Claressa Shields once again reminded the world why she’s hailed as the ‘GWOAT’ of boxing. The three-weight undisputed champion delivered a masterclass on Saturday night at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, dominating New Zealand’s Lani Daniels from start to finish. In front of 15,000 roaring hometown fans, Shields showcased her superior skill and relentless pace, outboxing and overpowering Daniels over all 10 rounds to retain her undisputed crown.

The judges scored the bout 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91, as the two-time Olympic gold medalist extended her flawless record to 17-0. While Daniels drew criticism for her early-round strategy of backpedaling, Claressa Shields had other things on her mind, post-fight. She dedicated the victory to Brooklyn rapper Papoose, crediting his support as a source of strength. Days after the win, Shields took to Instagram to share a series of photos from the weigh-ins, accompanied by a heartfelt message expressing how Papoose helped her stay focused and prevail in the ring.

“And 😊 To my man @papoose ….. Thank you,” Shields wrote on Instagram. “You are the epitome of a REAL MAN! How you have added to my life and my happiness, I can’t speak about how great you are enough. I’ve been in the driver seat of my life since ‘FOREVER’ now you came and took the wheel and let me ride shotgun 🤩🥹 Thank you for being who you are…” Shields continued to praise the role the rapper has played in her life. 

“Despite all the ‘wrong’ names that people add to you, you are truly just a Smart, GREAT MAN, Genuine, Loving, Honest & Kind Person,” She continued. “This weekend would [not have] been possible without you! I say that humbly! You helped me make ‘one more’ of my dreams come true! If it’s Us vs Them, we [are going to] always win.” Notably, Shields and Papoose have been in a romantic relationship for a while now, which became public in late 2024.

This came amid Papoose’s messy separation from his estranged wife, rapper Remy Ma, with whom he is legally married. Regardless, with Daniels out of the way, Shields seems to have her sights set on a big-money fight. 

Claressa Shields wants to fight Muhammad Ali’s 47-year–old daughter

‘T-Rex’ Shields and Laila Ali have had their issues for several years at this point. Though talks of a fight between them have made headlines before, nothing ever materialized. However, after her latest win over Lani Daniels, Shields seems more determined than ever to get the show on the road. “I am trying to whoop Laila Ali’s a–,” Shields said. 

Shields’ promoter, Dmitry Salita, confirmed they’re actively pursuing the fight. “Following her historic win in Detroit, we’re focused on keeping her active and aligned with her mission – fighting the biggest and best,” Salita told Sky Sports. He emphasized the scale of such a fight, highlighting what both fighters bring to the table. 

“A matchup with Laila Ali would be a monumental moment in sports history: The daughter of the GOAT vs the GWOAT.” Laila Ali retired from the sport in 2007 with an undefeated record of 24-0, but hasn’t ruled out a return to the ring, claiming enough money can entice her to put on the gloves one last time.

As Claressa Shields looks forward to bigger things, her love life with rapper Papoose seems to be heading in the right direction, too. While Papoose may not have helped train Shields for the fight, his emotional support seems to have helped Shields immensely. What do you make of Shields’s message?