Claressa Shields Puts $15M on the Table for Laila Ali Fight—Is the Legend Ready to Return? [Video]

Claressa Shields just made the biggest power move in women’s boxing, calling out Laila Ali with $15 million in hand and the stage already set.

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In a video shared by Shields, she didn’t hold back.

“Laila, I’m here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million!” she said directly to the camera. She added, “Let’s make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The greats versus the greats. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali. Let’s make it happen.”

Backing up her challenge, Shields’ camp didn’t just talk money; they showed it. Ruben Branson of Wynn Records is funding the bout, and a massive novelty check made out to Ali was displayed as proof.

This all comes after renewed interest in the supermatch following Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s blockbuster at Madison Square Garden. In an interview with FightHype, Ali made her stance clear: “Unless somebody calls me and says they have [the $15 to $20 million], we’re not even gonna have a conversation.”

The tension between these two has been building for years. Ali has said, “[Shields] could never beat me. Let me get that real straight.” Shields, meanwhile, has always pushed back, pointing to the gap in competition and eras.

Now, Shields’ team says they’ve locked down two major venues: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and they’ve got dates set, though not yet announced.

“So you’re saying we got the $15 million. We got the venue, and we got the dates. Now all we need is Laila Ali. Are you gonna make the fight happen or what?” Shields asked in her final message.

The iconic fighter has not yet responded.