Claressa Shields: I don’t think Jake Paul has the skills to get inside the ring with me. Or any of the guys at 154 pounds and up
In a bold statement to TMZ Sports, boxing champion Claressa Shields expressed her doubts about Jake Paul’s capabilities in the ring, particularly questioning his ability to compete at higher levels of the sport.
“I don’t think Jake Paul has the skills to get inside the ring with me. Or any of the guys at 154 pounds and up who is ranked in the rankings,” Shields declared, addressing the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s recent performance.
The 29-year-old Shields, who holds an impressive undefeated professional record of 15-0 and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, currently dominates multiple divisions with titles in heavyweight, light heavyweight, and light middleweight classes.
Paul, 27, despite his relatively recent entry into professional boxing in 2020, has built a notable 11-1 record and become one of the sport’s biggest attractions. His recent high-profile match against 58-year-old former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, drew significant attention on Netflix’s streaming platform.
While acknowledging Paul’s impact on boxing, Shields pointed out that criticisms of him stem mainly from his choice of opponents, including former UFC competitors such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, and Anderson Silva.
Addressing the Paul vs. Tyson match, Shields dismissed conspiracy theories about the bout being staged. “I’m happy Mike Tyson got what he wanted out of it. I’m happy he got out of the ring safe,” she said, adding that she has a “little bit” of respect for Paul for not pursuing a late knockout.
Shields also credited Paul’s contribution to boxing’s popularity: “He’s bringing more eyes to the sport and that’s what you need. Hopefully everybody who is involved on that side can keep building from that and also create a real blueprint to where it can be used for generations to come.”
The dynamics between Shields and Paul have evolved since their initial tensions in 2022, when controversy arose over leaked emails suggesting Shields’ team had sought to appear on Paul’s undercard. Both athletes have since joined the PFL, potentially easing their previous friction.
