Claressa Shields is never out of the headlines. She made a statement that left everyone shocked. In an interview with DAZN Boxing, the 29-year-old opined: “…I know that I can whip Jake Paul’s [expletive], and people who are against that are just sexist and they don’t know boxing.” Hey, we don’t know if Shields versus Paul could ever take place, but what we do know is that the 29-year-old has a fight coming up.

On February 2, 2025, she will step into the ring to face Danielle Perkins in the Dort Financial Center in her hometown Flint, Michigan, in a match for the women’s undisputed heavyweight title. As a result, on January 7, Claressa Shields and Danielle Perkins met for the first time at a media workout session.

The event took place in Flint, Michigan, and saw Perkins, the 6-foot heavyweight born in Brooklyn, New York, expressing her excitement about the fight. While speaking with Michigan’s Local 4 News, she expressed, “I don’t think I’ve ever cried tears of joy. Hearing about this opportunity to fight Claressa [Shields] was my first time doing that.”

Claressa Shields, on the other hand, remained confident in her skills, technique, and fight IQ. She stated: “My experience will be a big factor in this fight. I have not conquered the world once, but twice as an amateur. Professionally, I have conquered the world 15 times. That means I have been in the ring with 15 world champions or competitors fighting me for a world championship. A lot of those belts I have are ones that I went and took. I have been to girls’ countries to take belts.”

The two women exchanged words during the media workout, but it was clear there was mutual respect. However, a new angle has emerged from their face-off. A new Instagram clip posted by ‘Salita Promotions’ showed the hilarious exchange between the two during the face-off. Both the fighters seemingly appeared for a photoshoot but a dramatic moment unfolded when Perkins, after some sharp words.

Claressa Shields said, “These are my belts.” But when Perkins threatened to take them away, Shields challenged, “Do it!” And that’s when she ‘Skippity Paps’ attempted to snatch the belts. However, since the boxer was holding onto her titles tightly, there wasn’t much Perkins could do.

Even Shields’ promoter Dmitry Salita tried to stop the skirmish from escalating. This act of defiance caught the attention of fans and critics alike, leaving many questioning the intentions behind the move. Even Shields herself remarked on the hilarious encounter: “😂😂Dmitriy look scared as hell 😂.”

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In another comment, she added, “You wrong (Danielle Perkins)!!! The hell is wrong with you 😡” Soon everyone else chimed in on the hilarity, including Terence Crawford.

That ain’t funny! Says Claressa Shields, but boxing fans disagree!

The video quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of reactions from fans and commentators alike. Some fans believed the entire incident was staged for dramatic effect, but still found it entertaining. Fans wrote:

• “Scripted, Yet Entertaining.”
• “Not Gone Lie, This Is The Type of Action I Like 🔥”

Even WBA light middleweight champion Terence Crawford couldn’t help but chime in after watching the video. He responded to the clip with “😂😂😂,” showing he too found the moment amusing. For a lot of fans, it looked like two kids were fighting for a toy instead of two boxers facing off. The aggression was missing!

But make no mistake. The actual fight will be much different. T-Rex is coming off one of her biggest victories after she won the vacant WBO light heavyweight title and the WBC heavyweight crown after defeating Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (second-round TKO) in July. She scored three knockdowns as well.

However, some fans recognized the dramatic flair of the interaction between Shields and Perkins. No wonder they made some pro wrestling connections in their mind.

• “What in the @wwe is going on here 😂😂.”

The comment refers to the exaggerated, theatrical performances often seen in pro-wrestling promotions.

However, Shields wasn’t entirely amused by the viral reactions. After seeing people laugh at the exchange, she fired back, “Yall laughing, I’m pissed 😡 🤬 I’m ready to crash tf out!!” She is ready to get into the ring and prove her greatness once again. Back in December, she stated: “Danielle Perkins is undefeated and a strong contender, but I’ve been fighting my whole life, not just in the ring. Whether it was in my personal life, in the amateur boxing ring, or as a professional world champion, I simply do not fail. February 2nd will be no different.”

This is something her biopic shows: Her early struggles and eventual rise from Flint to becoming an Olympic gold medalist.

Regardless, some fans thought both the boxers should have done better acting.

• “It’s only funny because you can tell she really thought she was finna take them 😂”

As the fight approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters. For Claressa Shields, if she wins the fight, she could claim the historic undisputed title in the women’s heavyweight division, a first for female boxing, and achieve a feat comparable to Oleksandr Usyk’s, who ended a 25-year drought among men. Shields, a multi-division champion, has faced the best of the best in her career, and this fight would solidify her legacy in the sport, making her a three-division undisputed champion.

But for Danielle Perkins, a win would be a monumental upset, considering her relatively limited experience compared to the two-time Olympic gold medalist. With a perfect record so far, including two knockouts, Perkins is looking to create history. She believes her size and strength are her weapons. A victory would elevate her to the top of the women’s boxing world, gaining her the recognition she believes she deserves.

As we look forward to the fight, we ask you: Do you think Shields’ experience will outweigh Perkins’ size and strength? Let us know in the comments below.