Laila Ali Says She Would ‘Think About’ Fighting Claressa Shields for 8-Figure Payday

Ali says she’d come out of retirement to fight Shields if she was offered around $15 million.

Laila Ali might be interested in putting on her boxing gloves once again to fight Claressa Shields — provided her price is met.

Over the weekend, Ali responded to rumors that she’s preparing to fight Shields. Ali, a former world champion, retired in 2007, but she made it clear she would consider coming out of retirement to fight Shields if the money was right.

“[U]nless somebody has $15-$20 million, don’t even call me about this,” Ali said in response to an interviewer’s question about the rumors. “Unless somebody calls me and says they have it, we’re not going to have a conversation. I’m not trying to come back and fight, but if someone offered that kind of money, I would actually have to think about it.”

She added before walking away, “Do I look like I could fight again? I think so too.”

A fight between the two would likely draw a ton of interest. Shields is a multi-world champion and has been ranked as the pound-for-pound best active female boxer, while Ali is a legend who was also a multi-champion and considered one of the greatest female professional boxers of all time.

The reporter who asked Ali about the rumors suggested that Saudi Arabian sports promoter Turki Al-Sheikh would put up the prize money for the fight. Al-Sheikh, who also serves as the chairman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is responsible for making Saudi Arabia the go-to place for some of the world’s biggest boxing matches.