(This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.)
Boxer Claressa Shields is preparing for a world title heavyweight bout against Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2, but she’s happy to discuss fighting someone else.
Jake Paul.
“I don’t know if it’s something that can happen, but I know that I can whip Jake Paul’s (expletive) and people who are against that are just sexist and they don’t know boxing,” Shields, the most decorated female boxer in history, told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s very strange to me that they think that a YouTuber can beat a woman boxer who has two Olympic gold medals, (multiple) world titles and fought as a heavyweight. …
“He does not have the experience. They talk about power. You can have power, but you got to have the skills to land a punch.’’
A representative for Paul did not immediately respond to requests for comment made by voicemail and text message.
Shields, 29, is 15-0 as a pro with three knockouts. She is 5-foot-8 and is expected to weigh in at about 175 pounds for her second consecutive heavyweight bout.
Paul, 27, is 11-1 with seven knockouts and has fought mostly as a cruiserweight, which has a 200-pound maximum at weigh-in. He is coming off a victory over Mike Tyson by unanimous decision – which did not impress Shields.
“Jake Paul showed that he has not gotten better with his skills,” she said. “He needs to train harder and better. And honestly, I think the girl that I’m getting ready to fight against, Danielle Perkins, can beat Jake Paul, too.”
Shields’ beef with Paul appears to stem in part from Paul having picked Savannah Marshall to beat Shields in 2022. The only defeat of Shields’ career came against Marshall as an amateur in 2012 at the world championships.
Shields avenged the loss by beating Marshall by unanimous decision.
“(Paul) tried to apologize and all that other type of stuff after he picked Savannah to beat me in a fight,” Shields said. “But (expletive) that apology. Fight me.”
