Laila Ali said she would come out of retirement to fight Claressa Shields, a three-division world champion of women’s boxing.
Ali, who hasn’t fought since 2007, appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” on Friday and was asked if she’d ever fight Shields.
Both women have a history of beef and have sent shots at each other in the past.
“She’s been calling me out,” said Ali, who’s the daughter of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali. “She’s taken offense to some things I’ve said in the past that had nothing to do with her.”
“Of course [I would fight her], especially [because of] that mouth,” Ali continued. “When it’s personal that starts a fire, right? And when the money’s right and it makes sense, then why not?”
Ali — who’s 42 years old — also said that being bigger than Shields, who’s 24, gives her an advantage.
“That definitely will come into play,” Ali explained. “That’s why I have 21 knockouts. So it would be my absolute pleasure for the right amount of money to come back.”
Shields responded to Ali Friday on Twitter and simply wrote, “Bring it on!”
The problems between both women began in 2018 when Ali was a guest on “The Breakfast Club” and spoke about Shields.
“You got Claressa Shields now who is an Olympic champion. She’s a young, black girl came out of Flint, Michigan, lived a hard life, went through a lot, she went to the Olympics, won twice,” Ali explained.
“She actually fights in the weight class I fought in and she’s doing great,” she continued. “It’s still not what I would have wanted. I would have wanted more because I have a big picture in my mind, but for her, that’s great.”
Shields later said that she didn’t care for the way Ali talked about her during that interview.
“So everybody was texting and tweeting me about @TheRealLailaAli giving me a shoutout on @breakfastclubam so I decided to go and give it a listen !” Shields tweeted on Jan. 24, 2018. “And honestly to me it was some disrespect, and shade, and my thing is it only takes a phone call to rumble.”
Shields then spoke to EsNews about Ali last month.
“Imma beat her up and probably knock her out,” Shields anticipated. “She’s 42 years old. She said she can get back in shape and knock me out, but I’m a way better boxer than her so it wouldn’t happen.”
Ali retired with 24 wins, zero losses and 21 knockouts, and Shields has 10 wins, zero losses, with two knockouts.
