Shannon Sharpe sits down with Claressa Shields for an in-depth episode that opens inside the boxing ring, where the two begin with a hands-on breakdown of technique. Shields guides Sharpe through jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts and full combinations, pairing each demonstration with insight into championship footwork, defense, counters and the strategic mindset required to close out a fight.
The conversation then shifts to Shields’s personal story and the path that shaped her into the most accomplished woman in boxing history. She reflects on growing up with a mother battling addiction, a father who spent years in prison and the trauma of repeated sexual abuse. The loss of her grandmother added another layer of hardship, and those experiences pushed her into the role of protector for her siblings. Standing up to school bullies eventually led her to boxing, a decision that gave her direction, stability and ultimately helped her navigate two suicide attempts during her youth.
Shields recounts her only amateur loss, which occurred during a tournament her coach could not attend, underscoring how essential leadership is in a fighter’s corner. She also revisits the breakthrough moment when she became the youngest American boxer to secure Olympic gold, the challenge of sparring with an online critic and her early push to secure equal Olympic pay for women. She went on to become the first high school graduate in her family.
Her discussion with Sharpe widens into her broader experiences in and around the sport. Shields speaks about her stance on trans participation in women’s athletics, her interactions with Kevin Durant and LeBron James during the Olympics and the pressures tied to colorism and online criticism, issues she notes she has faced alongside public figures like Serena Williams. She also addresses expectations around appearance, the financial lessons learned throughout her career and her milestone of becoming the first woman to earn a seven-figure purse in a boxing match.
Shields details her expansion into MMA, including training with Jon Jones, the technical differences between the two sports and whether she would ever consider a crossover into WWE. She offers assessments of several major boxing figures and matchups, including Canelo Alvarez, Jake Paul versus Gervonta Davis, Floyd Mayweather versus Mike Tyson and Terence Crawford’s standing in the sport. She also reflects on her long-discussed rivalry with Laila Ali and the substantial fight offer that remains unresolved.
As the episode winds down, Shields discusses her future beyond competition. She speaks about her hopes for motherhood, her friendships with Kash Doll and Summer Walker, the music she prefers before fights and the mental approach she carries while walking to the ring. She also opens up about the toughest tactics she has faced in the ring, the injuries she has fought through, her process for cutting weight and where negotiations stand for her next bout, including recent conversations involving Netflix.
The episode presents a comprehensive portrait of Shields’s career, challenges and ambitions as she continues to expand her legacy across multiple combat sports.
