“I Deserve to Be Paid”: Natasha Jonas Slams Claressa Shields Fight Offer

When it comes to women’s boxing, the competition is fierce, and athletes have to work even harder to prove their worth. Professional boxers Natasha Jonas and Claressa Shields have been making headlines recently after Jonas turned down an offer to fight Shields.  In a recent interview with iDBoxing, Jonas opened up about her reasons for rejecting Shields’ offer.

The offer was to fight for the championship, but what happened next surprised many. The reason for the rejection was not what people expected, and it raises some interesting questions about the sport.

Natasha Jonas stands her ground: “I deserve to be paid”

During the interview, Natasha Jonas revealed the reason behind rejecting Claressa Shields’ fight offer, stating, “It comes down to one thing, and that was money.” She then went on to refute claims made by promoter Dmitriy Salita that she had made multiple excuses for turning down the fight, stating, “I wanted to fight. I wanted a fight before it, which would’ve been on this card, but that had nothing to do with her anyway.” 

“Then I wanted to be paid well, you know, and he can say what he wants, but she wouldn’t accept the money if it was the other way round, and I get that she’s got her own contract with whatever was paid but, you know, I still want to and I deserved to be paid as I was the champion. She was coming down for my belts.”

Jonas clearly stated that she based her decision solely on the financial aspect of the offer and believed that she deserved to be paid as the champion. She also hinted at a potential power dynamic, suggesting that Shields may not have accepted a lower payment if the roles were reversed. Jonas further emphasized that Shields was the challenger and that she was coming down for Jonas’ belts, adding to the weight of her argument for fair compensation.

Jonas’ comments shed light on the financial side of professional boxing and the importance of being fairly compensated for one’s hard work and success in the ring. The issue of pay disparity in boxing has long been a contentious one, with many fighters, particularly female fighters, fighting for equal pay and recognition in the sport. Jonas’ stance on the matter highlights the continued struggle for equity and fairness in the boxing industry. Natasha Jonas has shown that she values herself as a boxer and is not willing to settle for less than she deserves.

Watch this story: Claressa shields issues warning to Natasha Jonas

While her decision to reject the fight offer may have disappointed some fans, it is her right to determine her own worth and decide which fights are worth taking.

Read More: “I Would’ve Start[ed] Choking Her”: Claressa Shields Slams Gervonta Davis & Ryan Garcia