Laila Ali is speaking out amid the $15 million offer from Claressa Shields to fight.
Laila spoke to Good Day D.C., in a recent interview about how she is flattered by the offer but was caught off guard when asked what it would take for her to get back in the ring.
“I was asked an impromptu question by one of the boxing blogs like ‘Would you come back?’ And I said for $15-20 million, I’d have to think about it. Not that I want to. I’m not over here thinking about it. You see I’m hosting shows. I got my Laila Ali lifestyle brand, my spice blends. You know, my family. All these things going on and all of a sudden, I start getting all these offers,” she said.
Laila simply explained that she has other priorities but understands why people have been eager for her to take on the offer.
She continued, “My main purpose right now is to promote [‘Chef Grudge Match’]. That’s my main focus and very soon, the world will know my answer to that in detail because I haven’t answered the question. There’ve been some lies that I responded and I actually haven’t responded purposely […] I call the shots. I do what I wanna do how I wanna do it, but I understand the excitement.”
Claressa Shields claims Laila Ali is “scared” to fight her
Prior to Laila sharing why she was not interested in fighting Shields, the two-time Olympic champion told TMZ earlier this month that, “Laila is scared to fight me, and I would be scared to fight me, too. I get it.”
Shields said that she contacted Laila’s team with the offer and they turned her down.
“Laila and her representatives have told us no. Like, the answer is ‘no.’ She doesn’t want to fight. And that’s fine. I have no problem with that. I’m not upset. I mean, I wouldn’t fight me either. You know what I’m saying? I understand that she’s scared. I’m moving on,” Shields said.
Shields claimed that the retired boxer is “backpedaling” from the ask. However, Laila’s response is not altering her future in the sport.
“I thought that she was about all that talk. She wanted $15 million. I went and got the $15 million. And now it’s all this backpedaling. So, you know, congrats to her on whatever she’s doing. But I’m moving on with my career.”
