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Claressa Shields questions Laila Ali’s boxing legacy

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Image: Claressa Shields Takes A Jab At Laila Ali's Legacy

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

Hall of Fame champion claims he would be the one to beat Terence Crawford: ‘I’m going to win’

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Hall of Fame champion says he would have been the man to beat Terence Crawford: “I’m going to win”

The star fighter, who has made an astonishing 15 defenses of his welterweight world title, supported himself in a fantastic showdown with Terence Crawford.

Many consider “Bud” to be one of the greatest welterweight champions of all time, considering his size undisputed triumph over Errol Spence Jr in 2023

He had previously won seven straight 147-pound world titles, all through stoppages, but he could only cement his position as top dog by dethroning Spence.

Not only did he defeat “The Truth” and win his three world titles, but Crawford secured a surprisingly one-sided defeat over nine rounds.

After that career-defining moment, the American became the undisputed three-division champion, moving up to 168 pounds to dethrone Canelo Alvarez.

However, at welterweight, Crawford managed to produce some of his best performances, perhaps striking the perfect balance between being vigorous and impressively fit.

Another man who has had considerable success at 147 pounds is, of course, Felix Trinidad, who reigned as the IBF world champion for almost seven years.

Two of his greatest victories came against Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker, who both went on to create Hall of Fame careers in their own right.

It is therefore natural that “Tito” sees his chances in a direct fight with Crawford, saying: Fighting Hub TV that he would give “Bud” his only professional flaw.

“With all due respect to Crawford…Tito Trinidad – I will win.”

While no fighter has been able to answer Crawford’s mystery, it is equally safe and sound to say that the former five-division world champion has never faced someone like Trinidad.

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Robeisy Ramirez signed with Raizd Boxing after leaving Free Agency

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Image: Major Companies Failed To Sign Robeisy Ramirez

Raizd announced the deal on Instagram on Monday, posting: “Official: Robeisy ‘El Tren’ Ramirez signs with RAIZD BOXING. World-class addition. Former WBO World Featherweight Champion. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Welcome to the team, Robeisy.”

For a startup that is still building its name, this is a robust impulse. For everyone else, it encourages questions. There has been no evident move from Zuffa Boxing, Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions or other major teams that often pursue recognizable talent.

When a two-time Gold Medalist hits the open market and the Massive Four don’t pull the trigger. Raizd Boxing is basically a ghost ship right now. They are so modern that they haven’t even held their first event yet.

As for why the giants have stayed away, it probably comes down to a combination of time, shelf life and the ongoing business changes many of these companies are making.

At 126 pounds, 32 is on the older side. Promoters are notoriously wary of small-time fighters who have just had a career-changing break. Perhaps they would prefer to wait and see if he has anything left before signing him to an high-priced multi-fight contract.

While Dana White is finally taking action, Zuffa is aggressively targeting younger, buzz-worthy talent like Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins. Ramirez is 32 years aged and had a brutal knockout loss to Rafael Espinoza in December. Zuffa could see him as a veteran of damaged goods rather than a fundamental piece of their launch.

Ramirez may not have the same shine he had when he fled Cuba or when he beat Shakur Stevenson in the amateurs, but fighters with that kind of experience rarely hit the open market.

His recent form likely played a role. Ramirez is 14-3 with nine knockouts and has lost two of his last three fights, with both losses coming to Rafael Espinoza, including a stoppage in the rematch. At 32 years aged, he is no longer a long-term project that can be slowly developed.

Still, there is a clear advantage if handled properly. Ramirez remains a talented southpaw with the pedigree, experience and enough reputational value to quickly become relevant again at featherweight or above. If it combines wins, larger promoters may regret letting startup Raizd make the first move.

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Tim Bradley firmly predicts KO in Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia fight

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Tim Bradley makes emphatic KO prediction for Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia

Hall of Famer Tim Bradley believes the welterweight clash between Conor Benn and WBC world champion Ryan Garcia will end decisively.

The two are in talks that could happen later this year, and Garcia also mentioned the possibility of a rematch with WBA world champion Rolando Romero.

In their first meeting in May 2025, Romero won a unanimous decision after defeating his fighter in the second round.

However, Garcia has since secured the WBC 147-pound title after dethroning Mario Barrios whom he dropped and passed unanimously in February.

This marks the 27-year-old’s first victory since 2023, when he edged Oscar Duarte in the eighth round before his controversial fight with Devin Haney.

Despite a majority decision advantage over Haney, that result was declared a no-contest in April 2024 after “King Ry” tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.

Benn also failed a 2022 drug test ahead of his canceled fight against Chris Eubank Jr, whom he ultimately defeated in a middleweight rematch last November.

This followed a points defeat to Eubank in April 2025, although earlier this month Benn remained in the win column, ahead of Regis Prograis, who subsequently announced his retirement.

However, despite his last fight at 150 pounds, the 29-year-old now wants to capitalize on his No. 1 ranking in the WBC and fight Garcia.

I’m talking to ESNEWSformer two-division world champion Bradley gave Benn little more than a prayer against Garcia.

“Ryan knocks him out.”

As the top contender for the WBC welterweight title, Benn is expected to be ordered to fight Garcia in the not-too-distant future, even if ongoing negotiations fail.

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