The daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali has pushed back firmly after what she considers a series of disrespectful remarks made by Claressa Shields about both her and her late father.
The ongoing tension between boxing greats Laila Ali and Claressa Shields has once again taken center stage as Shields declared her place in boxing history in unmistakable terms in 2021.
“No matter what boxer comes along,” Shields said. “Nobody can get in front of Muhammad Ali. That’s how I feel about myself.
“Muhammad Ali is first, and Claressa Shields is second. I am the greatest woman of all time.”
Her confidence was later matched by her performance – she became the undisputed female light middleweight champion within days of that statement.
But those words didn’t sit well with Laila Ali. The retired champion, who carved out her own place in women’s boxing, took offense to Shields‘ comparison and perceived slight and the rift deepened earlier this October after further comments by Claressa.
“Actually, I’m not gonna lie,” Shields said. “[Ann Wolfe] was the best in her (Laila Ali’s) era, and I’m the best in this era.
“Laila Ali is just Muhammad Ali‘s daughter.”
That statement was the breaking point as Laila now retired for over a decade, hinted at the possibility of addressing Shields‘ comments inside the ring – highlighting how personally she has taken the words.
“Will I be coming back to boxing to get that knockout,” Ali pondered on her Laila Ali KO show. She stopped short of confirming any comeback, leaving listeners speculating.
But in a recent episode, Ali finally opened up in depth about the situation – and made it clear that Shields‘ remarks had crossed a line as halfway through the podcast, she reflected on her own approach to the sport.
“I’m happy just being one; my father always said he was the best,” Ali said via The Sister Circle Live. “That wasn’t really my thing.
“My thing is I want to be the best in my weight class. I want to be undefeated, and I want to be a world champion. And those things I attained.”
For Ali, the personal meaning behind her career milestones runs deep. She noted how special it was to hold a WBC title – the same organization where her father once reigned.
She even highlighted a detail few fans know: every female WBC champion receives a belt engraved with her own image
Will Laila Ali make a comeback to take on Claressa Shields?
Laila began her career at age 22, entering a sport that was still hesitant to embrace female athletes, and she built an undefeated record, won multiple titles, and became one of the most influential figures in women’s boxing.
For her, the sport was never about rivalries or proclamations of being “the greatest” – it was about opening doors for those who followed and that’s part of why she doesn’t plan to come back.
“Absolutely not,” Ali added, of any potential comeback. “After years of blatant lies and vile disrespect…
“Making unsolicited negative remarks about me, questioning the legitimacy of my boxing legacy, and having the audacity to cross the line by disrespecting my deceased father, trying to use his name to discredit his daughter.”
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