Claressa Shields delivered a memorable interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, covering everything from her new $8 million deal to fighter rights and her ambitions beyond the ring. The unified champion re-signed with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records in what she described as a hard-fought negotiation that nearly saw her join MVP Promotions. “It was worth it, but it was so difficult,” Shields said. “I was super close to signing with MVP… in the end, it wasn’t enough money.”

The two-year agreement includes four fights and solidifies Shields’ position as one of boxing’s most valuable athletes. At 30, she has dominated every division from 154 to 175 pounds, earning near-universal recognition as the sport’s pound-for-pound queen. She even revealed that she once pursued a $15 million super-fight with Laila Ali, who declined, but made clear she’s still open to all challengers: “Anybody that wanna get beat up by the GWOAT can fight the GWOAT.”

Watch Shields vs. Perkins highlights.

While confident in her own standing, Shields also stressed her commitment to raising opportunities for the next generation. “I want to make it to where the girls coming up after me can make $25 million deals, and $50 million deals. That’s what I’m trying to get to, and show them a blueprint,” she said. Her motivation, she explained, goes beyond personal gain—it’s about rewriting the economics of women’s boxing.

When asked about proposed changes to the Ali Act, Shields made her stance clear. “I think that the Ali Act is what protects fighters… I don’t think it should be changed,” she said. She criticized efforts to adjust the law in ways that could reduce fighters’ pay or autonomy, saying, “It’s hard to make fights because these guys want certain money, and they want to put rules in place to force fights and keep the majority of the money, which is not good for fighters.”

Despite her strong views and packed schedule, Shields also revealed that time away from the ring has allowed her to recover from lingering injuries. “I’m just ready to get back inside the ring and continue to be great,” she said, hinting that her next fight announcement could come within the next few weeks.

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