With world championships in five weight classes, Claressa Shields has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with. Not just that, she is also one of only four boxers—male or female—in history to hold all four major world titles in two different weight classes. It was only last year, that Claressa Shields added another impressive victory to her list, by knocking out Vanessa Lepage Jonaisse and earning the WBC heavyweight title, along with the WBO light heavyweight title. And now she’s gearing up for her next undisputed challenge on February 2nd against heavyweight Danielle Perkins in her hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Despite her public success in the ring, Claressa Shields has managed to keep much of her personal life out of the spotlight. Very little is publicly available regarding her relationship status. What we know is that the GWOAT was in a relationship with gym owner, Tony Richardson, not too long ago. So who is Tony Richardson?

Claressa Shields and Tony Richardson

He is an ISSA-certified fitness trainer and the founder of AT Fitness Gym in Mt. Morris, Michigan. Richardson, who holds an Associate of Arts degree in fashion merchandising from Bauder College in Atlanta, Georgia, was first introduced to the public as Claressa Shields’ boyfriend in November 2020. The couple was seen together on multiple occasions, often at the gym where the two worked out and Claressa sparred with him and even shared her boxing knowledge.

In fact, in 2022, Claressa Shields posted a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating a special night with Tony. The caption of the post read “Wow! Me & my fiancé, my protector, my heart ❤️ @tonyrichfit enjoyed this historical night of fights! …” In the photo, Claressa Shields was seen attending the 2022 Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano title fight in NYC.

Fast forward to 2023, rumors of their wedding circulated on the internet. And this made the Flint native publicly lash out at fans for spreading misinformation. While denying any wedding, she confirmed that she was indeed engaged. She shared a video on X of her and Tony kissing, with her flaunting an engagement ring.

Over the years, Claressa Shields and Richardson have celebrated many milestones together, including Valentine’s Day. Shields posted a photo on Instagram in February with a caption that read: “Happy Valentine’s Day @tonyrichfit made today special. Our 4th Vday together.” However, despite good times, it seems like what they had did not last long.

In an interview with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on December 23, last year, T-Rex revealed, “I’m not engaged, I’m not married…People break up every day… We tried it, it didn’t work out. I want my dating life to be private…It’s very difficult… When you’re successful, you don’t know if the guy likes you because you’re pretty or you’re famous…It’s not the most easiest thing to do.” But the story doesn’t end there.

The Papoose Drama: A Rumored Affair?

The unexpected drama began when hip-hop artist Papoose was seen voicing his support for Claressa Shields before her fight in July 2024. According to a report on Vibe, Pap announced that he’s “with the champ” and that things are “about to get ugly,” referencing Shields’ title fight against then-heavyweight champion Joanisse. However, things took a dramatic turn when Papoose’s wife, Remy Ma, accused the 29-year-old of having an affair with her husband.

“Papoose dum a** fell sleep on the phone with @Claressashields,” Remy wrote on Instagram. She further added, “Laying in my house he refuses to leave. This b**ch supposed to be a world champion boxer and [her] scary a** hung up soon as she heard my voice. Nowwww I’m telling everything ohhhh and babygirl u not the only one.” And if you think the double Olympic gold medalist stayed quiet, you’re wrong. She did not.

In an interview with Boxingwithak, Claressa Shields revealed that Papoose didn’t share his relationship status with Remy Ma. She made it clear that she had no intention of being involved in any drama, stating, “He didn’t come out and say that they were in a relationship for two years. So don’t look at me and say, ‘Oh, you just came and messed up this happy home,’ and stuff like that. Because that’s not what happened. That [relationship] was already over.” Claressa Shields emphasized that she respected Papoose and Remy Ma’s private understanding of their relationship dynamics and that she wasn’t trying to disrupt anything.

The drama surrounding Claressa Shields, Papoose, and Remy Ma raised more questions than answers, leaving fans to wondering about the truth behind the claims. So what do you think about the controversy? Do share your thoughts below.