Talking about Jake Paul, during an interview with TMZ a month ago, Claressa Shields said, “They criticize him because of who he picks to fight, not exactly how he fights.” The discussion followed ‘The Problem Child’s unanimous win over ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson at the Cowboys Stadium. The special rules fight faces a myriad of criticisms. But there’s no point in denying—business-wise, the MVP-Netflix show proved a big money spinner, catapulting Paul as one of the foremost voices in the sport.
But Claressa Shields remains unimpressed. In the latest interview, she kept up her verbal attack on ‘The Problem Child’. Shields believes that she can outbox the Ohioan with ease. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has not been among the fans of the YouTuber-turned-boxer. A few years ago, their differences came to a head when Shields was set to face her archrival, Savannah Marshall. Now, aiming for another milestone, the five-division champion will kick off the year’s campaign with a fight against Danielle Perkins in front of a home crowd on February 2.
Claressa Shields: Jake Paul is no contender for me
Claressa Shields was speaking with USA Today Sports. Questioning Jake Paul’s boxing skills, she stated that she could easily drub the former Disney star. “People who are against that are just sexist, and they don’t know boxing. It’s very strange to me that they think that a YouTuber can beat a woman boxer who has two Olympic gold medals, (multiple) world titles, and fought as a heavyweight,” said the unbeaten champion.
Claressa Shields, USA Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS women s middleweight boxing, Riocentro – Pavilion 6, 2016-08-17 c WIXTRÖM PETER / Aftonbladet / IBL Bildbyra * * * EXPRESSEN OUT * * * AFTONBLADET / 85326 Rio de Janeiro Brazil x2512x *** Claressa Shields, USA Rio 2016 Olympic Games, women s middleweight boxing, Riocentro Pavilion 6, 2016 08 17 c WIXTRÖM PETER Aftonbladet IBL Bildbyra EXPRESSEN OUT AFTONBLADET 85326 Rio de Janeiro Brazil sport x2512x PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxDENxNORxSWExFIN Copyright: xPeterxWixtröm/Aftonbladet/TTx Rio 2016 Olympic Games, women s middleweight boxing, Riocentro –
Brushing aside concerns that a fight against a man may prove challenging, she further criticized Paul’s performance against 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Shields claimed that even her upcoming opponent, Danielle Perkins, would fare better if pitted against ‘The Problem Child’.
During the TMZ interview, Claressa Shields acknowledged Jake Paul’s effort in bringing more eyes to the sport. However, she remained unconvinced about how far his boxing skills would take him. The 2018 Christy Martin Award recipient said, “I don’t think Jake Paul has the skills to get inside the ring with me or any of the guys at 154 pounds and up who are in the rankings. I’m not going to lie to you.” Then over a tweet, she further added, “I get him by stoppage KO.”
A high-profile battle but fraught with challenges
Boxing has seen its own ‘battle of the sexes’ in the past. Back in 1999, Margaret MacGregor faced Loi Chow and won by unanimous decision. But setting up a Jake Paul–Claressa Shields matchup might prove to be an uphill task. However, both are stars in their own right, each with a loyal following. Hence, a potential fight between the two may likely prove a blockbuster.
However, detractors are quick to point to the sparring knockdown Claressa Shields suffered at the hands of a professional boxer years ago. In late 2023, footage of the incident went viral, prompting Shields to respond with a series of statements.
Fans now eagerly await a response from Jake Paul. Speculation about his next move continues to swirl. Some reports even suggest a potential showdown with Conor McGregor, who has hinted at a matchup with Jake Paul’s older brother, Logan.
What are your thoughts on Claressa Shields’ claims about defeating Jake Paul?
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