Boxing
Claressa Shields questions Laila Ali’s boxing legacy
Published
8 months agoon
Boxing is a sport that focuses on an individual’s professional achievements. During a guest appearance on the show “The Million Dollar Game” podcast, undisputed women’s heavyweight champion of the world Claressa Shields slammed Laila Ali’s boxing legacy.
Shields had already challenged Ali to a boxing match, as the two had been involved in a long public feud. During her appearance on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Shields expressed her opinion that Laila Ali is not the best boxer of her era.
Shields then named who she believed was the best women’s boxer of that era. Shields questions Ali’s standing, but she remains adamant that she is the greatest boxer of her time.
Ali and Shields don’t see eye to eye these days, but there was a time when they bonded. When Claressa Shields won her first Olympic gold medal in 2012, she reached out to Ali, who shared some solid career advice.
Ali told Shields that the 168-pound weight class she fights in has no competition there and she wouldn’t make much money. Ali recommended that once Shields turns pro, she should cut weight and compete in one of the lower weight classes.
After Shields turned professional, she kept in touch with Ali. The relationship between Shields and Ali deteriorated dramatically when Ali stopped by a Up-to-date York radio station to promote her cookbook.
During her promotional break as a guest on “The Breakfast Club”, Ali was asked if she would ever return to boxing, to which she replied that she did not see anyone there that would inspire her to return.
Claressa Shields took offense to Ali’s statement and began calling Ali out on YouTube and social media. Rumors about a potential boxing match have begun to circulate, but nothing specific has been revealed yet.
In October 1999, Laila Ali made her professional debut, defeating April Fowler in the first round. Over the years, Ali won IBA, WIBA and WIBF belts. In June 2005, Ali defeated Erin Toughill in the 3rd round to win the inaugural WBC Women’s Super Middleweight World Title.
Two years later, Laila Ali entered the squared circle for the last time, defeating Gwendolyn O’Neil in the first round. After retiring from professional boxing, Laila Ali (24-0, 21 KO) was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021.
Now 47-year-old Laila Ali is being urged to sign up for the biggest women’s boxing match of the year. Claressa Shields challenged, trolled, and insulted Ali during her recent podcast appearance.
“I’m going to take the high road like Terence Crawford and say she was the best of her era,” Shields said. “Actually, I’m not going to lie, Ann Wolfe was the best of her era and I’m the best of her era. Laila Ali is basically Muhammad Ali’s daughter.”
Shields added that if a fight had happened, Ann Wolfe would have knocked out Laila Ali. Ann Wolfe (24-1, 16 KO) is known for the most devastating one-punch knockout in women’s boxing history, when she knocked out 6-foot-4 Vonda Ward in the first round.
When talking about Ann Wolfe, Laila Ali said that there were plans to fight Wolfe, but Wolfe withdrew because she was not offered enough money. Ali missed her chance to fight Wolf, but the question is will she accept huge money to fight undisputed three-division world champion Claressa Shields?
In her heyday, Laila Ali controlled the distance well with a sturdy, precise jab. A jab, two punches, a straight right hand, well-placed body shots and combination punches were just some of the weapons that made Ali risky.
Claressa Shields is a pure boxing technician who has all the tools. She is a very athletic boxer who has ring intelligence, hand speed, footwork, excellent punch placement, and when she is ready to be aggressive, she is able to push forward and hit her opponent with many piercing combinations.
As a fantasy fight, this is an amazing matchup, but from a reality standpoint, this fight probably won’t happen. Ali is a true fighting champion, but to retire for 18 years and then come back and compete with a boxer of the caliber of Claressa Shields is a bit ambitious and unrealistic.
Last update: 17/10/2025
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Boxing
Floyd Mayweather heard the murder unfold during a FaceTime call
Published
11 minutes agoon
June 13, 2026
Floyd Mayweather has been linked to some amazing stories from his life inside and outside of boxing. Few are as shocking as the day he reportedly listened helplessly to a murder-suicide over a FaceTime call.
The incident occurred on December 8, 2014, when rapper Earl Hayes, a member of Mayweather’s inner circle and a recording artist associated with The Money Team, shot and killed his wife, actress and dancer Stephanie Moseley, before taking his own life.
According to multiple reports, Mayweather spoke with Hayes at the time and tried to serene the rapper down for a period of time as the situation got out of control.
FaceTime call
The tragedy took place in the Palazzo East apartments in Los Angeles.
According to police, officers responded after neighbors reported hearing shots and a woman screaming. The LAPD SWAT team entered the apartment and discovered Hayes and Moseley dead from apparent gunshot wounds in the locked bathroom.
Authorities later concluded that Hayes fatally shot Moseley before turning the gun on himself.
Reports at the time indicated that Hayes had contacted Mayweather during an argument over suspicions that Moseley had been inconstant.
Mayweather reportedly kept trying to serene Hayes down as the conversation escalated.
Hollywood shock
Moseley’s death shocked the entertainment industry.
The Canadian actress and dancer appeared on the VH1 series “Hit the Floor” and throughout her career she has performed alongside music’s biggest stars.
A statement released by VH1 at the time said the network and the entire “Hit the Floor” family were devastated by the loss and expressed their condolences to Moseley’s family and friends.
Hayes’ friends also expressed disbelief, describing him as a caring and talented person whose actions seemed completely out of character.
Tragedies surrounding Mayweather
The Hayes tragedy wasn’t the only devastating real-life event that coincided with Mayweather’s life outside of boxing.
The former five-weight world champion was also present during the drive-by shooting that injured one of his bodyguards, and the death of Josie Harris, the mother of his three children, sparked another public tragedy and another personal tragedy.
Harris died on March 10, 2020 at the age of 40. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner later ruled her death was the result of an accidental overdose.
A forgotten story
More than a decade has passed, and many boxing fans have no idea this event even happened.
Mayweather was not involved in the crime itself, but reports that he was on the other end of the call ensured that his name would forever be linked to one of the most shocking stories of his career.
For those who remember it, few stories surrounding Floyd Mayweather have been more challenging to understand.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Boxing
Former heavyweight champion returning at 53 says Tyson Fury is ‘finished’ after his last appearance
Published
2 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who defeated Lennox Lewis in 2001, has delivered a damning verdict on Tyson Fury’s future in the sport.
“The Rock” defeated Lewis in the fourth round to win the WBC and IBF titlesonly to lose the immediate rematch via stoppage in the eighth round.
At the age of 53, Rahman is currently preparing for his return to action on July 14, although no opponent has yet been announced for his six-round bout at Novel York’s ESL Ballpark.
In his last professional career, he lost to little-known opponent Anthony Nansen in 2014, but Rahman clearly believes he can surpass George Foreman and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Whether he succeeds remains to be seen, but the American clearly believes he has a better chance of winning the trophy than 37-year-old Fury.
In fact, Rahman went so far as to suggest that The Gypsy King’s career was preceded by Deontay Wilder, who he felt had also gone way over the line.
I’m talking to Master B4Rahman suspects it was their trilogy in particular that caused significant fatigue for both heavyweights.
“I just think Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury beat [their] careers apart – they abandoned their careers in this trilogy. It’s over for both of them.
“You will never see the best Tyson Fury [again]. It’s over. [He’s] done.”
Fury won his third meeting with Wilder by knockout in the 11th roundbut he managed to overcome two tumbles and several periods of adversity when they collided in October 2021.
Based on his performance against Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom he outpointed unanimously in AprilRahman believes the fight with Wilder could very well have ended Fury’s career.
Boxing
Jose Benavidez Sr. calls on Artur Beterbiev to “sit down” and make the fight happen
Published
4 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Jose Benavidez Sr. publicly invited Artur Beterbiev and his team to enter into negotiations to fight David Benavidez.
The comments came after Beterbiev recently discussed previous talks involving both camps. Benavidez Sr., who is David’s father, trainer and manager, said he is ready for the fight to continue.
“Right now, if Beterbiev is watching, their managers are watching, or whoever is making this decision, I am David’s father, coach, manager. Let’s sit down. Let’s make these fights happen. These are the fights we want to make,” Benavidez Sr. he told Fight Hub TV.
“We never got an offer. Like I’m telling you, we never got an offer. But these are the fights we want. With all due respect, I think Beterbiev is a great fighter, man. He’s a very threatening fighter. He’s one of the best right now. He and Bivol are some of the top fighters, but these are the fighters we want to prove ourselves and want to fight.”
Benavidez Sr. added that organizing the fight shouldn’t be a major problem if both sides are interested.
“Let’s organize this fight. It can be fought in five minutes,” said Jose Senior. “These are the fights we want. We are ready to give the people what they want.”
David Benavidez became a three-division world champion earlier this year when he defeated Zurdo Ramirez in the cruiserweight division. Since then, Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are often mentioned among the potential opponents of Benavidez’s next fight.
“Let’s go,” Benavidez Sr. said. “We are ready. These are the fights we want.”

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most significant fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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