There’s trash talk, and there’s trash talk that’s crossed a line. Claressa Shields, an undisputed world champion who thrives on it, knows when a line has been crossed—which is why she publicly called out Carla Jade and Pearl Gonzalez for their ‘below the belt’ insults at each other during the Misfits press conference. Jade and Gonzalez feature on the main card of the event scheduled for March 7 at Vaillant Live in Derby, England. The DAZN-streamed card marks the Misfits debut of the veteran boxer and former title challenger Gabriel Rosado.
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“😮 Wow… When this fight,” wrote Claressa Shields. “These girls went below the belt.”
So what shocked the undisputed titleholder, who rarely holds back even outside the ring? Her comments came after footage showed Carla Jade and Pearl Gonzalez clashing at the final press conference of Misfits (MF) Duel 2.
“But just from the jump, that nice girl sh-t doesn’t run with me, pal,” said the MFB women’s lightweight champion, recalling their first meeting this past December. “Because you wasn’t Miss ‘Nice Girl’ when you was slapping me in the face, and you know we had our little meeting here, and you wasn’t Nice Girl then. So I know the cameras are on and you’re trying to play this little thing, but it doesn’t suit you. So take the dress off, put the track back on, and, you know, just stay in your lane, babe.”
Pearl Gonzalez fired back promptly, reminding her that Jade is stepping into her lane – the middleweight division, where she reigns as the MFB champion. But the reply drew a sharp retort from Carla Jade, who pointed to Gonzalez’s setbacks as a UFC fighter and later in bare-knuckle boxing before her switch to influencer boxing because “she’s out of work.” The next exchange left many, including Claressa Shields, stunned.
😮 Wow….When this fight. These girls went below the belt https://t.co/1qT0vX2cF4
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) March 5, 2026
“So, failed career,” quipped Pearl Gonzalez. “But you have four kids and no baby dad.”
That prompted Jade to respond with an expletive-laden counter, even comparing Gonzalez’s build with former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.
Carla Jade vs. Pearl Gonzalez: A heated rivalry heads to the ring
The tension between the two Misfits champions extended beyond the press conference. Security separated the two when they faced off. This time, Carla Jade slapped the middleweight champion.
While their presser exchange crossed the line, fans may be more interested in whether that tension carries into the ring tomorrow night.
Jade and Gonzalez will fight a five-round match with two-minute rounds. Fighting out of London, Carla Jade is a former model and ring girl who became interested in competing and began her boxing career, marking her debut at MF & DAZN X Series 9 on September 23.
Last year in January, she defeated bare-knuckle fighter Melanie Shah and became MFB’s lightweight champion. She defended her belt in subsequent months, with her most recent fight taking place this past December, where she defeated Taylor Starling at Misfits Mania.
Chicago native Pearl Gonzalez, 39, has long been involved in combat sports. A mixed martial artist since 2010, Gonzalez competed in several promotions before receiving an opportunity to fight in the UFC. However, back-to-back losses led to her release from the UFC in 2017.
She also tried her luck in bare-knuckle boxing, losing a fight to Britain Hart. She then transitioned to professional boxing, where she compiled a 2–1 record. On December 20, she made her Misfits debut. Fighting for the vacant middleweight title, she defeated Tai Emery.