Laila Ali considers potential dream fight with Claressa Shields

The former super middleweight champion could make a return for £19 million

Laila Ali (24,0, 21KOs), daughter of Muhammad Ali, is in talks to come out of retirement despite being inactive for 18 years.

The 44-year old from L.A. told Fighthype: “If somebody calls me and tells me they have that type of money, I’ll think about it.”

The former WBC super-middleweight champion dominated the professional ranks for eight years, retiring in 2007, and is considered by many as one of the greatest female boxers in the sport.

Despite her achievements, she has been closely compared to Claressa Shields (17-0, 3KOs), who is a three-weight undisputed champion, capturing titles in the middleweight, light-middleweight, super-middleweight and heavyweight divisions. 

The two boxers, who were once close friends, have differing opinions on how their rivalry started. Ali said that Claressa called her out after she did an interview with the breakfast club.

She told All the Smoke: “I went on the breakfast club and they asked me if I would ever come back and I said there’s no reason to because I don’t see anyone there that inspires me to”.

She added: “She heard that and took offense to it and next thing I know she’s on YouTube starting to call me out”.

Shields, however, disagrees and said that it’s because of jealousy that the two do not like each other.

She told All the Smoke: “I won a world championship at 168 and that’s where she fought”.

She added: “I did a fight interview after the fight saying I’m the greatest woman ever and I think that rubbed her the wrong way”.

Michican's Shields claims she has the money that Ali is demanding.

She told Fighthype: “Take this 15 million dollars and come get you’re a—whooped”.

At this present time the fight is still speculation, however both fighters have verbally said they would accept this fight.