It’s been five long years since Laila Ali famously told Stephen A. Smith on ESPN, “When it’s personal that starts a fire, right? And when the money’s right and it makes sense then why not?” Yet, despite the buzz and speculation, a clash between Ali and Claressa Shields never materialized. The verbal jabs have flared up from time to time, but the two have remained firmly in different corners. Just last December, Shields publicly stated she had no disrespect for Ali, hinting at a possible thaw in tensions. But any hope of reconciliation seemed to cool quickly.

In January, speaking on All the Smoke Fight Clips, Ali responded sharply to Claressa Shields’ comments about her record, saying, “You are not going to get very far in your life if you continue burning bridges. You gonna see a lot of people surpass you even though you are talented. So never think too big of yourself. You got to watch your character you got to stay humble.” You see, Claressa Shields and Ali represent two different eras in women’s boxing and have contrasting personalities. While Ali has been retired for 18 years, her passion and temper haven’t faded. Still, Shields seems to be holding out hope that fences could one day be mended.

A fresh update in the long-running saga came just days ago when Claressa Shields sat down for an interview with FightHype.com. With just two months to go before she defends all her world heavyweight titles against Lani Daniels, Shields was seen in the midst of an intense training camp. During the conversation, she was asked a question that followed her for years. “You said you versus Laila Ali could be like a big fight in women’s boxing, right? Leila’s 47. People have linked you to Chris Cyborg, 39. What’s the fight that you think um you know get you to whatever level you want to get to next? If there’s even one.”

And Claressa Shields didn’t mince words. “I think whatever. Me fighting the best get me to the level that I want to get to,” she replied, reinforcing her well-known mantra of chasing greatness through competition. Then she said something that turned heads. “Like when they ask me who my dream fights are, of course you say Laila Ali. That’s who I think is the best fight.” Two words: dream fight. The Flint native didn’t mention Chris Cyborg. She didn’t bring up Alycia Baumgardner. The fight that still ignites her imagination is the one against the 47-year-old former WBC, WIBA, IWBF, IBA super middleweight, and IWBF light heavyweight champion, Laila Ali.

Moreover, the topic of legacy was reignited recently when Terence Crawford weighed in on one of boxing’s most heated debates: Who is the greatest of all time in women’s boxing, Laila Ali or Claressa Shields? Shields made sure to remind everyone who she believes truly deserves the title.

Claressa Shields: undisputed, unmatched, unbothered

Claressa Shields recently took to X to share a clip from Terence Crawford’s appearance on Club Shay Shay, where the pound-for-pound king elevated her status. The moment came near the end of the interview when host Shannon Sharpe brought up Shields’ name. “ALL FACTS!!!!” the 16-0 boxer tweeted, tagging the Club Shay Shay clip. In the segment, Sharpe begins by saying, “Clarissa Shields, I don’t think there’s really any question that she’s the best woman boxer today.” Before he could even finish his thought, Crawford cut in with conviction: “Of all time.”

Sharpe, surprised, followed up: “You’re putting her over Laila Ali?” Bud Crawford, didn’t hesitate. “All time,” he said again. “And I love Laila.” Yet Crawford didn’t flinch. Sharpe pushed again, bringing Christy Martin into the conversation. But Crawford stayed firm. “All time… there’s no comparison… at all all time,” he said with emphasis. “I love Laila too… but ain’t nobody coming close to Claressa… two-time Olympic gold medalist… three-time undisputed.” Though he momentarily stumbled over Shields’ accolades, the point was crystal clear: Claressa Shields is operating on another level.

Now, with Shields set to defend her titles against 36-year-old Lani Daniels in just two months, the spotlight is brighter than ever. So, do you agree with Terence Crawford? And do you think she can remain unbeaten yet again?