Claressa Shields Calls Out Laila Ali, Says She's Secured $15M for Fight

Undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields is putting her money on the line in hopes of scheduling a legendary bout against retired boxing icon Laila Ali.

"Laila, I'm here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million!" Shields said in a video obtained by TMZ Sports. "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."

Shields’ callout came just days after Ali addressed rumors of a potential return to the ring, making it clear she wouldn’t entertain a fight without “$15 or $20 million” on the line.

“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!” Ali told Fight Hub TV. “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, the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, retired undefeated at 24-0 between 1997 and 2007. During her career, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight titles, as well as the IWBF light heavyweight title.

Meanwhile, Shields (16-0) is a three-division champion and the only fighter — male or female — to become an undisputed champion in three different divisions during the four-belt era. She's also a former unified super middleweight champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

While a 17-year age gap separates the two fighters, talks are intensifying as serious money enters the conversation — and the prospect of seeing them in the ring together is undeniably intriguing.