Boxing fans have been buzzing about a possible showdown between Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields and Laila Ali — but according to Shields, that dream fight isn’t happening for one simple reason: Laila doesn’t want it.
TMZ Sports caught up with Shields in Los Angeles on Thursday, where she pulled no punches (verbally, at least) about why the fight hasn’t been booked. Shields also took a swipe at the old-school mentality she says plagued women’s boxing in Ali’s era. And just to twist the knife a little more, Shields brought up Laila’s father, the late, great Muhammad Ali.
“Muhammad Ali would never. Her daddy would never. If you called out Muhammad Ali, he was coming to check you, and he was coming to lay hands on you. Maybe she doesn’t have that in her genes.”
