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“She’s a Dr*g Cheat”: Claressa Shields Exposes Alycia Baumgardner, Reveals Declined Fight Offer

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The simmering rivalry between Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner exploded once more this weekend. Shields was working as a commentator for the Richardson Hitchins vs. Gustavo Lemos fight when she bumped into her nemesis, Baumgardner. This wasn’t a friendly encounter. According to reports, Shields temporarily left her post to confront Baumgardner, resulting in a fiery exchange of words.

The tension was palpable, and even after Shields returned to her commentary duties, the bad blood lingered. This ongoing feud has become a familiar dance for boxing fans. Social media spats and in-person confrontations have become the norm. But the biggest obstacle to settling this rivalry in the ring remains: weight class. Moreover, Claressa Shields exposes Alycia regarding her substance abuse.

Claressa Shields believes Baumgardner would take steroids again
Following a tense faceoff at the recent Hitchins-Lemos event, Shields unloaded on her rival in a fiery interview. The Michigan born boxer addressed Baumgardner’s past accusations of performance-enhancing drug use with clear anger. “Whatever, she’s a dr*g cheat,” Shields stated. “I don’t give a f***,” she continued, referencing Baumgardner’s suspension for a failed drug test. Baumgardner has since maintained her innocence.

The interview also highlighted the fighters’ significant weight difference. Baumgardner reigns as the 130-pound champion, while Shields sits comfortably at 160 pounds. “She can walk around on weight,” Shields said, implying that Baumgardner’s past positive test may have aided her weight management. Shields further fanned the flames by addressing comments Baumgardner made about her appearance.

“Look, Alicia, I don’t know where the f*** you got that I was ugly from,” Shields fired back in a surprising turn. She vehemently denied any insecurity about her looks, stating, “God not to find a cute. No, God not to find a cute and he don’t care about ugly. So it’s like, therefore looks don’t matter.” Not only this, Shields, in another tweet also mentioned how she actually tried to reach out to Baumgardner’s team but didn’t receive any response.

Shields roped in for clout?
Claressa Shields has fired back at suggestions that her rivalry with Alycia Baumgardner is a publicity stunt. The comments come after a heated faceoff between the two champions at the recent Hitchins-Lemos event. Shields took to Twitter to address the situation, specifically referencing her manager, Dmitry Salita.

Her tweet reads: “Her team didn’t even want to entertain the conversation! Ask @Dsalita! First call I made after I won my MMA fight, ‘set the fight between me & Alycia now’ he called her team and everyone was super against it!!!!! Said Alycia was just talking ‘clout.’” Shields’ tweet suggests her team was initially hesitant about pursuing a fight with Baumgardner.

She claims that she actively pushed for the matchup following her MMA victory, and that Baumgardner’s team ultimately rejected the proposition. What are your thoughts about this matchup? Tell us in the comments section.

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BOXING

Shields’ Promoter on Marshall: We Welcome The Rematch, Open To Exploring It

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Dmitriy Salita, promoter for undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields, has no issue with exploring the possibility of a rematch with Savannah Marshall, who holds three world titles at 168-pounds.

Marshall defeated Shields when they were amateurs. For Shields, it still remains as her only defeat as an amateur or pro.

Last October in London, they finally met in the pros, with Shields winning a unanimous decision to unify the middleweight division.

Marshall would later move up to 168 and defeat Franchon Crews-Dezurn to become the undisputed champion at 168. An injury, which prevented her from making a mandatory defense, has removed Marshall from the WBC belt – but she has the ability to force a rematch with Crews-Dezurn, who earlier this month captured the vacant WBC belt.

Despite the move in weight, Marshall is still chasing a rematch with Shields – an option her team is willing to consider.

“People keep asking me about the rematch with Savannah Marshall. It’s a fight that’s also natural because that rivalry is also a natural rivalry. It’s not manufactured. You don’t have to tell either fighter what to say, how to act, they genuinely dislike each other,” Salita said.

“Claressa travelled thousands of miles away from home to avenge that controversial loss as an amateur and she did it at the peak of her career. There’s not a lot of American fighters that in the peak of their career, who have been Olympic champions, have travelled to the country of their rival to fight them. Claressa did it and she won in spectacular fashion and gained tens and hundreds of thousands of fans abroad. A true world champion is what she is.”

Shields has a contract with MMA organization PFL.

Earlier this year, Marshall dipped her own foot in MMA waters by signing an agreement with PFL – which opens the door to have a rematch with Shields in another sport.

“Their rivalry’s so great whatever they do, if they play chess, people are going to want to see it,” Salita said.

“I believe 10 out of 10 times Claressa wins the fight but Savannah is a very good fighter. I believe that fight is always going to be entertaining and exciting. But Claressa keeps getting better, keeps getting stronger, her confidence is now on another level but we welcome the rematch. For the rematch, both have been victorious [since their last fight], we’re open to exploring it.”

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