Claressa Shields has announced a sensational $15 million offer for a potential fight against Laila Ali, the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Despite Ali’s retirement from the sport for nearly 18 years, Shields is eager to create what she has termed a generational super-fight. Yet, questions arise about the legitimacy of the financial backing behind this proposal.
In a video shared with TMZ Sports, Shields claimed that Wynn Records would provide the substantial purse necessary to entice Ali back into the ring. The video, however, raises eyebrows due to the absence of recognized boxing promoters. Aside from Shields’ manager, Mark Taffet, the only visible representative was Ruben Branson from Wynn Records, who presented a novelty cheque that lacks verifiable authenticity. The cheque was linked to a bank that does not exist at the stated address.
Taffet has suggested two potential venues for the fight: the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, which accommodates up to 105,000 fans, and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with a much smaller capacity of 20,000. The choice of venue could significantly impact the event’s scale and financial viability.
In the TMZ video, Shields enthusiastically stated, “Laila, I’m here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million! Let’s make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The greats versus the greats.” This proclamation included the display of the aforementioned cheque, which many view as questionable.
The $15 million figure originated from a tongue-in-cheek comment made by Ali during an interview with FightHype. She mentioned that such a lucrative offer would only initiate discussions about a comeback, given her lengthy absence from competitive boxing. “What I heard was that I said ‘unless somebody got $15-20 million don’t even call me about this,’” Ali stated. “Unless somebody calls me and says they have it, we’re not even going to have a conversation.”
Despite her playful approach, Ali acknowledged that a substantial offer could prompt her to reconsider her position. “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. Do I look like I could fight again? I think so,” she remarked.
As the situation develops, Bloody Elbow has reached out to Ali’s representatives to inquire whether there have been any serious offers from Wynn Records or Shields’ team behind the scenes. The boxing world watches closely as this narrative unfolds, questioning both the claims of Shields and the possibility of a long-awaited clash between two of the sport’s most prominent figures.