What did Claressa Shields say to Laila Ali? Retired boxer claps back at MMA artist saying, "Nobody calls shots on me"

On July 18, TMZ published an exclusive report comprising a video in which Claressa Shields challenged Laila Ali to a fight. Shields’ statement came after a video of Ali was played in which she said that unless someone had 15 to 20 million dollars, they shouldn't call her for a fight. Shields’ immediate reaction to the video was:

“That’s what I am talking about. That’s what we like. Laila, I am here with my team. I got great news for you. We got the 15 million. Let’s make a fight between you and me. The best versus the best, the great versus the great. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali.”

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Meanwhile, Ali seemingly responded to Claressa Shields’ challenge. In a video posted on the X account “The Art of Dialogue,” Ali said she would answer the question everyone was waiting for. She said:

“The answer is yes. I am going to answer your question when I am good and ready to do it because you know what? Nobody calls shots on me. I do things when and how and where I like to do them.”

Laila Ali previously told Fight Hub TV that she wasn't planning to return to boxing, but if someone called her with a big money offer, she would have had to think about it before saying no. On August 7, Claressa Shields shared an X post, writing:

“Thank God I’m apart of a generation where we actually fight each other. That last generation just ducked each other never got the biggest women’s fights.”

Laila Ali discusses boxing and how Claressa Shields challenged her in the past

In 2020, Laila Ali sat down with ESPN during the rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. When asked if she planned to come out of retirement, she said:

“I will tell you this, as I said, I love boxing, I always have. Boxing has inspired my Laila Ali lifestyle brand, you know. I've been outside of the boxing gym, but I've been in the gym ever since I left. I got nutrition products. I got spice blends. I'm all about health and wellness. I'm very healthy and have been sitting around thinking about boxing no.”

She said that Claressa Shields had been challenging her because of some comments she had made earlier, even though those comments weren’t about Claressa Shields.

When people asked Laila Ali if she would return to boxing, she explained that she would only do it if the person she had to fight inspired her and if the money was worth it. She said she already had many other things going on in her life, so she didn’t need to box unless she truly wanted to.

When asked about her thoughts on boxer Tyson Fury being compared to Muhammad Ali, she said there could never be anybody as great as her father. However, she said she liked certain aspects about Fury, like how he moves around the ring, throwing different combinations. She noted that Muhammad Ali would have liked his matchup.

Laila Ali shared that when her father first found out she wanted to become a boxer, he tried to stop her. He thought boxing was too tough and not meant for women. But she had already started training and told him she was going to do it anyway.

Later, when she won her titles, he came to some of her fights and admitted he was wrong. He said she could fight, and that women could fight too. Laila said that moment felt like a big win, not just for her, but for all women.

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