Is a Laila Ali vs. Claressa Shields Fight Finally on the Horizon?
By Tyler Vance
Published: May 15, 2025
Could boxing fans finally get the generational clash they’ve been waiting for?
Laila Ali, the undefeated former champion and daughter of Muhammad Ali, is back in the headlines — not because of an official fight announcement, but because of new comments that have reignited her ongoing tension with Claressa Shields, one of the most dominant boxers of this era.
No contracts have been signed. No gloves have been laced up — yet. But the back-and-forth between these two fighters is growing louder by the week.
Long-Standing Tension
The friction between Ali and Shields isn’t anything new. It goes back to 2020, when Ali casually said no one in the sport had impressed her enough to consider a comeback. Shields didn’t take that lightly — and publicly called Ali’s remarks dismissive and “jealous.”
Since then, the two have exchanged verbal jabs in interviews and online. Shields, never one to shy away from a challenge, has repeatedly said she’s open to fighting Ali — if the numbers make sense.
“If she really wants it, we can make it happen,” Shields said in a recent podcast. “But it better come with eight figures.”
Earlier this year, Ali made an appearance on a podcast and dropped a few choice words that raised eyebrows — and blood pressure.
“A lot of these women are good — strong, fast. But they’re missing the fundamentals and that ring IQ.”
While she didn’t name Shields directly, fans and pundits quickly connected the dots. Shields responded soon after, saying Ali’s comments were typical of someone who "never fought at my level" and calling the critique outdated.
View this post on Instagram
Could It Actually Happen?
Here’s where things get interesting.
From a business perspective, a fight like this would be huge. Ali is a household name and still carries the aura of boxing royalty. Shields is in her prime, multi-division champ, and arguably the most skilled female fighter on the planet today.
Promoters have noticed. Dmitry Salita, Shields’ promoter, said he’d love to see it happen.
“This would be more than a fight — it’d be a moment,” Salita told Sports Illustrated. “If the logistics work out, it could be historic.”
Still, there are real-world obstacles. Ali hasn’t fought since 2007. She’s 47 now. Shields is active, sharp, and already training full-time. There’s also the matter of money — both women have said it would need to be a blockbuster-level payday.
The Bottom Line: All Talk or Real Heat?
Right now, it’s still talk. There’s no deal on the table. But for boxing fans who’ve dreamed of a passing-of-the-torch match, this might be the closest the fantasy has ever come to becoming real.
And judging by the tone of their latest exchanges, neither woman is backing down.
