Claressa Shields was recently a guest on the show Nightcap sports podcast with hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Shields had an intense conversation with Piercing about the current balmy topic.

Shields spoke about her belief in her ability to defeat WBA welterweight champion Roland “Rolly” Romero. Sharpe strongly disagreed, pointing out that Romero was a man and a sturdy, talented professional boxer.

Shields responded by stating that when she trains, she always spars with men. She then spoke again about the infamous sparring session where she believed a foul occurred.

“This guy is a fraud. He had no padding in his gloves,” Shields said. “And if it’s not true, why hasn’t he and his coach sued me yet? This guy, I yelled at him the week before, he was furious and he didn’t like it.

Shields went on to say, “His coach gave him some used gloves that he said he got from Roberto Duran as a gift. That’s what the man, Derik Santos, the coach, said. The gloves had no padding on them and he caught me with that hook.”

Back in 2023, when the allegations came to the fore, coach Derik Santos talked about the incident while appearing as a guest on ProBox TV. Santos said he had never met Roberto Duran and that the gloves were regular 16-ounce gloves.

Recently, Claressa Shields’ former sparring partner, Arturs “Triple A” Ahmetovs (6-1, 2 KO), spoke with Vince DWriter about the 2018 knockout.

“I didn’t want to commit so strenuous, but the combinations I trained for worked instinctively. She came out aggressive and it came out a little sharper than I intended,” Ahmetovs said.

Arturs Ahmetovs denies accusations of using counterfeit gloves. He defended himself by saying: “The recording shows that they were ordinary gloves.”

Ahmetovs said he and Claressa Shields sparred twice. The first time it was a delicate sparring, the second time Shields became aggressive and was caught with a precise shot.

A year later, after an infamous sparring session, Arturs Ahmetovs made his professional boxing debut in March 2019, defeating Demetrius Wilson in the second round. Ahmetovs won his next four fights.

Ironically, in his sixth professional fight, Ahmetovs was stopped in the second round by Rolly Romero. Ahmetovs later rebounded to earn a unanimous decision victory over Władysław Baranov.

Originally from Riga, Latvia, his professional career was derailed when his visa expired. Ahmetovs tried to make a comeback three years ago, but every time a fight was scheduled, it ended up being canceled.

Currently, Arturs Ahmetovs is not energetic as his personal schedule includes training and coaching. Ahmetovs admits that he would consider returning if he found a good team with solid financing and a sturdy technical base.

Addressing the controversial sparring incident, Arturs Ahmetovs is adamant that Claressa Shields was eliminated due to a edged shot. He insists the damaged gloves had nothing to do with Shields going to the canvas.

Arturs Ahmetovs said he was wearing standard 16-ounce gloves the day he threw Claressa Shields. Asked why he never sued Shields, Ahmetov replied: “It’s not common in my country to sue someone for speaking out.”

Photo source: Instagram Arturs Ahmetovs

Devin Haney Promotions says a rematch with Ryan Garcia is scheduled for September 5 at Allegiant Stadium, potentially setting the stage for the rivalry to resume later this year.

The claim appeared on social media from Haney’s promotional website, pointing to a second meeting on the same card in Las Vegas two weeks before Floyd Mayweather’s Sept. 19 rematch with Manny Pacquiao.

If the date holds, the fight will bring the two rivals together again more than two years after their cluttered first meeting in April 2024.

In that fight, Garcia scored multiple knockdowns en route to a decision victory, which was later ruled a no contest after testing positive for Ostarine.

Haney has since returned to form and won the WBO welterweight title with a decision victory over Brian Norman Jr.

Garcia vs. Haney II

Despite the controversy surrounding the original result, the demand for a rematch never went away.

Few in boxing doubt that the Garcia vs. Haney II would make the most sense next. Both fighters currently hold world titles, which means that if the fight goes ahead, the rivalry will develop into a welterweight unification.

The matchup has been the focus of the most significant conversations in the division in recent months.

As World Boxing News reported earlier this month, the welterweight title picture around Garcia and Haney has gradually narrowed as other options narrowed due to mandatory obligations and injuries.

Garcia has also been outspoken about a possible fight with Shakur Stevenson, and Haney has been linked to talks with Rolando “Rolly” Romero.

However, these moves could easily be considered a smokescreen if both sides are focused on a rematch.

Unfinished business

Garcia, the WBC champion after a convincing victory over Mario Barrios, would likely enter the rematch as the favorite despite losses from the first meeting.

The Recent York State Athletic Commission later changed the result to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive, but the way he repeatedly dropped Haney in the fight still affects how many people will see the second fight.

In his conversation with him, Romero also bluntly assessed the competition The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.

“They could have fought a hundred times. Ryan takes him down a hundred times.”

This view may be extreme, but it underscores a broader sense that this rivalry is still unresolved.

With Haney Promotions now pointing to September 5 at Allegiant Stadium, the spotlight is back on Garcia vs. Haney II, which makes the most sense for both men right now.

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.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is preparing for fight number 69 after suffering just the third defeat of his career last year.

The Mexican icon was vacated last year’s undisputed super middleweight world title by Terence Crawford, his first loss at 168 pounds and third overall after losses to Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

Because Crawford’s retirement means a rematch for Canelo, he has announced his return for a September event in Saudi Arabia, a fight that boxing broker Turki Alalshikh says will result in a world title shot.

IN interview with Bowks talking about BoutsChristian Mbilli – who was promoted from interim to full champion when Crawford was stripped of the belt – made it clear he wanted to be the fighter on the opposite side.

“For me, my goal now is to fight Canelo because I was [the] perennial WBC number one contender. Number one fighter, number one in the WBC for Canelo. Now I have to show that I am number one in the division.

Mbilli fought on the Canelo–Crawford undercard, drawing with Crawford’s stablemate Lester Martinez to retain the belt. The Cameroon-born Frenchman said in the same interview that he intended to have a rematch with Martinez in the future.

The fight with Alvarez has no obstacles, but there is a lot of weight behind it: Turki Alalshikh, Canelo’s good position in the WBC and his number one ranking, and this is undoubtedly the most lucrative option for Mbilla. If a Mexican wants to prove himself, he has the opportunity to do so.