Claressa Shields Gets Candid About Love, Boxing and Her Next Goal
- Shields is praised for her sportsmanship, embracing opponents after fights despite her fierce reputation.
- Shields credits her success to faith, disciplined training, and consistency, not just raw talent.
- Shields is expanding into music and film while still dominating the boxing ring, with more victories ahead.
Claressa Shields continues to prove why she’s considered one of the greatest fighters in boxing.
Fresh off capturing the WBC and WBA middleweight titles with a sixth-round knockout, the two-time Olympic gold medalist stopped by The Rickey Smiley Morning Show to reflect on another milestone victory and share what keeps her motivated after accomplishing so much in the sport.
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Winning in front of more than 17,000 fans made the moment even more special, Shields said, especially with so many celebrities in attendance.
Despite her fierce reputation inside the ring, Rickey Smiley praised Shields for the sportsmanship she displayed after the fight. Instead of celebrating alone, she invited her opponent into her dressing room for photos and embraced her with respect.
“For me, it’s all love and it’s all respect,” Shields said, explaining that once the fight is over, she appreciates every opponent willing to step into the ring with her. She acknowledged how difficult it is to find champions willing to put their titles on the line against her.
Da Brat also asked about the intense training camp that saw Shields lose 38 pounds to make weight. The champion credited her success to faith, disciplined strength training, daily boxing workouts and drinking a gallon of water every day.
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“The secret is God,” she said, adding that consistency made all the difference.
Beyond boxing, Shields encouraged fans to watch her biopic, The Fire Inside, now streaming on Prime Video. She said the film tells the story of her upbringing and journey to becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist, giving viewers a deeper understanding of everything she overcame to reach the top.
The conversation also turned to her personal life, including her relationship with rapper Papoose. Shields admitted the couple abstains from sex for six weeks before each fight to help her stay focused during training camp.
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“It’s too relaxing,” she explained. “For a person who has to train three or four times a day,” maintaining discipline is part of preparing to perform at the highest level.
Although boxing remains her priority, Shields has expanded into music, recently releasing several songs, including “Good Life,” which she said quickly reached one million YouTube views. She joked that after earning championships, an ESPY and starring in her own movie, adding a Grammy to her résumé would be another dream accomplishment.
When asked what people misunderstand about her, Shields kept her answer simple.
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“I’m just myself,” she said. “I enjoy boxing. I enjoy my family. I love my man. And I’m just a young, rich, Black girl.”
Even with a legendary boxing career already secured, Shields said she’s beginning to think about life after the sport. While she currently plans to retire around age 38, she admitted she still enjoys competing and believes she can continue dominating for years to come. And if boxing had never happened, she said she’d happily embrace a quieter life centered around family and motherhood.
For now, though, the champion has no plans to slow down. Between defending titles, making music and inspiring the next generation, Claressa Shields is proving her greatest victories may still be ahead.
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