Claressa Shields Banned After Backstage Slap

Things got heated backstage at a recent event, and it wasn’t just the fighters in the ring! A long-standing rivalry between two of women’s boxing’s biggest stars, Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner, took a physical turn this past Saturday night.

The incident occurred during MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Claressa Shields has now been banned from all events promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) after she slapped Alycia Baumgardner in an exclusive VIP area.

The Backstage Altercation

Video footage captured the moment Shields reached across and slapped Baumgardner. Thankfully, security and officials were nearby and quickly intervened, separating the two champions. The altercation happened during MVP and Netflix’s first-ever MMA event, which featured a highly anticipated lineup.

MVP released a statement addressing the incident, emphasizing that while fighter tension is expected, physically attacking another athlete as a guest is unacceptable. They also noted their appreciation for Baumgardner not retaliating, which could have escalated the situation further. As a result, Shields is banned from all MVP events indefinitely.

Differing Accounts and Legal Pursuits

Alycia Baumgardner, a prominent name in women’s boxing for MVP, has described the slap as an unprovoked assault and indicated that she is considering legal action. However, Claressa Shields took to X (formerly Twitter) to dispute this narrative.

Shields claimed that Baumgardner verbally threatened her first, stating, “That lil a** girl said ‘I’ll beat your a** right now’ after already disrespecting me. Now you classy and playing victim.” This exchange highlights the deep-seated animosity between the two fighters.

A Feud Years in the Making

This isn’t the first time these two have clashed. Their rivalry has been simmering for years, fueled by heated social media exchanges, accusations regarding drug tests, and debates over who truly holds the top spot in women’s boxing. Despite the intense personal animosity, a sanctioned fight between them seems unlikely anytime soon.

The weight difference is a significant factor; Baumgardner typically fights around 129 pounds, while Shields recently competed at 174 pounds – a difference of over 44 pounds. This makes a direct boxing match a logistical challenge.