Top female boxer and one of the greatest female boxers of all time, Claressa Shields, recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where she discussed negotiations with Jake Paul’s new boxing promotion, Most Valuable Promotions. And how she felt disrespected by the offer of a fight on the undercard of Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3. The boxing champion said the following:
“I’m not going to kiss their ass. Why does it have to be kissing their ass? Why can’t it just be like—do a deal to get you on the biggest platform? There’s no bigger platform than Netflix, right? They’re disrespectful. They offered me some money to fight on the July card, co-main, against Shadesia Green, but the money was nowhere near what I make. That’s disrespectful.
“And then, how are you going to work with somebody and not even be respectful of who they are? I am pound-for-pound number one. That’s just period. If anybody comes close, it’s Katie, but still—Katie struggles with fighters who are very, very aggressive. I don’t struggle with nobody. I find a way to make you look amateur. That’s the art in what I do.”
Jake Paul and his promotion have taken a serious liking to women’s boxing, as he has close relationships with Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. He has even signed former UFC bantamweight champion and former boxing world champion Holly Holm and has a fight booked for her. So, for him to take an interest in one of the best female boxers of this generation, Claressa Shields, is no surprise.
Claressa Shields and Jake Paul are both polarizing to the boxing community.
Claressa Shields has been polarizing the boxing community for quite a while. She is quite outspoken on her beliefs to the point that many people find her obnoxious, and there have been many controversies. Jake Paul’s laundry list of angering people existed long before he ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves. The two may be a match made in heaven to bring eyes and controversy to women’s boxing, which is what the sport needs.
