Claressa Shields Fires Back at Shannon Sharpe After He Says She Can’t Beat a Male Boxer [Video]

Claressa Shields is making it clear she is not here for anyone questioning her ability in the ring.

Video

The undisputed boxing champion responded Monday after Shannon Sharpe argued that she would not be able to defeat a male fighter. The debate started after Sharpe discussed Shields during a recent episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, where he pointed to biological differences and the structure of professional sports as reasons men and women compete in separate leagues.

Shields fired back on social media, calling out critics who doubt her fighting ability.

“These guys doing all this chirping are the same guys who can not punch correctly or fight,” Shields wrote. “@ShannonSharpe you will throw a hip out trying to fight anybody. So let me do my thing & be THE GREATEST. And I’ll sparr Rolly! Just to shut yall a** up! Dead a**!”

While addressing the conversation, Shields also clarified that she is not actively trying to compete against male fighters. However, she emphasized that she regularly trains and spars with men behind the scenes.

“Lastly, I don’t aspire to fight a Man…but I get busy inside that ring flat out!” she wrote. “All my sparring partners are men! And everyone knows I’m a banger with quick hands & yes defense go crazy! I don’t post my sparring cause I have 0 to prove.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist also used the moment to reflect on the criticism women’s boxing has faced over the years. According to Shields, many of the same doubts people express today were once used to question whether women fighters could earn major purses or draw large crowds.

“And I’m not to keen on Anybody, anyone telling Me what the hell I can & can not do,” Shields wrote. “They said Back in 2016, no woman Boxer would ever make $1 million!”

Sharpe later revisited the discussion on Nightcap, reiterating that he considers Shields the greatest female boxer ever while maintaining that men’s and women’s divisions exist because of physical differences in professional sports.