The fallout from Claressa Shields’ renewed claims over an elderly sparring session continues to reverberate across boxing, with fighters increasingly reluctant to share the ring with female professionals.
Controversy resurfaced after Shields again addressed allegations regarding a 2018 training session with Latvian boxer Arturs Ahmetovs.
The incident in which Ahmetovs dropped his shields before he was accused of glove tampering was largely forgotten until the topic was brought up again.
Since then, debate has erupted throughout the sport over sparring between male and female players. The complications when private gym sessions become the subject of public conversation years later are obvious.
Ahmetovs, who previously shared his own account of the session with World Boxing News, believes the situation highlights why many male fighters are hesitant to spar with women at all.
Two sides of one story
The story is complicated, given that it remains one side’s version of events against the other. Ahmetovs was able to provide evidence to support his account in the form of a photo they shared after the sparring session, while Shields maintained that coach Derik Santos left with the gloves on shortly after the session.
While Shields has stated in interviews that she will spar and even fight with men, the reality of that happening in today’s climate seems unlikely.
The broader debate about natural male athletes competing in women’s sports has only increased sensitivity to such situations.
Derrick Santos
Ahmetov explains his position
When asked about the effects, Ahmetovs addressed this topic directly.
“Every fighter has the right to trust,” Ahmetovs told WBN exclusively. “But men’s and women’s boxing are different categories. It’s just not her field.”
On his potential return to boxing after years of absence, and regarding any upcoming offers to fight Shields on the show, Ahmetovs added: “I was preparing for fights a few years ago, but they were canceled. Maybe I’ll do another one under the right conditions.”
“But I don’t fight with women – even sparring can get complicated. They asked for facilitate and we’ve already seen what happened.”
Ahmetovs remained accessible and lucid throughout the episode, while Shields – although defensive – never changed her stance.
Ultimately, it’s a sorry situation that a sparring session from eight years ago has resurfaced and become a talking point again, something that probably could have been avoided.
For now, the debate continues to circulate online, with supporters of both fighters offering their own interpretations of what happened during that gym session all those years ago.
Meanwhile, Shields stood by her version of events.
Whether the full truth will ever come to delicate is another matter entirely. What is clear is that this incident – once little more than a forgotten sparring story – has now become part of a broader discussion about the boundaries, expectations and realities of men and women sharing the ring.
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.
David Morrell says his career isn’t over after his knockout loss to Zak Chelli last Saturday in England, but questions are already being raised about whether Morrell should return to 168 pounds after another tough run at lithe heavyweight.
Morrell was stopped in the 10th and final round after a competitive bout on the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois heavyweight undercard. The defeat was Morrell’s second defeat in his last three fights following a decision loss to David Benavidez in February 2025.
“This doesn’t mean David Morrell’s career is over,” Morrell said on the I shownstagram. We must take this as a lesson and move on with greater strength.
“We’ll be back soon and we’ll have more news for you.”
Morrell also assured fans that he was recovering quickly from the knockout.
“For those who are worried: thank God, I am well and robust.
“A person is not measured by the number of times he falls, but by the number of times he gets up.
“This is the beginning of a fresh stage, not the end of the race.”
The loss to Chelli increased criticism of Morrell’s move to 175 pounds. Since moving up from super middleweight in August 2024, Morrell entered 2025 undefeated, but has now lost two of his last three fights since moving up to lithe heavyweight.
Morrell dropped a split decision victory over previously undefeated Imam Khataev last July before losing to David Benavidez and being stopped by Zak Chelli.
Boxing analyst Chris Mannix was among those who suggested Morrell may need to rebuild at super middleweight after the defeat.
The 28-year-old Cuban currently has a record of 12-2 with nine knockouts, having entered 2025 undefeated and viewed as one of the most perilous newborn fighters in boxing.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Terence Crawford has faced select top-class players throughout his career, but there was one player who coach Brian “BoMac” McIntyre deemed a real threat to his protégé’s dominance.
As the undisputed champion of three divisions, it’s safe and sound to say that “Bud” never shied away from a formidable challenge, even if it meant putting himself at a significant disadvantage.
His fight with Canelo Alvarez, for example, saw the extraordinary technician move up two weight classes and dethroned the Mexican with a remarkable unanimous decision victory last September.
Similarly, many felt that Crawford was clearly the underdog before us his fight with Errol Spence Jr. in 2023only to score a ruthless ninth-round finish and unify all four major welterweight titles.
But according to longtime head coach “BoMac,” Crawford came closest to his only professional loss in 2019, six years before he retired from the sport.
The American was then defending his WBO welterweight title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, also known as “Mean Machine”, who was not only undefeated, but also boasted an impressive knockout to victory ratio.
I’m talking to Podcast on the front pageMcIntyre credited Kavaliauskas with forcing Crawford to change his tactics after the third round, when “Bud” jumped out of the ring after being deemed a no-knockdown.
“That motherfucker just kept coming and coming. He didn’t stop. For the first few rounds, he only had Bud’s number because he was punching before Bud and punching after Bud.
“It was like, ‘Damn, dog – you [Crawford] I have to pick it up.”
Ultimately, Crawford managed to secure a ninth-round victory over Kavaliauskas, but he had to dig deep into his tool bag to win. The record-breaking star later said that “Mean Machine” was one of the hardest hits he had ever faced.
“Well, you never know. You know what I mean? I think he can make that weight if he wants to,” Prince told Fighthype about the fight between Shakur and Haney.
“But like I told him, Shakur weighs 135 pounds. They weigh 147. So out of 12 pounds, we’re willing to take eight. We’re not even saying we’ll meet halfway.”
“So you never know. I don’t count them because certain numbers often change a person’s mind, right? You never know.”
Prince also said there are ongoing discussions about Stevenson fighting next after recently winning the WBO 140-pound welterweight title.
“It’s up in the air. We’re regrouping. We’re planning again and people will know about it very soon,” Prince said.
Shakur moved up earlier this year and defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO 140-pound title. Stevenson already held titles in three weight classes before moving up to 140.
Haney continued competing at welterweight after moving up from 140 pounds following fights against Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios.
Prince also mentioned undefeated lightweight title challenger Abdullah Mason, who returns to his hometown of Cleveland this month.
“I’m excited, first of all, that Abdullah Mason is fighting at home,” Prince said.
“I have a long history with Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, the entire Midwest was one of the first to embrace my Rap-A-Lot movement.
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