Three-division undisputed champion Claressa Shields is arguably the biggest name in women’s boxing today, drawing attention from all corners of the sport. Everyone wants a share of the lucrative spotlight she commands. However, Shields may have missed out on millions after calling out alleged false claims made by Most Valuable Promotions, owned by Jake Paul.
You see, Shields and MVP’s latest signing, Alycia Baumgardner, have been beefing for quite a while now. The prominent figures in women’s boxing, who were once on good terms with each other, have been involved in verbal sparring, public confrontations, and heated debates about a potential fight between them.
Since the tension between them began, a fight has failed to materialize between them, mainly because of the sheer weight difference between the two. While Shields fights in middleweight and higher weight classes, Baumgardner has never gone above 135 pounds. The weight issue came up in a recent interview, where MVP Co-Founder Nakisa Bidarian made some comments.
When asked about a potential fight between the pair, he said, “I think Claressa Shields is walking around like a 190 lbs right now. Alycia is walking around at 132-133. So, if Claressa Shields wants the biggest payday of her life, she’s gonna have to figure out how to get to a weight class that makes sense for Alycia Baumgardner, right?”
If you know Claressa Shields, you know she proudly considers herself the A-side—and rightfully so. So, it’s no surprise that Nakisa Bidarian’s statement didn’t sit well with ‘T-Rex.’ In response, Shields took to X to call out what she described as lies from Most Valuable Promotions. “Weak a** Pinocchio looking mf talking bout my weight,” she wrote.
“Like I’m not undisputed heavyweight champ at 175, and most fighters’ weights fluctuate in and out of camp,” Shields added, clarifying any doubts about her weight. ‘T-Rex’ went on to highlight that she doesn’t need MVP to make millions. “But to say I need @MostVpromotions to make my millions like @SalitaProm ain’t been putting on is CRAZY!”
Shields signed with Salita Promotions back in June 2017 and has been working with them for a little less than 8 years. “I’m the first woman to make a million [in] 2022,” she concluded. However, despite her claim, both Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor are also believed to have earned seven figures from a single bout. Who truly broke that barrier first remains unclear.
But the question is, is a fight between Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner even possible?
Claressa Shields shuts down chances of fighting Alycia Baumgardner
Two months ago, Claressa Shields firmly shut down the possibility of facing Alycia Baumgardner, calling her a “non-factor” and “not even someone who I would consider to fight.” Despite past tensions and a viral face-off during a DAZN broadcast, Shields dismissed the idea due to weight differences, saying, “I fight 154, 160, or 168. She’s never fought at 140 or 147.”
Baumgardner had claimed that a fight at 147 was once agreed upon, stating, “She agreed to it. There is proof that she said this.” However, Shields has since moved up to campaign at 175 pounds, winning a heavyweight fight against Danielle Perkins. While Baumgardner expressed interest in the bout both competitively and financially, saying “It got personal” and “it’s a better package with me,” Shields appears laser-focused on bigger challenges in higher weight classes.
That said, despite all the verbal sparring between Claressa Shields and MVP Promotions, it’s highly unlikely that a fight against Alycia Baumgardner will be made. However, do you think Shields should consider coming down in weight?
