Unlike Rival Claressa Shields, Alycia Baumgardner Remains Brutally Honest About Rejecting $100 Million Offer for Hypothetical Fight Against a Man of Her Own Size

Last year, Claressa Shields grabbed headlines. She stated that she could beat former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman in a regular, sanctioned boxing match. Thurman launched his counter in return. It’s a different matter that, in all likelihood, sanctioning bodies may not approve such a match between genders.

Things might be different in the case of an exhibition bout. Anyhow, Shields’ rival, Alycia Baumgardner, seems to entertain a different notion, though. The undisputed super featherweight champion is used to fighting men in sparring sessions as part of her training regimen. However, while speaking with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal in his podcast, she revealed that she would never proceed with such a contest against a man, even if she were to take a fortune back home.

A dilemma of ease

A few minutes after she settled down in the studio, ‘Shaq’ asked Alycia Baumgardner whether she spars with men. So when she replied back that she did, he inquired whether they go easy on her since she’s a woman. The undisputed champion said, “I wouldn’t expect them to take it easy.” The NBA legend told her that had it been him going against her in a sparring session, then he would have gone easy on her.

O’Neal shared his combat sports experience. He revealed how he had fought against ‘Sugar’ Shane and Oscar De La Hoya in the past. Alycia Baumgardner persisted, “I’m just saying if that makes you feel feel good inside, see, that makes you feel good, but listen, when we step in that ring, it’s for a game, okay?” The dialogue continued. Shaquille O’Neal once again asked, “Do they do they do they take it easy on you or.”

Baumgardner replied that she enters the ring with a full understanding that she is sparring to become better as a boxer. As much as she acknowledges that a man comes with his own strength, she is aware of her own prowess with the gloves. Besides, she closely follows what the trainer instructs. So if a man wants to go easy on her, then it’s really up to him.

Not even for a king’s ransom

So the NBA legend conjectured a scenario. What would happen if a man turned up with a $100 million offer for a pay-per-view bout? When Alycia Baumgardner inquired whether she would get the opportunity to wear headgear, ‘Shaq’ revealed that it would be a real boxing match. ‘The Bomb’ responded that, in that case, she wouldn’t proceed further.

She said, “No, I don’t need to do that I don’t have to I don’t have to this my thing. I don’t have to prove myself to a man that I’m who I am I’m I’m cool with being a woman and doing what a woman does, and that’s fighting women. I don’t have to fight a man to compete or to say I’m better than a man to say I’m the best.”

Clearly, Alycia Baumgardner knows what she wants and what she is capable of. Despite the recent controversy concerning banned substances, she remains upbeat about upcoming fights. She recently grabbed news for calling out undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields for a fight. If at all a fight between the two pops up, then it would be one of the most significant fixtures in women’s boxing.

Read More: Shaquille O’Neal Provokes Alycia Baumgardner To State The Only Condition For A Claressa Shields Fight

What’s your take? Do agree with Alycia Baumgardner’s stand? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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