“I wanted to go make money.” That’s what Terence Crawford told NFL veteran Shannon Sharpe when when asked why he never chased Olympic gold. While boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman took the Olympic route, Crawford made it clear he wasn’t in it for the medals. “I’m a leader, not a follower,” the 37-year-old explained. And while he holds Claressa Shields in high regard, calling her “The best woman boxer today,” that doesn’t mean she has to walk the same path he did. Different strokes for different folks, right?
That said, Claressa Shields has already built a legacy that speaks volumes. With world titles across five weight classes, the Flint native has more belts than a department store. She’s one of only four boxers (male or female) to unify all four major world titles in two separate weight divisions. Add to that her top pound-for-pound rankings by ESPN, The Ring, and BoxRec, and you’ve got a résumé that’s second to none. Now, with her win over Danielle Perkins, Shields can officially call herself the undisputed heavyweight world champion. Too much already?
As Claressa Shields gears up to defend her undisputed titles against Lani Daniels on July 26 at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, during a media workout at the iconic Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn earlier this week, the GWOAT hinted at a possible return to the Olympic stage. The update came courtesy of @aroarboxing, who posted a clip on Instagram with the caption: “Should Claressa Shields go for Olympic gold one more time in 2028? .” In the video, Claressa Shields didn’t mince words: “If America wants to get another olympic gold medal you put Claressa Shields in the 2028 LA Olympics.” And with two golds already (London 2012 at age 17 and Rio 2016 at 21) she’s proven she knows exactly how to deliver on that stage.
Since turning pro, Claressa Shields has compiled a flawless 16-0 record, but her Olympic absence has stretched for nearly a decade. However, it’s not like she faded into the background after turning pro in boxing. Just days ago, she reignited her ongoing feud with Jake Paul while appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show. The 30-year-old revealed, “They offered me some money to fight on the July card,” pointing to her $1.5 million payday from her recent win over Danielle Perkins. But she felt the purse was nowhere near her value. For context, Amanda Serrano reportedly made $8 million in her rematch with Katie Taylor, a stat Shields clearly has overlooked.
However, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was quick to shut the story down. Taking to X, he publicly denied her claims. “MVP unequivocally never made an offer to Claressa Shields / her promoter / her manager for any fight in 2025. Not even verbally,” Bidarian posted. So, is it a case of miscommunication or misdirection? The truth remains murky for now. But what is clear is that Claressa Shields knows her worth, and she’s not afraid to stand her ground.
And just as she’s looking toward LA Olympics 2028, she’s also made it clear she’s not done chasing big fights and teased another potential matchup.
Claressa Sheilds still has one name on her hit list
In January, women’s boxing legend Laila Ali didn’t hold back when addressing Claressa Shields’ past comments. Speaking on All the Smoke Fight Clips, Ali fired off a pointed warning: “You are not going to get very far in your life if you continue burning bridges… So never think too big of yourself. You got to watch your character you got to stay humble.” The words came not just from a former champion, but from someone who’s clearly still emotionally invested in the sport.
But despite the public jabs and verbal sparring, Claressa Shields appears to be holding on to a shred of hope that things could still change. During a recent interview with FightHype.com, Claressa Shields was asked “What’s the fight that you think [will] get you to whatever level you want to get to next?” And her answer?
“I think whatever. Me fighting the best get me to the level that I want to get to,” Shields said. But the fight that still sparks her imagination? “Like when they ask me who my dream fights are, of course you say Laila Ali. That’s who I think is the best fight,” Claressa Shields said. So, given how often Claressa Shields feels outright disrespected in the pro boxing world, should she completely shift her focus on to Olympics? Or is the grind of professional boxing (along with the criticism that comes with it) still worth the fight? What do you think?
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