Claressa Shields may have dominated in the ring Saturday night, but it was the commentary from Khalilah Camacho-Ali that stole the spotlight.
Fresh off her victory against Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena on July 26th, Shields remained composed as Khalilah, Muhammad Ali’s former wife, sparked new conversation around a long-discussed fantasy matchup: Shields vs. Laila Ali. While attending the post-fight press conference, Khalilah didn’t mince words. “I think Laila needs to stay in the kitchen,” she said, repeating the jab as she praised Shields with, “You the champ. You the champ.” Shields, now 17-0 with three KOs, laughed and fired back playfully, “Thank you. I am trying to whoop Laila Ali’s a**.”
The verbal exchange added fuel to a rivalry that’s bubbled beneath the surface for years. Shields has long expressed interest in facing Laila, and says a $15 million purse is waiting in escrow. Laila, now 47 and retired since 2007 with a spotless 24-0 record and 21 knockouts, once hinted she’d only return for $15–$20 million.
In a follow-up interview with USA TODAY Sports, Khalilah doubled down with humor and shade. “Yeah, she’s a good cook. I mean, she got all kind of spices in her name,” she quipped. But she quickly pivoted, saying Laila lacks what Shields brings to the table: “As a fighter, she’s not as good as Claressa. She doesn’t have that bulldog attitude.”
Khalilah, who’s been present at Shields’ recent Detroit bouts, questioned whether a comeback makes sense for Laila, who’s now focused on her family and entrepreneurial ventures. “She’s too old for that, and she’s not that good,” Khalilah said. “I think she’s a great young woman with a beautiful family. But boxing? That chapter’s closed.”
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