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“RIP”: Claressa Shields Keeps Beef Aside to Mourn Rival Alycia Baumgardner’s Late Father

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Claressa Shields tried to look past her long ongoing feud with Alycia Baumgardner during her time of personal loss and mourning. This is a big move, especially after she released a diss track titled “Yeah Glo!” directed at Baumgardner only a couple of weeks ago. So, Shields decided to be a better person and offered her condolences on the tragic passing of Baumgardner’s father, Mario Guzman.

Alycia Baumgardner broke the disheartening news on her social media and even thanked her fans for all the support she received during the difficult time. So, does this mean Shields has extended a hand of friendship? Maybe, maybe not. But it definitely shows that boxing rivalries don’t get too personal for the undisputed champion. No matter what the beef is, respecting one’s parents especially when they are no longer around, should be the norm. So, how did Shields try to console her rival?

Claressa Shields offers condolences
Much recently, Claressa Shields posted on X where she commended her past rival, Savannah Marshall, for making her MMA debut in the coming month of June. After this, a fan commented on her post and wrote, “You been complaining about how fighters aren’t together anymore and against each other. @alyciambaum Dad just died this is an ideal time to make amends. If you not willing to put ya pride to the side stop crying about everybody else.”

Well, this request caught the eyes of the champion, and she didn’t want to disappoint her followers. At the same time, Shields showcased her heart and how she prioritizes keeping her private and professional life separate. Thus, she posted on X, “RIP to her father.” This statement was followed by a folded hands emoji.

Shields kept her rivalry aside this time and came together in a time of sorrow despite their previous hatred of one another. This at least can bring Alycia Baumgardner some solace that even her rival paid her father the respect he deserved.

Baumgardner struggles with her father’s passing
The undisputed super featherweight champion took to social media yesterday to share the news of her father’s tragic passing. In a heartfelt tweet, Alycia Baumgardner wrote, “A piece of me broke today. My life has forever changed. Thank you for everything you instilled. Love you forever Dad.“

A follow-up tweet offered a glimpse of Baumgardner’s determination in the face of grief. “Not my dad dying like he had somewhere to go,” she wrote. “Happy he’s not suffering tho…gonna be hurt for some time. But he wouldn’t want any less of the work I been putting in to beat anyone in my way! Watch this breakthrough!“

Alycia Baumgardner’s tweets paint a picture of a boxer grappling with immense personal loss while clinging to her passion for the sport. Her father’s influence is evident, and it seems she’s determined to honor his memory by continuing her climb in the b

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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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