Didn’t have this one on our bingo card or maybe we should say, ring card. Looks like the Ali family feud is louder than ever. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, Muhammad Ali’s former wife, is making waves after publicly downplaying Laila Ali’s chances in a hypothetical showdown with undefeated champion Claressa Shields.
In case you missed it, following Shields’ dominant win over Lani Daniels in Detroit, Khalilah made a bold appearance during the post-fight celebrations and didn’t hold back when asked about the long-teased faceoff between Shields and Laila. “I think Laila needs to stay in the kitchen,” she told Seconds Out, doubling down on the comment during the press conference. Looking directly at Shields, she added, “You the champ. You the champ.”
Shields, who improved her record to a flawless 17 wins and no losses, flashed a smile and clapped back with, “Thank you. I am trying to whoop Laila Ali’s a**.”
That obvious tension between Shields and Laila has been bubbling for years. The 30-year-old boxing powerhouse has publicly called out the retired legend on multiple occasions. At one point, Shields’ team even secured $15 million in escrow, hoping to persuade Laila to return to the ring. Laila, now 47, hung up her gloves in 2007 with a perfect 24-0 record, including 21 knockouts.
But wait, Khalilah didn’t stop at the post-fight event. In a follow-up chat with Seconds Out, she took another playful jab at Laila, referencing her cooking ventures and lifestyle brand. “Yeah, she’s a good cook,” she said. “She got all kind of spices in her name.”
But her shade wasn’t just about seasoning. Khalilah questioned Laila’s boxing grit compared to Shields. “As a fighter, she’s not as good as Claressa,” she said plainly. “She doesn’t have that bulldog attitude.”
Can’t we all just get along? Had to say it.