Despite All the “Love” Between Them, Claressa Shields Willing to “Punish” Friend Alycia Baumgardner Soon After They Verbally Agree to Fight

Alycia Baumgardner is continuing to navigate through a difficult time in her boxing career. Soon after she registered a victory against Christina Linardatou in July this year, reports emerged that she had tested positive for a banned steroid. Despite having successfully defended her featherweight titles, the fighter suffered a massive dent in her impressive boxing career.

While clouds of uncertainty shrouded her future in the realm, she has expressed her desire to fight the ‘GWOAT’, Claressa Shields. The former last fought in the featherweight class, and the latter comes from the middleweight belt. While a clash between the two would be rejoiced by a huge sect of the boxing community, they also share a camaraderie that forms a premise for the potential fight. In a recent interaction on social media, the two outlined the ‘love’ they have for each other, but what marked it all was their readiness to fight each other as well.

Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner will keep their ‘Love’ outside the ring

A test taken by Baumgardner three days ahead of her fight against Linardatou came positive for mesterolone and methenolone acetate metabolites. While the entirety of the boxing realm came down heavily on her, one person stood by her. Gave her the benefit of the doubt. It was none other than GWOAT, Shields. She said, “Ms. Undisputed speaks, I truly believe her and will wait for the facts. I remember when Gabriels tested positive & the first person I talked to was Baumgardner, and she said, ‘I gotta make sure I get me and my next opponent signed up for testing!’ That’s a clean athlete talking!”

Months after, their admiration for each other still remains intact. However, that won’t stop them from exercising the complete extent of their boxing prowess to crush the other. Shields implored whom ‘The Bomb’ was referring to when she said, “This what y’all got to know! I will FIGHT anyone.” When she said “anyone” she did indeed mean anyone, including Shields.

However, when a fan alluded that the two fighters should rather defeat everyone else rather than clash with each other, Shields replied, “That was my thoughts! But she wanna punch on me now, I love Alycia but I gotta punish anybody who get in those ropes with me.”

In response, the Bomb was not one to step away from such a fight. She replied, “I love you too. But i don’t love you in that ring.” While she still grapples with her interim suspension from the ring owing to her drug test results, the possibility of her fight against Shields has got the fans talking.

Fans root for a potential Shields vs. Baumgardner

If the Ohio-origin fighter manages to prove her innocence, and a fight against GWOAT is indeed outlined, it would possibly send tremors down the boxing world. One fan said thinks it would be the “biggest female fight in history.”

Both the fighters train at the same gym in Michigan. A fan wondered if the two have ever sparred with each other.

While most would have at some point anticipated a fight between the two, a fan sided with Baumgardner for the predictions.

Who would not like a fight between fighters of such caliber? A fan says only in the middle ground of a weight class.

With each passing day, the questions around Alycia Baumgardner’s career get more crucial. Will she turn things around and prove her innocence amidst the allegations levied on her? Only time will tell.

Also Read: “We Need Fellas to Have the Same Energy”: Boxing World Goes Wild as Friends Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner Agree to Fight Over a Fans’ Request

Meanwhile, you can let us know who you think would win a fight between Shields and Baumgardner. Write to us in the comments below.

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