Undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner and former undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields have been at each other’s throats in recent months. The prospect of a fight between them isn’t something new, but ‘The Bomb’ seems to have revitalized fight talks with her latest statement.

As it turns out, the Fremont, Ohio native told Boxing Kingdom that she is ready and happy to fight Shields next. However, there’s one issue—a big one at that—the sheer weight difference between them makes the potential bout improbable. Even if they were to fight, the question is at what weight, something fans were quick to point out. 

The weight problem

Earlier today, Boxing Kingdom wrote on X, “EXCLUSIVE: Alycia Baumgardner has informed Boxing Kingdom that she will happily fight Claressa Shields next.” Baumgardner is coming off her bout against Delfine Persoon, which ended in a no-decision after an accidental head butt opened up a cut on Persoon’s eyebrow. 

Regardless, before her last fight, Baumgardner told Boxing Scene that she agreed to fight Shields at welterweight (147 pounds), adding, “Competition is at the 130-to-147 range, and that’s where I plan to reign at. Right now, it doesn’t make sense to go up to 154 pounds.” Meanwhile, Shields had gone up to heavyweight to defeat Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

However, ‘GWOAT’ has fought as low as super welterweight (154 pounds), the lowest she has ever fought. As you can see, the weight is clearly a hurdle in making the fight happen. So, reacting to the post from Boxing Kingdom, people were, let’s say, unconvinced that Baumgardner’s statement had any weight behind it. 

Alycia Baumgardner vs. Claressa Shields met with cold shoulders

Baumgardner and Shields have been teasing a showdown for months now, but with no deal in sight, fans are starting to lose interest. One fan even offered a blunt summary of what’s coming next. “AB says 147lb. Gwoat says… 154lb, I call the shots. So the fight will not happen because they can’t agree on weight…,” wrote the user. To put things into perspective, Shields, who last fought at heavyweight, will have to traverse five weight classes and Baumgardner will have to climb three—seems unfair. 

The next user seems to have been left confused. The user wrote, “AT what weight, this statement is so vague🙄.” The ideal weight seems to be 154, but Baumgardner doesn’t want to fight there. 

Another user stated the obvious. “Unless Alycia picks up a ton of weight, I don’t see how this fight happens,” the user commented. Interestingly, the heaviest Baumgardner has ever fought is 137 pounds, which falls under super lightweight. 

Meanwhile, this user didn’t want this fight to happen to begin with. “Nooo. We need these two to keep dominating the sport. Let’s talk about it a year or two from now,” the user’s comment read. However, both fighters are at the peak of their careers and age, so now would be the best time for them to fight. 

While everyone else didn’t buy the fight was happening, this user seemed pumped for it. “That will be a great fight,” the user wrote. However, it appears fans will have to wait even longer for it to happen. 

That said, Alycia Baumgardner’s openness to face Claressa Shields has run into their initial error. It’s yet to be seen how or if Shields will respond to this. Until then, do you think this fight will ever happen?