Claressa Shields challenged Laila Ali with a $15 million offer to fight, reigniting a rivalry years in the making between two boxing legends.
Claressa Shields just threw down a massive challenge to Laila Ali with a $15 million offer to settle their long-standing rivalry in the ring.
Shields, the undefeated three-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, announced in a video that the money is ready and she’s waiting on Ali to accept.
“We got the $15 million!” Shields announced. “Let’s make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali. Let’s make it happen.”
The move comes after Ali recently addressed rumors about a potential comeback, saying during an interview with Fight Hub TV, “Where’d that rumor come from? The rumor I heard was that I said, ‘Unless somebody had $15 or $20 million, don’t even call me about this.’ That’s all I heard! Unless somebody calls ME and says they have it, we’re not even going to have this conversation. I’m not trying to come back and fight, but if somebody were to offer that kind of money I’d actually have to think about it.”
Ali, 47, retired from boxing with an unblemished 24-0 record and has long maintained she wouldn’t return unless the payday was massive. Shields, 30, has spent years calling herself the GWOAT—Greatest Woman of All Time—and has often taken aim at Ali’s legacy.
Claressa Sheilds Reacts To Laila Ali Addressing Age Difference
Their back-and-forth has simmered for years, but Shields’ latest move may be the closest the sport has come to seeing the two icons face off. She even reposted a clip of Ali discussing their age gap with a fan comment that read, “For years, Laila Ali, while retired, has been throwing shade and talking trash about Claressa Shields. Apparently, she wants the smoke. I don’t want to hear anyone talking about Claressa is picking on an old lady.”
Shields added, “Imma leave this right here.”
Imma leave this right here https://t.co/NNcbh7dgDH
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) July 19, 2025
Despite the buzz, no contract has been signed and no date has been set. But Shields’ team has confirmed the money is real and the offer is on the table.
In the meantime, Shields is set to defend her undisputed heavyweight crown against Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
