute, which has now escalated into a public feud, stems from Ali’s recent comments during an interview on Andre Ward’s "All The Smoke Fight" podcast, where she discussed her career and the current state of women’s boxing.
During the interview, Ali spoke about her previous rivalries in the ring and the requests from Shields for mentorship after her Olympic win in 2012. She shared that after her successful career, she had been invited to talk shows like The Breakfast Club and Sway’s Universe, where hosts asked her if she would ever return to boxing. Despite offering positive words about Shields and other female boxers, Ali made it clear that she had no interest in returning to the ring, which seemed to have offended Shields.
Laila Ali (@thereallailaali Instagram)
Shields, didn't hold back in expressing her frustrations in a passionate five-minute speech, emphasizing that Ali's comments about her legacy and career were deeply hurtful. Shields pointed out that while Ali claimed to have no hard feelings, her remarks about "burning bridges" felt like criticism, especially considering the different paths their careers have taken.
“You can think you can beat me. That’s fine. You’re supposed to think that. But to start going in on my legacy, what I have and haven’t done… that’s a lot,” Ali had said during the podcast.
"She's Jealous."
Claressa Shields Reacts To Laila Ali's Interview With Andre Ward And Says She Got Further In Her Life And Career Than Laila Ali .
(🎥Claressa Shields/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/MprDhEG0ae
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) January 18, 2025
Shields, however, was quick to respond, accusing Ali of feeling threatened by her success. “I’ve been come to terms that she’s jealous,” Shields said. “Now, I got the biopic. I got the fight coming up. She act like I owe her something, it’s weird.”
Shields further elaborated on the underlying tension, explaining that Ali seemed to take issue with her success and ongoing achievements. “I’ve gotten further in my career and in my life than Laila Ali… She wanna come and give this big sister advice… but I’ve already made it further than you… and I’m going to keep making it further than you.”
Claressa Shields (@claressashields Instagram)
The tension between Claressa Shields and Laila Ali has grown over time, with Shields confidently declaring her place in the boxing world. She believes that she is now the face of women’s boxing, a position that Ali never truly supported. “This is my era now, and she has never supported me in my era,” Shields asserted.
The feud between Claressa Shields and Laila Ali has its roots in both personal and professional differences, beginning when Shields, after gaining recognition in women’s boxing, reached out to Ali for mentorship. Shields, who admired Ali as the face of women’s boxing during her peak, sought guidance early in her career. However, Ali did not respond in the way Shields expected, and it became clear that Ali’s support wasn’t as forthcoming as Shields hoped.
As Shields' career advanced, Ali made public comments about the current state of women’s boxing, sometimes comparing herself to other boxers, including Shields. While Ali would praise Shields' skills, her remarks seemed to suggest that she felt unchallenged in her time and raised doubts about whether the younger generation, including Shields, could live up to her legacy. For Shields, these comments felt dismissive and left her feeling that Ali didn’t fully respect her accomplishments.
Laila Ali with father Muhammad Ali
Tension escalated when Ali made remarks in interviews, acknowledging Shields' achievements but questioning her approach to the sport and how she respected its history. Ali's suggestion that Shields wasn't doing enough to honor the sport’s pioneers, like herself, didn’t sit well with Shields. Shields, in turn, accused Ali of being jealous of her success, particularly because she had achieved milestones that Ali hadn't at the same stage in her career, like an Olympic gold medal and world championships. Shields also pointed out that Ali seemed bothered by her being recognized as the "face" of women’s boxing in the present era.
The situation flared up again when Laila Ali appeared on a podcast and reflected on her own career while mentioning Shields' request for mentorship. Though Ali spoke kindly of Shields, she advised her to stop “burning bridges” with people in the boxing world, suggesting that Shields’ approach could hurt her long-term success. Shields, feeling insulted by this, responded passionately, claiming that Ali was still harboring jealousy and that she had already surpassed Ali's achievements. Shields emphasized that she didn’t owe Ali anything and was focused on continuing to build her own legacy, further pointing out that Ali had never truly supported her career.
The tension between the two fighters continues to evolve as Shields defends her legacy and career, while Ali continues to comment on Shields' approach to the sport. Their feud seems to be deeply rooted in a clash of perspectives about legacy, respect, and the future of women’s boxing.
