The Rivalry Continues: Alycia Baumgardner and Claressa Shields

The ongoing rivalry between Alycia Baumgardner and Claressa Shields has once again made headlines, this time with a heated confrontation captured by media outlets and amateur videographers. The question remains: why haven’t these two fierce competitors stepped into the ring to settle their differences?

The Weighty Problem

With Shields competing at middleweight and Baumgardner at junior lightweight, there is a significant 30-pound weight difference between the two. This makes it nearly impossible to match them up for a fight, despite their intense rivalry.

Kosport Magazine spoke to Dmitry Salita, Shields’ promoter, about the possibility of a fight between the two. Salita dismissed the idea, stating that it would be like “Manny Pacquiao challenging Mike Tyson” and that it is not a realistic possibility.

Salita has known Baumgardner for some time and has always invited her to fights. However, there is a certain amount of negativity surrounding her career, independent of her rivalry with Shields. Last year, she tested positive for a banned substance, leading to a suspension from the Association of Boxing Commissions. While she has since been exonerated by the WBC, the issue still lingers and she has yet to make her next fight.

The Possibility of a Fight

When asked about the possibility of a fight between Shields and Baumgardner, Salita stated that he had reached out to her manager and offered to make the fight at 154 pounds. However, he believes that Baumgardner was never serious about taking on Shields and that her desire for the fight is simply a way to make herself relevant.

Salita also mentioned that if the fight were to happen, it would have to be now as Shields is growing and hasn’t fought below middleweight in years. But he doubts that Baumgardner truly wants the fight, stating that her approach has not been classy.

In Conclusion

The rivalry between Alycia Baumgardner and Claressa Shields continues to make headlines, but it seems unlikely that they will ever step into the ring to settle their differences. With a significant weight difference and doubts about Baumgardner’s true intentions, it seems that this rivalry will remain outside the ropes.