Claressa Shields Opens Up About Childhood Trauma, Teaches Shannon How To Punch, Serena & Laila Ali
First American woman to win Olympic gold. medal at 17. I keep my stuff on me. That's that gold, baby. And they heavy, that's why I don't wear them. Yeah. Keep. them in that purse. In that Chanel. [Music].
[Music]. Hello, welcome to another episode of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe and we're on the road at Sweet. Science Fitness Atlanta Boxing Club. right here in Atlanta, Georgia. The lady. that's stopping by for conversation and. a drink today is one of the world's best. active female boxer pound for pound with. an undefeated professional record. She. holds 19 major world championships. spanning five weight classes. She holds. the record becoming a two, three, four, five division world champion in the. fewest professional fights. She's the.
first and only fastest boxer in history. to hold four major world titles in. boxing in three weight classes. She's. the first ever undisputed women's. heavyweight champion. She's the most. watched women's professional boxer in. history. She's the first American to win. Olympic gold medal. She was 17 years of. age and she won back-to-back gold. medals. She was inducted into the USA. Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Her gloves were enshrined into the. International Boxing Hall of Fame. From. Flint Street to global fame, she is the.
quote. the greatest of all time, Claressa. Shields. Larry Holmes used the jab. He was trying. to do damage. Yeah. A lot of people use. the jab as a as a range finder. Klitschko, it was a range finder cuz. he's trying to drop the right hand. >> Yeah. So he was boom, that's what he's. trying to do. Larry Holmes was boom. That's me. That's my jab right there. >> Oh, so so you trying to you trying to. power jab? Yes. Uh-huh, snappy, powerful. So.
I'm pushing. Almost. Or am I? So we going to bend your legs some. There you go. And put some of the weight. on your back leg. >> Back foot, okay. >> back leg cuz what you going to do when. you push off, you want to make sure that. your that your weight stay in the middle. of here. So when you push off, you going. forward but you still just uh get take a. little step. Okay. So you can back up. some cuz you real tall. >> Right, okay. So get your stance together. again. Let me see. Put your arm out. there. Yeah, so when you take your step, you. going to hit the bag. You going to take. a short step probably to.
right there. Go. That's a good jab. So you pushing off. that. >> Cuz the power you said I got to hit the. drawer maybe. It doesn't hurt as a. killer. >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YOU SEE THAT? YOU SEE THAT THEY GOING TO. FEEL IT THOUGH. SEE, I'M JUST WAIT cuz. So that's ONE OF THE ONES THAT are like. that's like a flicker. IF YOU PUSH OFF. YOUR BACK leg the way that you really. want to push off and really get it. >> Yeah. uh that is going to it's going to. stick them. You know what I'm saying? Like make them say what's up. >> Okay. So I'm going to. boom. YOU SAW THAT GRIT. I GOT TO SEE THAT. YOU SAW THAT POWER. THAT'S THAT'S POWER.
YOU HAVE MORE power if you push off that. back leg and then when you throw your. right. So when you got this hand here. Mhm. get that hand up. Cuz you don't. want to get hit in your chin again. Yeah, yeah, you right. You got to. >> So you going to pull this shoulder back, switch positions and put that shoulder. in front. That's where the power comes. >> Okay. Right there but keep that foot. down. You're not moving this foot up. front when you throw it when you go one, two. Push it there cuz you're pushing off. both. So one, two. Switch positions on them shoulders. Let's go. So I'm Bend your legs some.
One. Pull it back. Boom. Yes. Oh, okay. Yeah. I know you going to feel. that power. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I don't want to. feel it. I want them to feel it. Well, you going to feel it when you. throw it. >> Okay. And make sure your jab is up here. where your where your head is at. >> Yeah, okay. One. Boom, boom. Almost. Try again. Go. Ish, ish. That was more stronger. That was Let's go again. One more time. Your jab a little soft.
Boom, boom. Yes. Ooh, you see that you see that it didn't. stop you. IT DIDN'T STOP MOVING. YEAH. CLARESSA. TOLD ME THAT JAB SOFT. YOU SEE THAT. YEAH, YOU see the bag still moving. Yeah. 30 seconds of both. YOU DEFINITELY. SHAKING IT UP. YEAH, YEAH. SO NOW THAT. we got that jab, we got that right, we. going to get our hook. We going to pull. this shoulder back now and make a L with. this hand. A L, upper case L. >> Yeah. There you go. All right, so let's try it again. One, two, three. And make sure that when you.
twist back on that hook. twist it go from here. So it's got. Twirk in the hip and the shoulder. Throw. my back out. Yeah, watch yourself. All right. Let's go. Ah, ah, ah. Keep that foot down. You moved it. Keep. that foot right where it's at. So it's. supposed to be Oh, so I just pivot with. it. Yeah, you can pivot but leave it. where it's at. But I don't pick it up. I. don't pick it up. >> Don't pick it up. >> Okay. Back up some. LET'S GO.
AH, TWIST. I NEED TO WRAP. THROW THAT HOOK BACK. HEY, the hook is is is a real sneaky. punch. Yeah. Everybody worry about that. jab, that right hand but if that hook. No, that on the upper cut. Oh, the oh, the oh, the upper cut is coming. Cuz. that's the one you don't see. Yeah. See, sometimes you can you you can catch that. hook coming up there. Right cuz the it's up top but this one. coming from under. Touch you right on that button like. that. >> Yeah. You sweating already. >> Yeah, you see that? BABE. SWEATING.
ALREADY. So last four is we going to have a jab. Step with it. We going to have that two. You going to put that three on them. Then the upper cut that see everything. that we on top. One, two, three. But the. upper cut you making a U here. So it's. coming from here. Here, if you want to go to the body, bend your legs. You want to go to the. head, you bring your right hand. So. the jab, boom, boom, boom. But keep your chin down. You okay. When. you throw that upper cut, you don't want. it to come here. Oh, okay.
>> chin. Boom. And throw that upper cut. You going to just twist it so that So. put that hook up front. Put that hook up front. Boom. Now when you twist here. boom, make this upper cut. You going to hit them with a four and a. half right there. That's your upper cut. Mhm. Man, I hurt my wrist throwing the hook. Oh, you put that you put that twerk on. it. Yeah, I did. Keep your. Keep your fists closed. Keep your fists closed. Yeah. Make sure. you don't have them open. I did. That's.
why I hurt my hand. Okay. Well, well, I don't be hurting my hand. I only. hurt my hand whenever my hand is open or. it's not like. when you close it all the way, it. shouldn't hurt. Well, I think it it it's. what it did is that. I'm going to have to I'm going to have. to. my hand hurt. >> throw a soft one. One. Two. Three. Four. Mhm. Keep that chin down.
You going to throw like seven punches. One. Two. Three. Four. I'mma bring that upper cut right here. So. Right there. In the middle of the body. But I'm trying to hit them on the chin, Claressa. Oh, you going to the head? Yeah. Oh, well, you still bringing it. up. Just don't bring it over here. Okay. >> is where your head is in, right? Cuz you. lining them up. One. Two. Three. Upper cut here. There we go. Perfect. That's actually pretty good.
That's pretty good. They They really not ready for Shay. >> ready. They really not ready. They. really not ready for uh. THEY AIN'T READY FOR UH. HEY, OKAY, GET TO YOUR CAR ME AND I'M AND I'M. COMING. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I NEED. HEY. Have Claressa have a laugh. Hey. He told me to do it. He going to bail me. out, too. I'm coming. Damn. Ish, ish, ish, ish. No, no, that was good. You want You want. any more? No, I don't want NO MORE. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO TO BE asking to do. That was what I did. WE GOOD.
WHAT WE GOT? WHAT YOU GOT? >> OH, WHAT I GOT FOR YOU? I GOT you a. Claressa Shields wool hat. And I couldn't figure out your size but. this is a 2X. I fit a 2X. And I don't. know if you wear matching, you know. >> Yeah. But it got the pants to it. To the side. Yeah. Mhm. To the side. I. don't know about these pants, Claressa, but I reject that. I know, you know WHAT. I'M SAYING? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK ARE THESE ARE these women 2X or. they men 2X? They unisex. But you know what? YOU GOT A FOOTBALL.
BODY SO THEY MIGHT NOT. BUT I don't know. You have try them on. >> I think I don't know. What y'all think? Y'all think I'mma be Y'all think I'mma. be able to do this? I think it'll fit. the hoodie. I think it'll fit the hoodie. I don't. know about the arms though, man. You. huge, bro. Hold on. Hold on. I thought we getting. to this. We we we we we we going to talk. about this in the ring. Mhm. Ooh, I'm ready. I'm ready. This episode is brought to you by. PrizePicks. The hard-hitting football. action is getting even better with.
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play your first $5 lineup. PrizePicks. It's good to be right. Claressa, you. born in Flint, grew up in Flint. As a. little girl growing up, what what did. Claressa want to be? Um my first dream was to be a singer. like Aaliyah. Okay. My second dream was. to be a mom. My third dream was to be a. boxer. You've always wanted to be a. boxer. Yes. Well, those were like the dreams in order. Before I started boxing, I wanted to be. a singer and I wanted to be a mom. But. at a young age, I started boxing I was.
11 years old, so. I think at the age 9 or 8 people were. asking me like, "What do you want to. be?" And I remember saying like, "I. wanted to be a mom and I wanted to have. 10 kids." That was like a. big thing that my family used to laugh. at me about and still laugh about to. this day. You come from a big family? Well, my mom has four of us and then my. dad has. like seven. >> Okay. Yeah. So you come from a fairly. large family. So growing up, so what what what what. what was it about boxing that drew you. to the sport? Me versus you. One-on-one.
That's it. You know, I I I I had played. basketball, I played soccer, I ran. track, cross country. I was doing. everything, but it was like I hated when. they would say, "Oh, we got a team. trophy, but it was second place." Like I. would win a race, Right. but we would. still get second place because all the. points tallied up and this other team. got more. You know, and then basketball, they don't want to pass you the ball and. then you know, girls get rough with you. and you get rough with them back, but I. guess I'm too rough. >> Right. And then um. I really enjoyed cross country, but I.
mean running 5 miles, 3 and 1/2 miles. all the time. Like who want to do that? >> Right. And it just seemed like with. boxing, um it just made me feel really good. Like I felt very strong. I had got my. first bruise there. Um So you grew up liking a fight. Yeah, I like in. knowing that you said you could beat me. up and you said you was better than me, but if I get in the gym and I work hard. and me and you fight, I beat you. I like. that being like there's nothing you can. say about me. say about me beating you up because.
that's literally like what happened. Like there's no People like say, "Oh, I. got robbed." This and that, but it was. like I get in the ring and dominate. everybody. So it's like. you saying you can beat me and I say, "Okay, let's do it." And it's woman. woman versus woman or. a lot of times growing up it was. me versus a a man. >> what I'm saying. This But in in in. boxing, okay, I understand points. If. you knock somebody out, okay, obviously. you win. But in a street fight, that's a. whole different thing. And so you grew. up grew grew up fighting little girls. and little boys?
Yeah. In up in street fighting? Yeah. That's how I initially got into boxing. But. I started getting into fights at school. because I was being bullied. I was never. the person to start the fights. I was. actually scared to fight when I was. younger. Oh. So my anger drove me. to fight after being picked on for a. very long time. >> Right. I read that you had like a speech. impediment. You didn't talk until you. was five. You stuttered until you were. nine. So how was it how were you. communicating if you're nonverbal? You. didn't really speak until you was five. years of age. How did you communicate? I.
used to just cry. My mom used to scream at me like, "Say. what you want. If you're hungry, say. you're hungry. You want to go outside, say you want to go outside." And I used. to just start crying. It I think it took for me to get. um taken in by my grandmother, Joanne, who really who really took her time with. me. >> you. Yeah, who understood me, taught me. the a little bit sign language because. they thought I was deaf, but I wasn't. I. just didn't want to talk. >> Okay. And um. >> Did you know you could speak? So when. you were by yourself, okay, in front of. your parents or or or or with your.
siblings, you didn't say anything, but. when you were alone, did you speak? Did. you hear your own voice? Did you speak. and say anything? I was able to think, but as far as in getting it out, it used. to take a lot. So my grandma was very. patient with me. Um. she put me in a speech impediment class. in school, a anger management class. also. And but my grandma was just like. she was sweet, but she was a no-nonsense. lady. I feel like I'm a lot like her. Right. Because the thing is I had a. cousin that stuttered bad and my.
grandfather used to always tell him and. not in the nicest way, "Slow down. Start. over.". >> down. Start over. Think it. Yes. Then. say it. >> Right. So I had to get in the like, you. know, when you're. emotions, right? You just feel them and. you want to get it out, but it was like. you have to feel, think, then talk. >> And the more upset you get, the faster. you want to speak and the more you. stutter. And the. worse it And the worse it get. >> Yeah, cuz then you just be saying. something like they be like, "What are. you talking about?" So for me I had to.
get in the concept of that, but when I. found journaling, to me it was like if I could write. something that I understand and that you. can read, I don't even have to talk to. you anyway. So did the kids make fun of you? Would. that when you had a Would you talk in. front of kids that once you started. communicating at the age of nine, would. you did you would you talk in front of. kids? Is that something that they made. fun of you about? Cuz I had a speech. impediment and I'd go to speech class. and. I sounded normal to me. Yeah. Cuz to my.
ear I'm like, okay, bro, what is it Why. is it that you guys say about what are. you saying? I'm saying the same thing that you would. say. I I didn't get it. No, so for me. um. that's why I got into a lot of fights. People making fun of me stuttering. >> Mhm. People making fun of me how I used. to talk and how fast I used to talk cuz. my mom talks really fast. >> Right. So it just was a thing of. um I started getting into fights for. that reason. People picking on me about. my hair, um about my clothes cuz I. didn't grow up with the best clothes,
you know, and stuff like that. So. that's what made me start start fighting. to just I think the first fight I got. into I beat somebody up pretty bad. And um I just remember after that, they. wanted to be cool. Like they left me. alone, right? >> Oh yeah, okay. I kind of like Okay, if I. whip your tail, you going to leave me. alone. And the word to get around, don't bother. Claressa. >> Don't mess with Listen, the boys knew. not to mess with Claressa. The girls. knew not to mess with Claressa. Like it. was a it was a thing like leave her.
alone because for some reason, I guess. when you're quiet, you become like a. like a victim people they feel like they. can mess with you. So for me, you know, I stayed to myself, but people. just come up. Well, these kids, you. know, they're they're so mean nowadays. They used to walk up and. copy my work, grab my paper, ball it up. and throw it away. Now the teachers asking me what. happened. I'm trying to explain it and. then this other kid can speak better. than me saying that I'm lying. I'm like, "No, I did my work. She took my work and. balled it up and threw it in the trash.". So after going through that for a while,
um I think. I think my first fight was when I seen. somebody bullying my little sister Okay. who can talk. >> Right. >> And my sister used to beat me up when I. was younger. So when I seen somebody. >> She younger than you? She beating you up. and Yeah, my sister used to beat me up. Breonna used to beat me up. Yep. But you. felt bad. So they taking your homework. They're copying your homework. Taking it. then balling my homework. >> Balling your homework, throwing it in. the trash. So now when it come time to. turn the homework in, you ain't got no. homework. They got homework. You trying. to explain the situation and the.
teacher's like, "Yeah, this is a. situation where the dog ate your. homework. I get it. Yeah, yeah.". >> Well, she's believing the other kid. because they're getting it out and I'm. stuttering like, "I. She And I'm like, "You don't know what I. just said?" Like she took my stuff, copied it, balled it up and threw it in. and it seemed like that used to. aggravate me. So I got I think I threw a. chair at a kid before, not a teacher. Damn. Um Listen, I had really bad anger. issues when I was a kid. It took a. while. I think probably like. 16, 15 I finally was like, "Okay, I got.
control of this." Right. Yeah, it took a. while. You You mentioned um your dad was in. prison. You said you didn't see him for. the first time until he was nine till. you were nine years of age. >> Yeah. Did you understand. did you know why he went to prison and. did you understand that him being. incarcerated limited your ability to see. him? Um so. growing up where I grew up at, nobody. really had a dad. So it was like you. don't miss out on something that you. that that don't nobody else have either. >> Right. So it was like the community like.
we all just had our moms. You know, and. you can't miss something that you never. had. So my dad went to prison when I was. two, got out when I was nine. And when I. met him, I mean honestly, meeting him. gave me a whole new perspective of who I. was. Like my dad laughed really loud and. I used to wonder like, "Why is my laugh. so loud?". You know, why am I so um. you know, stern and mean?" And my dad is. the same way. Like I think I get a lot. of my attitude from my dad and I get my. sassiness and my fast twitch from mom. Right. Yeah. Did Did you know who he was.
when you saw him? Yeah, I had I I had. seen pictures of him for a long time and. we look alike, so I had seen pictures of. him and when I met him and he just was. he started talking When my dad first saw. me when I was nine, well, he saw me when. I was two, but when he saw me again when. he got out, he just started crying and. smiling real big. And he had braids. He. had cornrows to the back and they threw. like a big old Welcome home. >> um welcome home party for him. And when. I And when my dad seen me and my sister,
he just started crying and he hugged. both of us. And that was probably the. first time. that I really like let a grown man hug. me cuz I was more of like, "Don't Don't. Don't nobody touch me." You know, but my. dad came home. uh hugging me and giving me kisses all. the time. He's making me kiss him on the lips. I'd. be like, uh. He kissed her on the lips. And then I think I think one day I. bumped my face up when I kissed him. He. said, "Why you do that?" I said, "Dad, you breath like cigarettes. Like Just. can't we kiss on the forehead or. something?" He was like, "Yes." So now. whenever I see my dad you see me, we.
kiss on the forehead. We don't kiss on. the lips no more. But did the kids make fun of you about. your about your about your dad being in. prison? Was that something Did Did. anybody know? Did anybody know your dad. was in prison? >> Nobody cared because nobody had their. dad. We all was in We all was in school. and we talked about our moms. You know. what I'm saying? Like our mom going to. pick up uh uh pick us up. Mom coming to. parent-teacher conferences. You know, it. was our mom that was involved in our. lives. So, nobody like Just like I was. saying, like how can you miss out on. something that you never had? >> Right. Now that I had my dad when my dad.
did get in my life, I did want to spend. more time with him and and be around. with him more and you know, my dad. taught me how to run to get in shape for. boxing. You know, he'd take me, he'd be. on his bike or in his car and every. other block he'd have me sprint. >> He just had this whistle that was so. loud and annoying. And when he blew the. whistle, that's when you Sprint. Hit it. That's when you sprint. So, my dad would. tell me I ran 2 miles but but really I. ran 4. Like my dad was like that. He'd trick you to running farther than. Yeah. >> what you thought you was going. Let me.
ask you a question. I mean, you're. And I think people that go through. things, they're the best people to kind. of. to give advice. So, what advice would. you give young kids dealing with a. situation that they have a parent. incarcerated and to deal with that that. they're not going to be around. They. don't know if it's going to be a year, 2. years, 5 years, like you said it was 7. years in between you 2 years old and 9. years old and dealing with your dad. How. would you advise kids to move forward? Obviously, each situation is different. What what is some of the advice that you. would. impart on some younger generation this.
young generation? Um for me, I don't. think that any of us can control our. childhood, you know, cuz we're kids. You. know, but I think that long as kids. understand that. you make the decisions for your life. What Like I think the younger you start, the better. So, if you want to be a. dentist, a doctor, um a scientist, whatever, nurse, you can start that at a. very young age. And I don't mean like. start having a job, but I mean like. start making those choices that will get. you there. Knowing that when it get to a.
certain age, nobody controls your life. anyway. >> Right. I mean, I moved out when I was. about 13 and I was living with my boxing. coach. So, that was a decision that I. made because I'm like you know, the. Olympics is in 4 years. So, I got to. start getting ready for the Olympics. So, I always tell like my advice is know. that it doesn't matter who your parents. are or where you come from, your life is. about your decisions. >> Right. And I and and and I grew up poor. So, me always believing in believing in. God and getting baptized with Jeremiah.
29:11, you know, for I got another plans. I have for you, plans to give you a hope. and plans to prosper and have a great. future. And so, that's how I thought. about like right now, things may be. going bad, but it will get better. So, I. always tell kids like listen, whatever. you want to be, your life is your life, no matter your situation or your. circumstances. You have crackhead. parents, you know, parents who abuse alcohol, drugs, whatever, but how you decide to. make your life is on you. And when it. turns out good, you can say you made the.
right decisions. You know, that would be. my advice. Now, you know your aunt gets. sentimental around the holidays. Every. year, my family got one tradition. We. crowd in granny's kitchen, everybody's. talking loud, laughing, playing spades, trying to outcook each other. And you. know what? I've got pictures to prove. it. And granny's sweet potato pie, my. nephew wearing that same ugly sweater. every year. That's good stuff right. there. And you know what if I told you. you could relive those moments every. single day? That's what Aura Frames can. do. These digital frames bring your.
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Carver Matt frames, named number one by. Wirecutter, by using the promo code. ShayShay at checkout. That's. auraframes.com, promo code ShayShay. This exclusive. Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is the. best of the year. So, order now before. it ends. Support the show by telling. them. Club ShayShay sent you. Your mom, you. mentioned your mom. Your mom had had a. drinking problem, battled addiction. Mhm. Um what was that like? What I mean.
cuz like little girls a lot of time. little girls want to be just like their. mom. They, you know, Uh-huh. hair. That. ain't what you That ain't what You said. you said your life really turned around. when you went and lived with your. grandmother. Yeah. Was that your. maternal grandmother? That was your. mom's mom? >> Yeah. Yeah, my mama. Uh-huh. So, can you contrast the the differences. between your mom is normal, she's not. she's not intoxicated or she's not under. the influence as opposed to her just. walking around being normal? Well, my.
mom is a lot like me, but she's way more. quiet. My mom don't hug people, she's. really quiet. Um she don't say much, she just kind of. observe everything. And she's very. sassy. She's very sassy, okay? Okay. And. um. sometimes she can be a pushover. You know, sometimes with her friends, people that's close to her, she'll be a. pushover. Take advantage of her. But. when she get um when she get that liquor. in her, she Mike Tyson. What? I'm telling you the truth. Listen,
mama will knock you aside your head. quicker than you can you. Hey, listen, if you did something to her when she was. sober, when she when she used to drink, she'll. let you know. And it could be a month. ago, 2 months ago, you've been up forgot. it even happened. She Maybe she called, you ain't answer the phone. Maybe. um you you did something to her. And I'm. telling you, she going to remind you. when she get that stuff in her. And and. if you around, she going to go upside. your head. She going to go upside your.
head with that with that cane she got. Listen, my mama will hit you. She ran up ran up on me one time with. that cane. I said, "Mama, chill out for. real." You know, but my mom but that's. the difference though. Like when she's. when she used to drink, she used to get. real real aggressive, real mean and she. can And my mom can really fight. Like. she she can So, you So, you get it from. your mama for real though, huh? My mom. and my dad used to underground street. fight, but my mama, she like. I don't know. It's like she starts to. fight. Kind of like my little sister. You know, like they they be starting to. fight. My bad. What's wrong with y'all,
man? >> Right. But that's the difference. So, my. mom. you know, it it took. for I think when I when I turned 17 and. I won the Olympics, my mom completely. stopped drinking. You know, she stopped. drinking. Um she became more like Now, she like to hug me sometimes and all. that stuff, but she never was like that. >> Wow. When I won the Olympics, I feel. like it made her feel like she proud of. Yeah, yeah, she did something good. And. and I want her to know that she did do. something good and that I turned out to.
be all right even though my childhood. wasn't all that great. Have you ever had. a conversation with your mom about what. transpired in your childhood and what. went on? You had a conversation with. her. So, So, what did she say? Did she. apologize like, "Clarissa, I'm sorry. I. know I did the best I could. I might have not been the best mom, but. I just I just want you to know that I. love you and I'm proud of you." Well, when I was 5 and I had got, you know, You got You got assaulted. >> the the R word. >> Yes. Um. you know, families don't talk about that.
stuff for a long time. So, when it. happened to me when I was 5, we didn't. talk about it till I was 16, almost 17. So, when we talked about it, me me. growing up as a kid and being taken in. by my grandmother and living with my. grandmother most of my childhood after. being 5, um. what what I knew and what I felt I guess. was. was like. and was it was inaccurate or was it. emotionally flawed? I don't know, but I.
felt that she picked the abuser over me. >> I grew up with that image for a long. time. >> Did you tell her? Well, my I told my aunt and my aunt told my. grandma. That's how I got taken in by my. grandma. >> Mhm. But. from my knowledge, I I thought that I. had to move with my grandma because my. mom. chose him. >> Mhm. That That was what I. >> That's what you interpreted it as. >> Yes, because, you know, they say keep. kids out of grown.
folks' business. So, I I'm just with my. grandma. So, I go from being around four. or five kids every day, my brothers and. my sisters to Yeah, grandma straight. Grandma don't. >> Grandma just cook and you watch movies. and you don't go outside much. And And. grandma is, you know, Yes. She's. grandma. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You. know, and so, um that was how I interpreted it. So, when it finally got when I was like 16, I'm doing all these interviews, getting. ready for the Olympics. I I just beat. the world champion Mary Spencer. There's. a lot going on. And they kept asking me like, you know,
"Who are you? How was your upbringing?". And I just was like, "Listen, I had a. rough upbringing, but that's all over. now. I'm about to win the Olympics." But. for some people interviewing you, like. that's not enough. >> Enough. Right. So, they kept digging and they. kept digging. >> Yeah, so they kept digging and digging. and I was like, "I don't want to. tell anybody about what happened to me. because my mom I don't want to make my. mom look bad. But then but then too, if my in my mind, if my mom, you know, didn't believe me or took his side, then.
what I'm going to look like telling the. world that and they don't take my side, you know? Or or or they don't understand. or believe me. So, I spoke with my mom. about it. And um you know, she let me. know she like she told me she broke up. with that guy after a year after it. happened. She couldn't believe it. Um. she never chose him over me. I moved. with my grandma because he threatened to. kill me. That's why I moved with my grandma. >> Mhm. So, my grandma, like I said, she's. very stern. She ain't going to play with. you. So, my grandma. took me in just to keep him from harming. me. And also too, he got beat up by a.
lot of my cousins. He got He got jumped. on. He got I heard he got. pistol-whipped. A whole bunch of stuff. happened to him. So, it was a thing of. like all this grown folks' stuff is. going on and me as a kid, I didn't know. So, when I turned 16, my mama told me. And And yes, she apologized. You know, she apologized, let me know. know that she loved me, that it was okay. to talk about it and get it out. And me. being able to talk about it is what made. me feel. um. Feel like a weight had lifted off your. shoulders. >> weight off my shoulders. It It really. was cuz it was like a deep secret that I.
was hiding. And I just remember kind of. like. I don't know if I was blaming myself or. what, but it was like, "Dang, I always. felt like, you know, like. like I wasn't good enough to be with my. siblings, be with my mom.". But I'm I'm grateful for my grandmother. because she I mean, taught me how to. clean up, you know, shower, keep your clothes together, fold. your clothes, hang your clothes up. Um. told me how to cook. You know, like Cuz you you already told. me that you wanted 10 kids. Cuz you.
like, "Well, you want 10 kids? My grandma wanted me to sing. My grandma. used to always give me mic sets for. Christmas and try to make me sing and. stuff, but I was always shy cuz I would. sing in front of her, but when it came. like, you know, like when the family. come around They'd be like, "Clarissa, get up there and sing." Nah, I ain't. doing that. And my grandma used to be like, "Coco, I. said sing." And make us I'm like. >> Oh, so that was your nickname, Coco. >> Coco. That's why I wear it on my shorts. >> Okay. On my shorts, yeah. Um I think I read where you said that. your mom would get intoxicated sometime.
and you would walk around for days. looking for Yeah, we had to go get her, yeah. Did I mean, you're a child, Clarissa. Do you I mean, do you really. like you did you realize at the time I'm. a child, that this wasn't normal. And I. understand that you said most kids in. Flint didn't have the father, but the. most kids in Flint probably wasn't. walking around the neighborhood trying. to find their mom, either. Well, it's me. and my sister. And I'm the second oldest. out of my siblings. >> Okay. So I have a big brother who's four. years older than me, but I'm like his. big sister, too. He called me his little.
big sister. Right. So I've always kind. of like been the oldest. So when it. comes to our mom, my job has always been to protect her. Okay. So if she gone for a couple days. and we don't know where she at and we. don't know about her safety, we not. going to call the police and stuff. Mhm. We get out there on the streets and we. and we go find her. And it was always a. thing of See, my sister spent more time. with mom than me. Mhm. So I would tell. her, thinking your memory, what houses. y'all went to and what streets because. Flint ain't that big. >> Right. Flint, 10 minutes north, 10.
minutes south. Yeah. 10 minutes east, 10. minutes south. You can walk around the. whole Flint probably within 4 hours. Just walking around and hit the whole. and hit the whole thing. So um. that's just how we used to go get her. And And when we go get her, everybody. knew like. I was real mean. I was real mean. Like I was real mean, I. was rough, and I would fight you. So people knew like "Hey, she here to get Yeah, I'm here to get. I'm here to get my mom." And I go in. there, I get her,
and we'd go home. And And like I said, you know, but she was grown, she was. always good, but it was more of a thing. like. it it was my job, you know? I mean, sadly, it was my job and I wouldn't. choose anybody else to be my mama. Like. my mama was she's a great She's a great. person, you know? She just dealt with. something that she couldn't she couldn't. defeat at the time. That. Do you think that's one of the reason. why you're as resilient as you are is. because of the things that you had to. overcome in your own childhood? Absolutely. That's why I have a no back.
down attitude. I I don't I don't take. disrespect. I know that mentally I'm. tougher than a lot of people. I know. heart the heart that I got, other people. don't got it in them. That they couldn't. survive. People talk about me inside the. ring, you know, but outside the ring, I. know that you guys people couldn't make. it through what I made it through. And. then when they come inside the ring and. then that carries. I got a no quit attitude. I'm very. tough, I'm very skilled, I'm mean in. there, and I don't take no for an. answer. I don't back down, so.
I know that with all of that together, combined with hard work and prayer, that. that's why I'm undefeated and and. unbeatable. Um growing up, did you did you cook as a. child? Did you learn Is that or did you. once you got older and had to cook. because I you know, I read that your mom. used to sell to fuel her addiction, that. she would sell the food stamps. So now. that means. >> your research. That makes that makes it. very very difficult for you to get food. because you're reliant on that. assistance. And now. man, what are we going to eat? And you.
have to make something out of nothing. Listen, when we didn't have food stamps, I wasn't really that good at cooking. back then. I probably had an had an had. an idea from watching my grandma, but me. and my sister, my brothers used to split. a pack of ramen noodles. We'd break it. down into four pieces, we'd cook it, and. that's how we used to do it. Um I used. to go without eating eating a whole lot. to make sure that they ate. Wow. So that. was a But like I said, I'm the big. sister though. So it's not a thing of. I kind of felt like once again, like. that's my job. Like I just moved my.
little sister to Atlanta, her and her. three kids what? Two weeks ago? >> Yeah. She has an apartment 5 minutes. from me now. Like it's I don't know, it's not. it's not my job to take to take to take. care of them, but it's my job to make. sure that everybody is good, if that. makes sense. That's normally the oldest. the oldest daughter. She normally takes. on the mother's role. Mhm. My mom is the is the oldest. And so when my grandmother she my. grandmother would go to the fields with. my grandfather, it was my mom's job to. raise the other kids.
>> Mhm. You took that on, okay, my mom's. not here, now I got to be the mom. I've. got to make sure they're dressed, get. them ready for school, I've got to make. sure I got to I've got to find. >> want everybody to turn out all right. You know what I'm saying? Everybody. ain't going to be famous. How did you. How did How did Where did that come. from? I mean, I just I just love my siblings. and and they loved me before I had. anything. I think me and my sister are. the complete opposite, but it's needed. It's needed, you know? I'm like sunlight. and she like darkness, you know? And but.
but I think that, you know, be before my. fights, if my sister don't call me or. she not in the back room, I don't really. feel like the beast that I am. Like she. she's seen the beast before the makeup. and the hair. >> Yeah. >> And I always like for her to remind me. of that. And sometimes she's in the back. room, she's like, "Hey, if you don't. whoop her ass, I'm whooping your ass." I. like, "All right.". Even though you can't beat ME UP NO. MORE, BUT IT STILL SOUND GOOD. You know, so. So let me ask you a question, like when. you were like hungry, did you eat a lot.
at school? Cuz I mean, the school school lunches We. definitely relied. We definitely relied on the school. school lunches. Listen, I had friends, I'd be like, "Hey, man, let me borrow a. dollar. I'll pay you back." Never. And some of my friends still be like, "You know you owe me a dollar and 25. cent from when I when I bought you some. pizza." I'd be like, "I really don't. remember.". Your grandmother passed away. Mhm. Do you remember where you were when you. got the news that your grandmother had.
passed? And I can just imagine cuz I. know I had my grandmother for 43 years. and I still remember it to this day like. it was yesterday when my sister called. and said, "Sharon, granny's gone." So. what because the woman that gave you. basically everything but life. Mhm. She. took you in when you were at your most. vulnerable, when you were at your. lowest, and she helped you become the. woman that we see sitting here today. talking to me. Um. You go on. I can't think about, you know, my. grandma was my best friend. And when she. passed, it it really.
it really hurt my heart. You know, I really wanted to go with. her, you know? Cuz I was just like, "I. got to be stuck here with the rest of. this stupid family." And she was the. best one to me. Um. I wear Coco on on my shorts for her. I. I wear the Betty Boop socks. I try to. carry her memory and, you know, hold. myself to a. to a to a high standard, you know? But. my grandma was. she was everything to me and I Where was. I at when she passed? Um I had just seen.
her 2 weeks prior. And I knew she was about to pass. She. had cancer, correct? She fought cancer. like four times, had overcame it, then. it kept coming back. And this time I guess it took over her. It took over everything, basically. And. I just remember um. I seen her 2 weeks before she passed. And she was like. You know, she was My granny was really. really really really funny and. sarcastic. But she told me she said, "Coco, when I when I die, make sure they.
bury me, you know, bury me Upside down. You know, face down." And I was like, "What?" She was like, "Yeah, so. everybody can kiss my ass." I was like, I mean, I was I think I cried that day. when she was telling me that. But. I remember when she said I started. laughing. And she was like, "For real, Coco." She said, "At my funeral, don't be letting everybody come up and. kiss or hug on me." She said, "You know. I ain't like people like I don't like. these people." I said, "Grandma, you got. to stop, you're not going nowhere.". And then. when she passed, probably 2 years before I won the.
Olympics. But she But she knew I was. going. She knew I was getting prepared. for it. She kept my robe hanging outside. her house. I had a gold robe that said. T-Rex on it. And um. you know, just. I never really mourned my grandma. passing until a few until a few years. ago cuz it was too hard to deal with. But her birthday's coming up, November. 5th, 6th. And she passed away December 21st. So. November 5th I think November 5th or. 6th, one of them days. We're going to.
celebrate her birthday. I always had a. family come. We're going to do a big. We're going to do a big dinner. And then. on her day that she went to be with the. Lord, December 21st, we let off balloons. and everybody say what's their best. memory of her. And we all got some funny. memories of grandma, so um And And And I. can say that I was a favorite, you know? My My grandma My grandma loved me. And. um she she let me know back then, you. know, that I was that I was worth the. trouble, you know? She let me know that. even though I was different, that I she. was always talking about equal rights.
and equal pay for women. This is This is. when I first got into boxing and I. really didn't understand why she was. preaching it so much to me. But she was always on it. And it kind of. prepared me for when I turned pro. for the inequality that we have to go. through and all the fights and the. challenges that I had to had to. overcome. I feel like she mentally like. she prepared me cuz the stuff that she. was saying. I kind of was like jotting down in my. head as notes. So, and it really helped. me in the amateurs. to get equal pay for the women.
who was on the Olympic team. So, it. really helped then but it just something. that she kind of instilled in me like. instilled in me on stand on your word, finish what you start. Um losers never. quit and quitters never win. Like my. grandma is still a lot in me, you know, and she just was like always. hey, try to talk it out but if you but. if you can't Smack them out. You be like if you can't talk it out, lay them out. And I was and and I'm a. true believer in that. I think that I'll.
try to squash a whole other beef with. people and it's like, you know what? Me. and you just got to fight. This ain't. going to work. If we can't get along, we will get it on. now. >> Get it on. Let's go. Claressa, you you overcome a lot. I. mean, in back in in in researching you. and reading your story, um you tried to commit suicide twice at. 13 and 16. Mhm. What what was going on so bad in your. life that you say, you know what? It's better if I go someplace else. than have to deal with what I'm dealing.
with here. You know what? I think that. at 13 I was just angry. You know, kind of confused about like. why am I kid having to go through all. this stuff, you know? But I think at 16. when I when I tried to do it, it was. simply because. heck, I thought my chance to go to the. Olympics was over. It wasn't because I I. I was still undefeated but I think two. two or three weeks before this big. tournament to fight my way to the. Olympics, my mom, you know, being. intoxicated, a door fell and hit me. right on the eye like corner. It fell.
like it was off the hinges and it fell. It made my eye real big. I couldn't see. out of it. And this tournament was up in three. weeks and this was my only chance to. make it to. the Olympics. So, that's when I was like if if I can't go. to the if if I can't fight my way up out. of here and I got to stay here because. this this done happened. You know, I I I would rather just, you. know, just go. And I was um I was going. I was going to cut my wrist and I was in. the closet and I called one of my.
friends. Um well, I was I made a post on Facebook. or something and one of my close. friends, Aleah, called me and she was. like, "Whatever you thinking about. doing, don't do it." She's my best. friend. She still is one of my best. friends now. And. I was in my closet and she was like. going well, I was sitting down she was. like, "Go in the closet. Go in Go and. pray." She was like, "What are you. doing?" I'm like, "Listen, I got this. knife. I'm like I'm tired of being here. Like if I can't fight my way up out of. here. I'm not about to live like this. It's. over with." And she was like, "Go in. your closet and pray." And she spoke to.
me on the phone for hours. and I fell asleep. in the closet, woke up, eye still closed. still big as hell and I just remember um. my mom being she was sober now and she. came you know, and asked me what. happened to my eye and I was like. "You did it." The door hit me in the. face when you was acting crazy or. whatever and then um I just remember. from there and then my then my coach. came and he was like, "We're going to. have to ice this and you may not be able.
to be able to go to the tournament or. blah. and I believe the first I think my eye. stopped being black maybe a day before. that tournament started or the day of. but it was like I still went and fought. five days back to back to back and. fought my way to the Olympics and that's. all I really wanted to do. you know, at 16. I don't think. looking at it and and people that go. through obviously people decide to take. their own life. is because they're in a lot of pain.
But I feel I don't think they realize. the pain that they're in imagine that. the pain that you do to the people. that's left behind. No, absolutely. >> Because they're asking questions. What. is it? What was going on so bad? And now. for the rest of their lives they're. asking these questions and they're. having to deal with the pain that you. thought that you couldn't overcome. I think that too. When I was that young, I felt like I didn't know what. depression was. You know, we all know what sadness is. and when we mad but we don't know what.
depression is and you know, depression. is when you having them suicidal. thoughts, them bad thoughts, you know, them them like for me when I went. through depression it was like I I'm. always a big advocate for myself and. always speaking positive and up and up. lifting and then it's like when you get. depressed that same voice that was being. uplifting and that was being positive. now is being negative. Now it's being. and then it's and then it's your voice. And that's what. was hard for me to deal with but once I.
like I said figured out listen. you know, things. um. every day every day is not going to be a. sunny day, right? But that doesn't mean. that it's like mud either. You know, so I had to. differentiate that and then just. um. know that listen, it gets better. It's I. mean. I always tell myself when when I'm going. through something I'm like there's. somebody going through something worse. I always tell myself that and people. when they come in with their problem I. say, "You know what? It's somebody doing. worse than you." And they think I'm.
being sarcastic. I'm like, "I'm for. real. It's somebody doing way worse than. you. I just seen somebody I just seen. somebody sleeping under a bridge. with with a with a cover with with like. dirty clothes on. At least you went to. somebody's house and you were able to. lay down and get and you know, get some. food. They out there sleeping on the. concrete and asking people strangers for. money. It is people there's always. someone doing worse than you and I. always try to. tell myself that when I when I feel like. things are getting hard and I tell. people that who come to me complaining.
about things being hard. You go to the Olympics. Okay, obviously. the swelling goes down. Your eyes is is. okay and you go to the Olympics and you. you said like you had to fight five. consecutive days and you won and you. make your way to the Olympics. >> Mhm. I'm going to the Olympics. Lifelong. dream. It's a culmination but I just. don't want to go. I want to bring that. gold medal back. >> Absolutely. So, now you switch it like. okay, I I got to do this. I got to do. this. Mhm. So, now what's what's your what's your. mindset? I mean, it was no other option.
for me. I don't think I would have lived. flying home with a silver or bronze. medal. I don't think I could have made. >> Or no medal. Yeah, I I I. I don't think I would have been able to. to cuz it was my dream since I was 13. years old to go to the Olympics. So, now. that it's finally here I'm at the. Olympics. I'm like, "Yo, this is. uh it it was it was really it was really. surreal. and. all I remember. thinking is everyone around me even. close on the USA team was doubting me.
because of my age. But I had the best skills. I had the. most power and I was the most determined. and I was one of the hardest workers and. I was like, "I'm going to win. this gold medal." And having my coach. Jason Crutchfield with me. man. And you know you couldn't lose with. either. >> Okay, listen, it's impossible. It was impossible then and it's. impossible now. Um he comes to my fights. now. I make sure that he got tickets and. stuff but Jason. when I when I tell you like a.
a mad scientist with boxing and not only. that, he was a mad scientist with me. He. knows how my brain works. >> Mhm. He knows what to say, when to say. it. He knows how to communicate with me. even if I can't hear. If I if I can't. see. If if listen, they give me holding. up covering my eye cuz I can't see and. they be like, "How many fingers you got. up?" And he'll figure out a way to make. me say two even though I even though I. don't see nothing. >> That's right. >> Like he just is a mad scientist and I. mean the way that he trained me. the belief that we had in in in in each. other really made my first Olympic run.
I mean, it was it was hard. Don't don't. get me wrong but. we dominated, you know, and I always say. we because I don't think I could have. done it without him. without him. And. before my grandmother passed, she told. me she said, "Whatever you do, you keep. on listening to that Jason." She always. told me that. or I was in a bad mood she say, "Mhm, whatever Jason say, that's what you do. Always listen to Jason." My grandma was. a big she was a big advocate of him.
Did you. you lost the amateur but that was before. the Olympics or after Olympics? >> Before. >> Before. Mhm. Uh that was in China? Where. were you? >> China. She She went down to China. But. he didn't go then. Nope, he couldn't. make it for financial purposes. He had. no money. You But let me ask you a. question. Had he been there, do you. believe you lose that fight? >> No, I don't believe I would have lost. Because we would have done our homework. We would have knew how tall she was. We. would have knew who was the judges. He made sure he did his homework all the. time and we always had a game plan. >> Mhm. You know, he never let me get.
comfortable. He was like, "Yeah, this. Yeah, this fight was good but next fight. you got to fix X, Y, Z.". You know, so um. but you know what? Even though I feel like I didn't lose. that fight against her in the amateurs. I feel like it was needed. I never asked God to be undefeated and. to win a gold medal. You got to be very. specific with your prayers. I I asked God that I said, "Listen, I. want to I want a chance to fight for an. Olympic gold medal." I didn't say I. wanted to be undefeated or unscathed or.
anything. I just said I want to fight. for it for the gold medal. So, this was. the tournament before the Olympic gold. medal and I feel like well, before the. Olympics. So, I feel like had. I not lost. then I would have lost at the Olympics. So, it was like I can take that defeat. because it it built a different it built. a different fire in me like it wasn't. even just toward her, you know, like toward Savannah. It was. like. I literally want to bite off all y'all. heads. Like I want to get so in shape.
and I want to get so strong that. even when we get to the Olympics that if. the ref don't stop the fight, I knock. you out or I beat you so bad to where. you quit. Like I got in really great. shape for the Olympics. I lost that. fight 3 weeks 3 months before the. Olympics. And I mean, for 3 months, I. ran. 6 miles one day, 4 miles the next, 6. miles the next day, 4 miles the next, 6. 4 6 4. Went to the gym twice a day.
Sparred four or five times a week. Like. I was a dog. And that's what that loss. >> Yeah, Mike, this is never happen again. That's why now I still train like a dog. now. It's like I'm always feeling like. training like I'm the underdog. Like. like I don't like I like I have. everything to fight for and nothing to. lose. Like that's how I. that's how I train, you know? But that. happened then I was like, you know what? It it made me a it made me a better. fighter and it made me just want to hurt.
people more, which is part of my job. Seems like you take most the most. pleasure out of that part right there. Yeah, yeah. People need to get hit in. the face, Shannon. Ain't hit in the face, man. People be. talking too much. Listen, I Listen, >> They'll be selling the fight, Clarissa. They don't mean really mean what they be. saying. >> no, no. They'll be selling. They got to. sell it. Mike Tyson said, "Everybody got. a game plan till they get hit in the. mouth.". And you know what? A lot of a lot of. these internet folks that be on the. internet doing this stuff, they wouldn't. be doing that if we can reach through.
that phone and just give them a. Yeah. Give them a good old. Do you be wanting to tell some of the. people on the internet say glove up? I do. But you know, I have though. I. have. You know, a troll pulled up on me. one time. She She got the hands. Hold on, you be Come on, Clarissa. >> No, man. >> No, I don't Come on. >> No, don't No, don't Listen, first of. all, the gym is a sanctuary. That's your. That's your home. >> So while I'm training and getting ready, it's best you keep the internet beef on. the internet. Don't ever come to where.
I'm at where I'm getting ready for a. real world championship fight fighting. for millions of dollars. You want to. come up and pull up on me talking that. trash to me face-to-face. Oh, no, you. you want your ass whooped. I'm going to. give you just what you want. That woman didn't have no skills though. She said she was a boxer. She said she could beat me in a fight. >> astronaut. But you know what? No. This. girl had been trolling me for 2 years. Now, you know when somebody troll you so. much that you recognize their face? Yeah. That was a situation like that. It. wasn't just no random. >> she pulled up at the gym, you knew. exactly who she was. >> I said, "What the What the hell is What.
the hell going on with me here?" I. thought I got set up. I said, "Wait Wait a minute. What's. going on?". And then I seen her. I said, I walked I. walked I walked right I walked right up. to her. I said, "What the hell you doing here?". She was like, "I told you I'm going to. give you that work. I'm coming out." She. like, "I'm She said, "I'm here to knock. you out. Let's Let's go." I said, "What?" In my mind. >> even speaking to you saying yes. No, in. my mind I was like, "What?" But I I told. her off the jump I wasn't going to spar.
with her. I said, "Man, I'm not sparring. you, man. Get out, you know? Get Get out. of my gym. I'm finna train. I got And it. was a sparring day. I had two dudes. there waiting for me to spar with them. I had six rounds with one and three with. the other one. I'm like, "Man, I ain't. got I I'm not about to spar you. Gone. I'm about to spar these dudes." And she. was like, got to be disrespectful. cussing me out. I start cussing her out. And Get in the ring. >> Before I knew it, I just feel like, "Well, glove on up then." I said, "I. ain't got nothing else to say. Go glove. on up." She gloved up. I gloved up. Fight over in 30 seconds.
You knocked out? I beat the hell out of. her. She quit. She quit. I hit her with a big shot. She She went. down. Well, no, she was like covering. up. I hit her with a big body shot and I. hit her in the head again. Then she like. started doing something. I don't know if. she was like taking a knee or what, but. she stopped fighting back. And you know. me as a fighter, we don't fight folks. who don't fight back, now. Did I want to grab her and do some more. stuff to her? Yes. But the sportsmanship. and the classiness in me said, "Let me.
let this girl go ahead and live and get. on up out of here.". Yeah, but you know what? I would love to. to to to do that to a bunch of girls. that were talking trash though. I mean, if they ever want to come to the gym and. spar with me, I'd get in it with them just to make. them be like, "You disrespectful. You. need to get hit in your mouth.". Then you get hit in your mouth. Lord. have mercy. I can't believe you. I can. I believe it. I know you do. Shannon, we live in a world today. too many folks is okay with being. disrespectful. Too many folks. >> they are. And I'm in a sport that where.
listen, you talk it, then you walk it. That's what opponents do. I don't even. want to talk trash back and forth with. you we ain't going to fight. It don't. even make sense. That's why a lot of. internet beef I'll be like, "You know. what? Let me go ahead and just sit this. one out because she's not going to fight. me. She's going to get on here every. day, make subliminals, make posts, talk. trash. She ain't really trying to see me. No, she ain't trying to see me because when. I when I take this jacket off, these. traps and everything about bigger than. yours. Like you know that right now. You see my.
shoulders? Yeah, I see. >> Yeah. You win the You win the first American. woman to win Olympic gold medal at 17. Yeah. I brought it, too. I keep my stuff on me. That's that gold, baby. Yeah. >> one. Uh-huh. This was in London in 2012. >> Yeah. And then you go back to follow it. up in Rio 2016. >> Rio. Uh-huh. Yeah. And they heavy. And they heavy. That's why I'm wearing them. Yeah. Keep. them in that purse. In that Chanel.
So did you. When you get back Did you go back So you. go back to school and you're a gold. medalist? >> Yeah, but in the 12th grade. Mhm. You in high school so you I was popular. You were popular? Yeah, I was popular. All the guys wanted to holler at you. then, didn't they? They wanted to holler. at you then. They said, "No, I DON'T I. >> THEY BEEN TRYING to holler before the. makeup and the hair. Been trying to. holler. >> trying to get at you like that, Clarissa? Listen. They Oh, so Coco So So. that's why you. >> COCO HAD THEM HOT. COCO WAS HOT AS, YOU KNOW. BUT NO, I WAS.
always too like. I was like up in up in school I was the. jock. I was in honors classes. I like I. was a smart kid. I was famous. I had a. documentary crew following me around. So. it was more of a. everybody knew me. and um. I was still at the time I was at the. time. only thing I was confident about was. boxing. So I spoke highly about about. boxing, how I knock people out, beat. them up. But I wasn't into the whole the.
glam, the real life. >> clothes and hair and makeup. Because I. was in a gym full of guys that all we. cared about is who got a who got around. the track faster, who sweated the most, who hit the butt back harder, and who. won in sparring. That's what we cared. about. We didn't Nobody was like, "Oh, Ress, you didn't have your lashes done. today." Or Ress, you got, you know, um. you like, "Oh, you're sweaty and like. your hair's in an afro." Nobody Nobody. cared. I mean, they had seen me look. that look that same way from the time I. was 11 till I was 17. I mean, I went to.
the Olympics and wore the Queen Latifah. Cleo braids to that. Like I wasn't. trying to be no glam model. I was just. trying to. trying to fight and and win. That's all. that really mattered to me. But your. coach wouldn't like you to have a. boyfriend in in No. You wanted a boyfriend? I had a. boyfriend. OH, HOW HOW. HOW YOU PULL THAT OFF WITHOUT HIM. KNOWING? WELL, LYING. DUH. WELL, I think of my biopic, I had the. boyfriend I had we had been together. since I was. 15, 16 till I was probably about 22, 21.
Damn, that's a long time. Mhm. I was a. relationship type person. I mean, you. Hey, you Hey, he was with you when you. you was I mean, Yeah, but you know how these young boys. is. Y'all the same age. >> But you know how these young boys is. Oh. And like I said, I was very stern. I. don't play none of that. And I'm all And. I'm always too like a girl like if it's. ever if it's if it's ever a thing. between me and another woman, I'mma. always tell you to go with the other. woman. Yeah. Because the fact you my.
thought you thought about that. You. thought about me with another woman. In. your mind you thought about who should I. pick. Please don't pick me cuz I'mma dog. you. Yeah, I'mma dog you. Just Oh Oh, you. think you like me and her? You want to. flirt with me and her? You want to like. both of us? Oh, yeah. I'mma dog you. Oh, come on. Don't be like that. >> Nuh-uh. Got to give it to them how how. they want it. But that's why I was like I'm more of a. I can't be no. I found out early on that I can't be a. pimp. Like Like I can't be like a girl that.
have multiple guys and date them. I just. >> You You You a one guy woman. That's it. I I don't want to have multiple men and. I don't want multiple men having me and. and having somebody else. Like no. >> Cuz you going to feel some type of way. Oh, no, I'mma get rid of you. I'mma play. that. Oh, Lord. It's me and Look, it's me. or nothing. Okay, so you like me, we. together we and we making this work. If. you want to go out and cheat and stuff, I'm like we don't we don't got to be be. exclusive because I'm turning down all.
type of people. Yeah, yeah, cuz they. tried to get at Coco, too. Now, I just. wanted you to know. >> You know, I could have the roster, too, but I chose you. But exactly. So that's. why I'd be like back then I was like, "Nah, this ain't this ain't that." So he. was there at the beginning, but he just. He did He did he try to come back? I ain't going to put his business out. there. Oh, yeah, he tried to come back. He tried to come back. He tried TO COME. BACK. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T think. that no guy who I've ever been with has. not if I've always broken up with them. I've never got broken up with. I've.
always broken up with them. So I feel. like no guy I've ever been with has ever. been like. Oh, I tried to get back with them or. they wanted to get back with me. Like. they always tried to. So I mean, but I. don't I don't blame them. I'm fine as. hell. Fine as hell, popping, you know? Thick, you know what I'm saying? Natural, you. know? I don't blame them. Are Are you the first person in your. family to graduate high school? No. My mom graduated. Um. My grandmother.
My aunt. >> Out of my. I'm the first. Mhm. Out of my siblings, and my little. brother got his GED. Mhm. He's the. youngest. >> Right. I believe my older brother got. his GED when he was in prison. Cuz he. did he did a bid, too. So, I mean, you're the first. I mean, think about it, you're the first of your. siblings to get a high school, and you. mentioned the others are going back and. get a GED. But with that with that was. not something that you uh you said. you're the second oldest. That's not. something that you're thinking about at. the time. You had a a singular focus,
the Olympics. The Olympics, uh-huh. And. school is just a part of the, you know, I got Okay, I'm going to go I'm here. I'm going to go get uh uh get my high. school my high school diploma. But the. the main goal though your main focus, and you said you are in school. So, seemingly school came easy to you. Yeah, except for uh what what what was. it? Science? I never I never understood. science. Okay. But. everything else came pretty easy. I. Listen, I would get all A's and B's and. get like a D in science. Damn. >> A C in science. Like, I think the.
highest I got on a GPA I got a 3. I got a B one time. So, I had got a 3. 3.8. >> Mhm. And I was trying to get a 4.0 this. specific marking period cuz I just like. this is the this is the. >> going to get it. I'm going to get it. And I got a 3.8 because I got a freaking. B. in science. So, I just was like, "Yeah, science sucks.". >> It ain't it ain't for me. Yeah, no. You mentioned earlier that you fought. your grandmother, you know, you fought. for equal pay. Hell, I'm doing it. I'm. boxing. We boxing the same amount. I'm.
I'm boxing. I'm in here putting, you. know, putting my life on the line. I'm. practicing. I'm in the gym. I'm running. Getting up early in the morning. Um. and in 2016 the men used to get three. times the pay. The the Olympic the training committee, correct? >> Well, 2012? Yeah. I think they used to get twice more than. what we got, yeah. >> And you're like, "Nah, that's that's. ain't right." Well, I was winning every. tournament. So, that didn't make sense to me. Yeah, yeah. And you don't really know what the. other guys are making until you ask. them. >> Right. So, when I found that out, I just.
was like, "Huh?" So, going back from my. second uh Olympic gold medal, I'm I let. them know like I that I wouldn't go back. unless these things changed. >> Mhm. And they were all for it because. they knew. they kind of needed me to win a gold. medal. >> to get Yeah, yeah. You know, I don't I. don't think um USA Boxing has had. an Olympic gold medalist before me since. 2008, which was Andre Ward. >> Mhm. Or was it four? 2004, Andre Ward. I. mean, well, we had some bronze. medalists, some silvers. Yeah, we got.
But gold? >> don't have gold. Yeah, yeah. I had got. 2012 and 2016. I'm I'm the only gold for. those years. >> Right. And, you know, USA Boxing, we used to be the the bee's. knees. Listen, I think I think Shakur. Stevenson should be an Olympic gold. medalist. I was there. I seen the fight. He He went against the Cuban, and I. think Shakur is a better fighter than a. Cuban, but he came out with the silver, but in my mind Shakur is like. bomb.com. Like, this dude can really. fight. He's in shape. He's focused.
And um he was just young, but I felt I. felt that he won the fight. I felt like. he won the fight, but it was it was so. close. >> Right. You know, but I felt like Shakur. won it, and he should not. if anything, even though he got the. silver, in my mind he's an Olympic. champion. >> But we seen him robbed, too. Well, Well, Roy Jones just got his medal back from. the '88. >> Yeah, I saw that. That was crazy. >> I mean, I remember watching that fight. Man, Roy beat that man. No, he did, which is like. >> close, though. I don't. >> But it was in Seoul.
And he had to be had to be had to be. >> was Well, that was Seoul, Korea? Yes. Yes. >> Wow, man. >> Yes. But I you know, stuff like that I. just can't believe it. Even I Even with. Mayweather, you know what I'm saying? Getting the bronze. >> But But that was But that was in the US. That was in Atlanta. Yeah, in Atlanta. Mhm. But that's what I'm saying. Like, for me, people don't even understand. like how terrified I was. I had just to. me got robbed right before the Olympics. And now I'm going to the Olympics, and. I'm like, "Oh God, these girls is. taller, they bigger, they more known. Like, what am I going to do?" Yeah, and.
they're they're older. You're 17. Yeah, I think. >> You ain't fighting no You ain't fighting. no more teenagers. Them women 20s in the. 20s, and you fighting them. 20s, 30s. The girl I fought against for the. Olympic gold medal 2012, she was 34. I. was 17. Like theoretically, she old enough to be. your mom. Really? Yeah. But she was strong, though. That's not. like, "Ooh, these these older women got. some strength on them." She got the old. woman strength. She got the old woman. strength. Hey, you know when they grab you, you be. like, "Hold up.".
[Music]. They was She was strong. So, what you. So, what you got Okay, you go in there. and you're fighting the lady that's. double your age. >> Mhm. Your coach is So, what So, So, what. was your game plan in the gold medal? You're like, "Okay, I've gotten through. all I This is for the gold medal. This. is everything This is everything that I. prayed for. This is everything that I've. hoped for, and this moment is here now.". So, were you calm? Were you relaxed? So, So, So, give me your thought process up. leading to that gold medal match. I was. very focused. I was calm, and I was. ready. I knew that.
the girl I was fighting against had. hammer fists. She could punch. But I. also knew, too, I was fast as lightning. Mhm. I knew I had really good head. movement, and I knew that. if I got in the right distance and range. with her, I would be more stronger than her. >> Right. Than her against me. Right. So, uh I went in there and just. I Coach told me to have fun. He said, "Have fun and beat her up.". And I went there, and I had fun, and I. and I beat her up. But I remember the.
first the first round, she caught me with a shot. And I. remember, "Oh, that's it?" Yeah. But she. had been putting girls down at the. Olympics. She had been dropping them. >> Yeah. Uh getting getting eight counts on. them. And then she hit me, and I kind of. I shook my head a little bit. I'm like, "Ooh, it's good." Then I was like, "Oh, yeah. She She She She She want to. fight.". >> Yeah. She thinks she just big like that. And I said, "Okay, so but the way that. her punches were coming so slow, You. could see them. by the time she do two. punches, I would already have landed. with four. Right. Six. So, I'm like, I'm. going to light her up and then sit on.
some. When I start sitting on them, it was over. Yeah. 17. But man, I'm telling you like. that girl was strong. I I wonder what. she's doing now. Toilet paper. So, what So, what what country do you. think have the best fighters? America. Really? America has the best. fighters. >> Even women? Even women? America. Wow. Now, if we talking about a lot of these. American. girls sometimes. they don't show up on those big stages.
>> moments. Yeah, you know, when you got. the world championships and the. Olympics, these girls won't won't show. up, but they'll turn pro and become. world champions. You know, I think. America has girls who are. tough, slick, great upbringing. And we. have a great uh USA Boxing program to. help us get get prepared to win those to. win these tournaments. I think that the other girls in the. other countries, they just. I don't know, maybe they're used to. those bigger moments or something, but I. feel like as far as in skill and. everything, I feel like America has the.
best fighters. And then I have to say. second is the UK. And we all know Katie Taylor from. Ireland, you know, but the UK and. Ireland kind of you know, but Yeah, I'd. give it as my top three. But you know, the thing is is that. amateur boxing, Olympic boxing is. different than pro boxing. Way. different. Mhm. And so, you I mean, cuz. you see like. some of these guys that like didn't have. great amateur background become world.
champs. And you see some Olympic. champions don't do nothing in pro. Well, I think that all comes with. are you a complete fighter? Okay. You. know what I'm saying? I knew in the. amateurs In the amateurs like before I. learned about the point system, I did. used to sit down more on my punches and. pick my shots more. >> Right. Well, then you get to the. Olympics, and all they care about is. who's landing the most points and who. and who has the effective punching. >> Mhm. So, you have to fight the point. system in order to be able to win a.
fight. Now, when you turn pro, it's back to how I was at the beginning, which is more taking my time, sitting on. my punches. But I've been doing. something else for the past six six, seven years. So, I have to switch that. to turn pro. And then you have to adjust. to the no headgear in the pros. >> Yes. And that's. >> Is Is that a big difference? >> What? Cuz what you bother you see it? I. mean, your peripheral How How is that? >> see more with the headgear off. >> Okay. But you feel more, too. Oh, absolutely. You know, you see amateurs. getting in there and fighting on the.
inside and throwing these combinations. You're not going to see that in the pros. because. >> Hell, no. You got You got head butts. >> Yes. You got um I mean, you got elbows. You got Listen, I got hit with a. shoulder in pro boxing. >> Right. A shoulder. >> Right. You know, she was doing. something, and I and I came in and that. girl had hit me in my jaw with her with. her damn shoulder. So, You ever get mad in there? Like, "Oh. Oh, you you Oh, you Oh Oh, you doing. that now. Okay.". I don't I don't get mad inside the ring. You got to control it all. I may look. mad, >> Right. but I'm not. I'm actually very.
happy and want to show off my skills. and show you what I got, you know? But I. know that I'm very. strategic. So, I know that once you get. mad, you can't really think. >> Okay. So, I don't think I've got mad in. the professional fight since my pro. debut. But that's because she kept. pushing me on the floor. Damn. Yeah. But that's. >> Well, she must have been really strong. she pushed you down to the ring. She was. rough. But it was like, you know, you sitting. there throwing punches, and then you. just see somebody just go boom. So, it was like, "What the hell? I.
thought we was punching." Hey, did you. tell Hey, Rael, you you're not going to. say anything? Yeah, that's when I got. mad. Last time I got mad. Like, "Rael? Hello?". Um last year the big story in the. Olympics was uh the Algerian, Imane. Khelif. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Transgender. Uh. Is Is it a transgender? That's what I I. I I mean, she's identified her whole. life as a I I I I. If I'm reading it correctly, she's. identified her whole life as a as a. female. That's a male. I think she was.
born with the chrome XY chromosome. Both. parts or something like that? Yes. So, the reason why I why I steer clear away. from this because nobody knows the. facts, but I don't believe that in. boxing. amateur or professional that that that. they would let in the amateur that they. would let. uh a male a male. fight against women. I just don't. believe that. I believe that the story. was. uh taken out of proportion or the facts.
weren't there, and that's what we got, but. Iman Khalif fights like a girl. She. does. So, and I and and I say that just like not. to just like she's a gold medalist, too. So, I I said it to say like. if she's always fought against these. girls, why now is it being changed for. the Her whole life she grew up fighting. against women. Yeah, and Now all of a. sudden Yeah, and yeah, so to me, I feel. like.
we we we we we would have to go there to. actually see her and talk to her and. hear what she has to say about it, but I. don't I don't think that she identifies. as. ever identified as a male. Yeah, I I. think that she's she's a girl, and. that's why now people say oh they that. they want her to turn pro and fight. against me or whatever whatever, but she. from what I know is it's a girl. Right. From what I know. Going to the Olympics, obviously when. you go to the Olympics you make the. American team, and all these.
the NBA, Michael Phelps is there. You. meet LeBron James. I mean, I I think you. walk next to LeBron. Yeah, Kevin Durant. all of them. KD Mhm. So, what So, what. is it like to meet like. like man, these I'm most popular I mean, everybody. know who these. these men are, these people are. Mhm. So, so what was that like for what was. that moment like for you walking in the. opening ceremony? Honestly, I had thought to myself, and this was. such a surreal moment. I thought to.
myself when I seen LeBron and everybody, I thought to myself I said, "Yo, I'm I'm with the best athletes in the. world.". >> Yeah. And then it dawned on me and said, "Ding dong, you are here to fight to be one of the. best athletes. in the world." And that's when it hit me. like, "Yo, I'm really a big deal.". I know I thought I was the stuff then, but I'm really the stuff now. Right. Yeah. Let me. You are. a muscular woman.
Shape, like you said, you got shoulders, you got body. Uh I'm sure you've been criticized. Yeah. What's I mean, I'm a woman. >> People is crazy for women because Then. they want you to be a beanpole, they. want you to be 105 lbs, they want you to. be 120 lbs and be a Victoria's Secret. model or be what what they. >> I don't. I'm I really get confused because I feel. like maybe it's a preference, >> Mhm. but. I'm built like the bodies that these.
girls in that these girls getting and. buying. Oh, yeah. You know, I'm thick at. the bottom, I got a big butt, and nice legs, I got a slim waist. >> Yeah. I may not be too big in chest, but. I don't want to be big in chest cuz I. can move my arms. >> Yeah. But. my back and everything is strong because. of my sport. >> Yes. But when I put on a dress, I look. just as feminine just as just as pretty. just as fine. So, I don't really get I I think the. criticism come from haters or come from. people that's jealous. >> Yeah. or wish that they were me or.
something, Wish they had a body like. you. Serena went through the same thing. I seen it firsthand. Serena Serena like, "Oh, she look like a man or she look. like this." Serena was very muscular. I. saw Serena when she was probably in her. early 20s, and she was I mean, she was. in shape and shape. Yes. >> Yeah. Yes. Yes. And now I guess, you. know, now they like well, I don't know. well, people people used to say, "Oh, she she look like a man, she all this.". And now she she done a 180 with her. body, and everybody's like, "Well, I. don't know why she did that. I like the. old body." Well, this her body. Let her.
be. They They always got something to. say. >> You know, when I was fighting at 154. lbs, I was literally all muscle. Like I I I. don't think I had no body fat on me. because it wasn't any body fat left to. be there. >> Right. So, then I go to 160, my body was. kind of still the same. Now I'm 68 75, I I didn't got I didn't have to put on. some muscle, my legs and got a little. bigger, I didn't got a little wider in. the the hips in in the waist and stuff, and it's more of a this is what I have.
to do for it the weight class, Yeah, you. move up in the weight, it's hard. Yeah. Right, but I don't look really I don't. know. I don't I don't to to me, I don't look strong like you. No, you don't. I mean, I look strong, I. look in shape, but I'm not like. uh Yeah, no. No. But they try to make it. seem like that. You look very feminine. Yes. You're you're you're a a a I mean, women athletes, they have bodies, they. have muscle, and they need that to be. have functionality. Yeah. So, I when I.
when I hear that stuff, long as I look. in the mirror and I like what I see, that's what makes me happy. You people. will say that I look like I'm like 140. I say that's a beautiful compliment, but. I walk around at 180 100 85 lbs. You. know what I'm saying? I know that I'm. stacked, and when it comes to the fight, I lose my weight or whatever, but I like. walking around with my meat and having. my Yeah. having my stuff. >> like it. Oh, he love it. Okay. He I was telling him I'm that that. I'm going to fight at 160. He was like,
"No, you're not.". I said, "I'm for real." He was like, "No, we're not going down to 160." I. mean, but as you get old as you start. you start to age, it gets harder to take. that weight off. Are you really trying. to go back down to that weight? Um if the competition is there, but. that's nothing but. a diet and nutrition team and just a bit. more running, but. when when I have a fight locked in and I. and I have a goal like in Right. age. doesn't get in the way. I've been. working on my entire life. So, it's it's. actually easy for me to lose weight. It's all about am I going to lock in and.
focus and make the sacrifices to lose. the weight. But I went down to 154 and. lost 35 lbs in 6 weeks. So, hey. Damn. Boss, but when you want to make history, >> Yeah. I became the fastest boxer to be. three-time undisputed champion. in the least fights. >> Yes. So, I So, I did that, but the. sacrifice was I had to lose 35 lbs in 6. weeks. Is there is there a. heavier. you're the heavy I mean, you're a.
heavyweight. So, there ain't no way you. go. So, now basically 175 and 175 plus. is different. Right. So, you can go up another you can take. it you can get another weight, you can. get another division? Not at Well, me and Danielle Perkins. fought at 175 plus. >> Right, okay. So, that's heavyweight. >> Right. Um but then it's weird because. All right, we got different. organizations, right? And for the WBC, they call. 175 heavyweight. >> Mhm. But then other organizations call. 175 light heavy. Mhm.
So, it's like when me and her fought, we. fought at 175 plus cuz the contract was. at one it was at 180 cuz Danielle is a. big girl. I came in weighing 173, Danielle came in. weighing at 178, and we fought. >> Damn. for the heavyweight undisputed. championship. Well, if you walk around. at 180 185, she walk around at 190 195, maybe too. Danielle Perkins is huge. Danielle Perkins is huge. And like. listen, I I love that girl, okay? But.
when I was like. we was facing off and stuff, I'm like, "Yo, I didn't know she was this big.". Like somebody ain't tell me something. Hold up. I'm looking at her, too, like. and then she's so calm and trying to be. all nice to me. I'm like, "Don't be nice. to me. I'm going to beat you up.". And she just like, "Claressa, we we. good." I'm like, No, we not. I didn't know how hard you about to hit. me. We is not We is not We We We is not. cool. But no, she. me fighting against her.
let me know like, "Yo, even though I. only came in weighing 173. um for our fight, and I rehydrated probably to like one to. 180, it was like, "Yo, I was able to handle her strength, handle her size, and everything about her was tough. Her. bones was hard. She was tall. She was. strong. She was quicker than what I. thought. >> Yeah. I mean, Danielle Perkins was. I I I I understand why she only got six. fights. People say, "Oh, she only had. five fights when we fought." Hey, nobody. trying to see you. Don't nobody want to.
fight her. When I watched her fight in some of her. fights, these girls came in very. confident the first second third round, but then you got to the fourth round, and you see these girls is like. tired, and then they face start getting. bloodied up and bruised, and I'm like, "This girl punching, man. This girl is. punching for real." And then these girls. end up quitting or she stop them. And I'm like, "Yeah, I got I I I You got. your work cut out. I got to watch I got. to watch out for this one. And that was. the only one who I fought so far who I. said, "I got to watch out for this one.". Cuz she was she was that good. >> you feel like you go in the ring, you're. like, "I'm confident. I got you." Well,
I felt like I had her, too, but not I. was like I had I had to watch her. I'm. like, "I can't slip up here. Slip up and. miss that one second, hey, catch you. with a shot, you be like, Is Have Have you ever been pressured to. have cosmetic surgery? Um. this past year with all the. judging and all the people trying to say. that I was fat or trying to body shame. me or whatever because. in camp I. I got a six-pack and I'm really, you.
know, cut up and stuff, but then out of. camp, I don't mind having a little. stomach or whatever. I don't mind. I. don't mind that. But when I see. and people judge me and saying that I. should get stuff done. I People actually. get my nose done, which I think my face. I think my face is perfect. But But this. these just haters. Yeah, you you got to. understand people saying this stuff. But. with. with me, I would love to I heard that when you go. and get these body surgeries done, that. sometime you go in there, they fix your.
body up and get the and get the fat off, and then you come back and you're 30 lb. smaller. But, you got to let your body heal for. months or whatever the case may be. Yeah. And you me hearing that be like, I ain't got to work out to lose 30 lb, but I can go down on a few more weight. classes and win some more titles. But, but in my mind is like. I'd rather work it off. Yeah. You know, and and do that instead of being. cut on and whatever the case, cuz I'm. really scared of knives and needles. I. don't know how I got tattoos, but I'm. really scared of that. So,
that's the pressure there when they come. judging you about your size, but I'm. happy with my size. That's why it. doesn't bother me. It don't bother me. But, these girls be looking cut up. They're going to get their abs done now. >> Yeah. I mean, girls don't even work out. Be having better abs than me. And I'd be like, "Godly, what's going. on?" But, then you know, you got these. filters and everything else and. >> They do. body shaping whatever, and I've. always been just a person just to. give it to you how it is. >> Right. You know what I'm saying? So, I'm. going to continue to to be like that. I. just know that for my next fight, I'mma.
cut up. I'm going to come more cut up. >> what weight? I believe 175. 175? Mhm. So, you going. to I mean Or or. >> You only 185. That's 10 lb. >> Or 168, because they got some girls who. got belts on there for me. You want to. cut. So, you don't want nobody to have no. belts? Not Not No, they can have some. Just if they call me out, I'm like the. boogeywoman. I show up. Some girls been calling me out, but I. already called them out before, but they. they they didn't want to fight. But, now. I guess they want to fight now. So, >> They got courage now, honey. Liquor.
courage, I guess. Yeah. You're the first woman to make a million. dollars in a from a boxing match. Mhm. When you got to make When you got that. money, what what was the first thing you. did? You buy something specific for. yourself? You get something real nice? When I When I Well, one, just to give. you a little just a little history. >> Okay. Okay. When I lost right before the. Olympic tournament. >> Yeah. in China, Mhm. I lost to Savannah. Marshall. Okay. See, God got a funny way. of humor, because I made my made my. first million beating up who? Savannah. Marshall. Mhm. And I beat her up in up. in the UK in front of 20,000 of her fans.
in the UK at the O2 Arena, and I made a million bucks. Left with a black eye, but she left with. her face marked up, no belt. >> You lumped up, huh? Yeah, yeah, lumped. her up pretty good. But, she was a. knockout artist, too, though. 13 and 0, 12 knockouts, whatever. I went there and. showed her how to how to really fight. So, with that, when I got my first. million, I think I went and bought me a. Camaro, a 2022. Yeah. Um. I don't think I spent a lot of money. like that. I'm I'm more of a saver, so I.
went and bought the Camaro. Um I went and got my kitchen redone in. my house. That was in Flint. Well, you was. practical. Hm? I said you was practical with your. money. Yeah, I I I didn't just like. splurge. I I've always helped family. with this or with that. But, I probably. spent out of that million, I probably. spent like. maybe 70, 80k the first month or two. And then after that, I kind of put the. rest of the money up. Right. But, you know, when you get money, you. know, that brings a lot of that brings a.
lot, especially family. Yeah. >> from a family that, you know, hey, I'm. very fortunate that my brother played. There's only three three of us, my. brother me and my brother, my sister, you know. Yeah, you just helped. induct them in the Hall of Fame, right? I saw that. I saw that. >> it's hard but it's hard, because they. see and then everybody got this idea. they got a business they want to open up. a business. They need X, Y, and Z. I'm. like, "Bro, hm? So, how hard is it How hard is it to. say no?". It's not hard now. But, it was at first, though. Yeah, it.
was very hard at first, because you feel. like you want to help everybody and you. want to believe in everybody's dreams, you know? But, it just was like, uh. Nah, now I'm I'm saving my money for my. future family. And And also, too, so my. sister has three kids. >> Yeah. And And me and my sister are very. close. Her kids are like are like my. kids. >> kids. So, I got to make sure that I got, you know, college money for them. Right. So, when it comes to that, I haven't had. my own kids yet, but when I do,
they're going to fall right in line with. that. And kids are expensive. Yeah. And you want 10 of them? Nah, I. just want four now. You still realize that's still a lot of. kids in today's time. Hey, I got a. seven-bedroom house 30 minutes from. here. I think we'll be all right. You got to put kids in all the. Yeah, we're going to have kids, you. know, one of the kids can be in the room. right there next to mine and the other. room and the other room. They didn't go. downstairs. Another room down there. So, yeah, it's fine. I don't mind it.
>> But, I mean, at some point, uh. how old are you now? 30. 30. Mhm. I. mean, so at some point time, it's going. You're going to have to start, you know, think about like, "Okay, gloves, hanging the gloves up." Yeah, but. >> know. You You going to be You going to. You going to have babies and and come. back and fight? Yes. I got to get all the fighting out of me. before I stop fighting or I'm being. jailed. Yes. Like right now, I'm in a space to. where I like to still to to to still. fight. >> Right. You know, I feel like in my.
career, like, yes, I've won 19 world. championships. Yes, I've. five different weight classes, four-time. undisputed, all this stuff, but it's. like it's still. some butt out there need to get kicked. You know, and it's like I want to kick. these girls' butt. And then I think. everything I Then I can maybe train some. kids, cuz I'm training my niece right. now and my nephew. >> Right. So, it was like I can train some. kids and kind of live through them. But, right now, I'm living through myself, and these girls can get it. Right now. You tried MMA.
You said I'm MMA. I would Tried it. I. was good at it. >> Yeah, but I mean, you were you two and. one. Yeah, yeah, two and one. Uh-huh. Would you try it again? Would you go. back into it again? Or would you you go. with the boxing? You going to stick with. the boxing? Well, I made millions to do. a job that I'm the greatest at. >> Right. So, I'm not going back to MMA. I. would only make it 200k. Which is Hey, it's a lot. >> Yeah. But, 200k. ain't more than a million. And I had to. train 6 months for each fight. So, take time away from my family, just.
6 months of nothing but groundwork Yeah. to get ready for one fight. Yeah. Listen, MMA, I give it out to them girls. Y'all got. it. [Laughter]. Y'all got it. If y'all want to see me, come to boxing, but I went over there. and I fought under their rules. I was. able to win two fights and I lost one. split decision. I got me a knockout over. there. But, hey, um. and they got some of the best fans, too. Right. But, it's just. it's not enough time in the day. Had I. started training when I was.
17, 18, >> age that you started boxing? >> Oh, I started doing MMA training at the. age of 11, like I did boxing. Oh, man. What? You you crazy. I think I would I always said all I need. is. 2 years of nothing but. MMA training. Nothing but just no like. no boxing, nothing but MMA. training and sparring and fighting. I. believe that I could win a MMA.
championship either in the PFL or the or. the. or the UFC. But, I don't I don't have 2. years to do that. >> Yeah. What about WWE? Would you do WWE? Yeah. Bianca and Jade Cargill, they're all my. girls. They be Um Trinity, I'm like I'm. in contact with all them girls. Me Me. and Bianca said that we're going to do. something one day. >> Wow. So, yeah, I know that I'm going to. have a life in MMA. I I don't know how. long, but I know that it's possible. I I. actually have an interview with. Stephanie McMahon.
4 days. >> Yeah. up in New York. So, I look forward. to seeing her there, and maybe we can. get something together. She actually gifted me a WWE belt. Wow. I have one in my house. You see a lot of MMA fighters. Uh Conor McGregor, the most noted. I mean, fought Floyd, 100 million. dollars. And we see some of these MMA. fighters wanting to do boxing um. because the money. Obviously, ain't no. boxer going to MMA under their rules.
It's a whole It's a whole different. ballgame over there. Uh it's a lot. easier for a boxer for a MMA fighter to. do boxing than it is boxing. >> yeah. Yeah. Um. How big of a payday do you think you can. get in women's boxing? I know the fight. that you want. Mhm. I know the fight. that you want and you believe you could. get 15, 20 million dollars. More than that, but. >> Why you want to beat up She She's 47. >> No, I I want I want to get something. clear. Like I was telling you from from the. beginning,
you talk trash to me, I talk trash to. you. I feel like we should fight. She. has said plenty of times that she feels. she can knock me out. I'm not skilled. enough. I I'm not. talented enough, whatever, right? And. she can feel that way, but. when you say it and you and then you say. it with such conviction. Right. And. you're just And I'll definitely knock. her out, right? Um she can't do this. She can't do that. She's not this. She's not that. All I'm. saying is I think we should prove it. I.
don't think it should be a thing of. of of a diss back and forth. You know, it's more of a I think I'm better than. you. You think you're better than me. Well, let's prove it. How they. >> Somebody got to be right. Somebody got. to be wrong. Yeah, and she the one said. that she would make the fight happen. That she said if the money was there, the fight could happen. But, honestly, too, it's other I got bigger fish to fry. than than Laila. Right? But, it's more of I entertained. the fight because she said she would. beat me. It's not me calling her out.
because oh, she she's old and all that. stuff. It was like, "Wait a minute. She said she'd knock me out. She said. she better She's a better fighter than. me.". That's what that was. And she said she. can come out of retirement and she could. do it. So, all I'm saying is. It's been two decades. Probably. shouldn't she fought, right? A decade, at least a decade and a half. Yeah, but. when I'm retired a decade, a decade and. a half, you not going to hear me saying. how I can beat these young girls. Unless. I'm really coming back out to to do it.
So So that's my thing. People think it's. it it it's about something else. It. ain't about nothing else but that. She. said she can beat me. I said she can't. We should fight. That's it. I I don't think it should go You ain't. even going to keep going back and forth. Are you done with it? Are you done with. the. the verbal sparring? Um. No. I think that. I haven't seen the latest stuff. Whatever that stuff is that she did. I. heard about it. I haven't seen it. I've. been focused on, as you know, I'm a free.
agent. Right. And I've been focused on. locking in my next deal for my next. couple of fights for millions of. dollars. I'm trying to lock that in. I've been negotiating with. people who Anybody you can think of who. got boxing money. Seeing who's coming. with the best deal and the best. opportunity for me and my family. So I. haven't been paying attention to that. But. Well, I mean she I mean she posted she. was saying that you were. um. you know, she was a role model of yours. and she's giving you some great advice. about how to build your brand and things. like that. She posted things and and and.
you were very complimentary of her. You. were. Um and I don't know. uh where the the the split and the. animosity or acrimony or whatever term. you want to use, I don't know where it. came from. You said that she said that. you weren't that skilled I I think you. said that something she weren't that you. weren't that skilled and she would do X, Y, and Z and she could beat you. Yeah, but like I said, I think. a Breakfast Club interview, they asked. her which come out of retirement and she.
said there's no one who inspires me or. who would give me a good challenge. So she wasn't just talking about me. She's talking about everybody who's. boxing. She's saying, "Listen, there's a. lot of girls there. They all good. But. none of them are good enough to give me. a good challenge for me to come back out. of retirement." But you But you But you. right now, you the Michael Jordan of. boxing. Well, tell her that. But I wasn't supposed to take that any. any kind of way. That's what you said. that she said that I took wrong. Oh. When she was like. How can I take that wrong? You You You.
said it. >> You the LeBron James of boxing. Yeah, and you said. there's nobody good enough that can give. you a challenge to make you for me can't. even give you a challenge, let alone. beat you. You said I can't even. challenge you? And I got all these. belts? I'm under some three divisions? So back then, whenever that interview. was, which was years and years and years. ago, that is what started it and all I. did was say like. if she think that she can just come out. of retirement after not fighting me me. after not fighting all these years and.
beat me, she in for a rude awakening. And at this. time. I loved her, you know what I'm saying? And I had her phone I had her number in. my phone as Big Sis Layla. So it's like. now. at this point, I'm 30 years old now. I. think this beef been going on since I. was 23, 24. Yeah, I think it's time to. put it to bed. Y'all ain't going to. fight. >> Well, listen. I'm cool with that. It's other I got. bigger fish. to fry who's actually active, who. actually want to get in the ring. Um.
Did I say active already? Like these. girls really want to want want to fight. Right? And right now I'm like the cash. cow. So you fight against me, you get. paid the most money that you ever got. paid. >> Right. Right? And I'm trying to make the. most money. So. I don't really care about a fight with. me and her. I just called her bluff when. she said the 15 million. I just made. sure that we had it and I said, "Hey, we. got it. What's up?". And then I guess that's what led to. this latest thing. People told me that it was a hate. documentary. And I haven't I haven't I haven't.
listened to it yet. And and and I don't. think that I am going to listen to it. because I have better things to do with. my time. But other than that, listen, I. ain't got nothing against the man. I. don't. I just don't think that she can. beat me in a fight. And she think that she can. And And it. may not be able to happen because. Cuz as time goes by, she's getting older. and you know, you're going to want to. settle that settle down. You said you. don't mind, you know, you would come. back and fight after you have kids. But. as she's getting older, she ain't going. to be fighting at no 50. >> Question. Yes, ma'am.
Ocho say, "Claressa, I got 15 million. for you to fight against me in the. ring.". What you going to say to Ocho? It might just be nightcap with Unc. [Laughter]. What I'm saying. You either got a yes Yes. or no. You. don't got all this But Ocho But Ocho But. see I I think the thing is. >> Who you got beef with? Somebody who Somebody you don't like. You You don't want to mess with us. I. don't want to say it. But they know. Okay. All right. So So they know. So.
this person come and say. >> For free. Ain't even no money. Ain't no. need no money. Okay. So this person come. and say, "Hey, man. I got 15 million for. me and you to fight." What you going to. say? I'd fight you for $15. 15 cent? Yes. Well, that's That's how. easy I feel like this conversation was. I don't think all the extra stuff and. and whatever is is needed. >> Right. Who Who's an exhibition fight. that that that we can get Claressa to. fight? Who Who in an exhibition we can. get somebody? It's hard to make. exhibition fights in women's boxing, man. It's hard because these.
you know, you're not going to get a. YouTuber who who just be fighting on the. internet that she going to come and. fight against me. >> Right. Because my accolades and you know. who I am, you know? Um. I feel like everybody's is out to. protect their brand type of deal. So I. don't I don't know. Like I wanted to. fight against Amanda Nunes in boxing. Yeah. That I feel like that would be a. great fight. >> Yeah. Right? Um. Cris Cyborg? Who? Cyborg.
Who? Okay. Now, let me think about somebody else. Who I think can actually get inside of. the ring and like fight. I look at the cross-branding of it. Maybe a Baddie. Some of those girls you. see fighting on Baddies, like Ivory, one. of them. You know what I'm saying? But. those girls They can't bang for real. though, Claressa. Not no. I mean, now who can bang like me in. boxing? Like Like let's let's just say. >> I mean it it's got it's got to be like. there's a realistic chance.
I ain't saying they can beat you, but. it's got to be more than more than 20. seconds. I mean. Well, in that case, I don't know. Up in. that case. But I mean it's it's it's. girls who I think about, like I said, Amanda Nunes. Um What if we get a. YouTuber guy that's not Jake Paul? What. if we get a YouTuber guy? >> Oh, yeah. Of course. Of course. Hold on. Sorry. Of course, Jake Listen, Jake Paul. can always get it. I always tell him. that he can always get it. Why would you. try to fight a man? You're 200 lb.
He talk too much. That's why. Listen, Jake Paul don't know. that I want smoke with him. I told him. that Listen, listen, me and him can just. spar. We ain't even got to fight with no. cameras. I just want to show him. Look what I Look what I'll do to you, big man. [Laughter]. You upset that Gervonta is going to. fight Jake Paul. I'm not upset about. that. You You think he should fight him? Yes. Get the bag. >> Get the money. But I also think he should fight against. Lamont Roach and Shakur and Teo and. Devin Haney.
Do you believe Lamont Roach beat. Gervonta? Now, if you count the knockdown, Yeah. >> I would have the fight should have went. the other way. Yeah. But the fight, if. you want to give it a draw, I feel like. Lamont took his foot off the gas at the. end. So I'm not mad about the decision. But. the thing is I want I want I want people. to to understand about. my take on Tank is this. I'm a boxer, but I'm a boxing fan. I just want to see you fight against the. best dudes. I want to see you fight. against a dude who disrespected you, who.
talked bad about you, who you know, who. said that you ain't that good. Go in. there and prove your greatness. That's. all it is with me. I don't I don't. really have nothing against um Tank. Like we had a back and forth probably. about a about a year ago or something. like that. But. that's like I've been knowing him since. I was a kid, since we were like 16, 15. >> Mhm. You know what I'm saying? So it's. nothing like. like that. You know what I'm saying? People think that um. I got something against Tank. Like I. think when he came at me on social media. and I came at him,
whatever he said to me, I said bad a bad. back to him, too. So it's So it was. a back and forth, but it was more like. as far as in now when I when I say what. I'm saying, it's like. Tank is a powerhouse. He's a great. fighter. I want him to find a way to. manage whatever is going on up here and. live out to his legacy. Who you want him. to fight? Shakur? You wanted to fight. him for. >> Everybody. Fight Listen, fight Shakur, fight Teofimo, fight Devin Haney. Fight um Devin Haney Lopez. I think Loma.
Loma Didn't Lomachenko retire? Yeah. I haven't heard that. Did he? I think. Lomachenko retired. Wow. I didn't know. that. But that's what I want to see. I. I missed the glory days where the best. fought the best. That's what I miss. And. I think that if he understands that, he. will understand that it's not a thing. about me coming at you, bro. It's a. thing about me wanting to see the best. fights because I'm a boxing fan and I. just want to see it. Like as as. terrifying as terrifying as I was that. Terence was going up three weight. classes to fight against. Canelo, I'm like, this still going to be.
a good fight because Terence is Terence. Terence is Terence Crawford. >> differently though. Exactly. So it's. just like But still though, that's like. you want to see the best fights and the. best fight is that. That's what the best. fight He said, "In order for me in order. for me to enhance my legacy, the only. there is nobody else from 154 down that. I can fight that can give me. what Canelo could give me." And it was a. hell of a fight. >> It was. I loved it. >> Bud put on a show. He did. He put on a. show. But that But these guys are Now.
the guys don't care about the bag. They. don't care about legacy. They don't. Because they're not willing to take. They're not willing Because you know. what happened, Floyd? >> Listen. >> Everybody want to be Floyd. Everybody. want to retire undefeated. I want to be. Floyd, but I want to have my legacy. intact, too. They they don't they don't. >> Up in women's boxing, you don't make no. money unless you got legacy. >> Right. Like I can talk all this talk all. this trash, call out all these girls, and have a and and and have a big mouth, but with no accomplishments, they're not. going to pay you. You got to go out. there and get it. So, for me, legacy is. what pay the bills.
>> Yes. Going chasing the belts, fighting. the best competition, that's what pays. the bills. >> Yes. Like I believe my next fight deal. that I'll be signing. is is really big. Mhm. It's really big. And it's in the works right now as we as. we sit here and speak. >> Mhm. This deal goes through and everything is. the right way. I'll be able to say that everything. everything paid paid off in great. dividend. >> Mhm. Right? I'll be able to say a lot a. lot of things about how much I make, my.
pay, my how I made it to here. Like But. you'll also have a legacy. Yeah, but. that's what I'm saying. So, people say. that they don't care about legacy. It's. like it's really confusing to me. It's. like, bro, They don't. >> Ryan Garcia has never won a title. >> Right. But they think he can He tried to go. around and he say all this stuff he's. saying he's saying he's such a great. fighter whatever whatever, but he's. lost, um came back, lost again, whatever. whatever. He had he he got a huge. following, but it's like at the end of. the day, your hardcore following is the.
sport that you do. Boxing, so. some they're going to start realizing. like, bro, you don't even world title. Yeah, you talking, but you ain't you you. talking like you a four or five time. champ, but you're not. >> And you're not. So, therefore, now it's. time for you to go get it. Like either. you want to This whole social media. stuff, people got to remember it's fake. >> Yes. It's fake. Real life matters. Stuff. you can touch tangible. >> Yes. It matters. So, when you got the. belts, the gold medals, the.
the the accomplishments, when you don't put your hands on them. and whoop they ass, that matters. That matters, man. So, so for me, I. don't get caught up in the old legacy. and who want to I think that that's the. make make people not want to chase not. want to chase they dreams as much as. they as they should because. people can say what they want, but Floyd. Floyd Mayweather got the legacy and the. money. >> Yes. He got the both of them. But Floyd. what Floyd did the did the the Conor.
McGregor thing after he became what he. became. He wasn't doing it in the prime. of his career. I mean, but that's clear as day. This is. very clear. Yes. But these guys are. willing like, "No, you know what? I'm in. the prime of my career. Let me go fight. Jake Paul." And that and and and look, he's going to probably make more money, Claressa, in this fight than he'd make. in in his next two three fights. So, I. get it. >> I get it. But but I think the thing is. it's going to do is going to do harm to. his legacy. Well, he's fought some championships and.
stuff, but I think. it'll be 20 years from now everybody. will be saying, "Oh, he didn't fight against. Shakur, he didn't fight against Devin, he didn't fight against Teofimo.". You know, and. >> yeah. Yeah, and that will I feel like. hurt his his legacy. But hey, if he say that it don't matter to him, it don't matter. >> Yeah. He's like, "Look, man, I got I'm. going to have on I'm going to have on. them. have mink slippers. I'll be good.". It's like them girls who say like if if.
if I'm going to cry, I'll like I want to. cry in a Benz. That's what girls who say. that. Gervonta and he's going to fight Jake. You think Gervonta can beat Jake? Yeah, I think he can beat him, but I. think it's going to be a real like. circus clownish kind of fight because. not like a clown or whatever. I'm just. saying I think the fight going to be. like. nobody can really like Punch in the head. and all that stuff. >> judge it because it's like Tank is.
really short. >> Yeah. And Jake Paul got some height on. him. He's bigger. >> Yeah. Mhm. I don't know if. >> Gervonta fights at 140. 135, right? >> Okay, so now Jake Paul that 210 215. >> Yeah, it's crazy out here. It's crazy. How But I mean, the lack of. Jake Paul's skill. plus his size and with. Tank having the skill that he has and. his power, it doesn't equalize the fight, but it.
make it where it's like, "Okay, it's not. too much of an advantage for for Jake. and not too much of an advantage for. Tank." I think Tank overall is the. better fighter. >> Yeah. >> better fighter than Jake Paul, but it's. going to be a very awkward fight because. of the size of like. Like that's like. >> is a lot. >> That's like me and you getting in the. ring or something. Like I mean, I got my skills. I'll be. running circles around you, uncle. Touch you in the stomach a little bit, make you sweat. But it's going to be. like, "Hey, if Claressa catch you with. that one.
and you you you out of here." So, that's. kind of how the fight is. It's like. when when he when he get close enough to. Jake and he hit him, is it going to be. effective? And when Jake just get to. swinging and stuff back, what the hell that's going to do? >> Right. >> So, so that is a very awkward fight. Yeah. Ryan the Ryan Garcia uh Tank fight, if the rehydration clause isn't there, do you believe Ryan can beat Tank? No. No. I I don't think Ryan Garcia can beat.
Tank. whether the rehydration clause was in. there or not. You know, a lot of people believe uh. De La I had a De La Hoya said he. believed that that Ryan can beat Tank if. they didn't have a rehydration clause. >> Very interesting. I mean, he supposed to say that like. ain't he signed him? He supposed to say that. But no, Tank Listen, Tank is a bad man, man. I think the only the only person. who I think can beat Tank. in a in a fight is Shakur Stevenson. You. think Shakur can beat him? Yes. He can.
handle that power? Yes, he can. He got. to He got to get hit with that power. Yeah? It's hard to hit Shakur. Yeah, it's hard. But you do realize in order. to hit somebody, you got to subject. yourself to get hit. Ain't Did you see. Shakur last fight with um. Yeah, oh, he made the guy was swinging. he yeah. Hey, but he stood right there. in the pocket with him, traded with him. >> You want to trade with Tank? He want to. trade with Tank? If you keep your hands up in your in. your chin down and you be skillful, but. you can't just be out there just chin up. and you're not paying attention. But. Shakur is tougher than what y'all give.
him credit for. Okay. He's very tough. and I and when I say tough, I don't mean. dumb. He He's very. He's very tough. >> Yeah. And he's mean. He got dimples and. stuff, but. Shakur is smile at you, you feel like, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, okay." No, Shakur is. like that. Floyd going to fight Mike Tyson. Yeah, I seen that. That's That's even. more weight disparity. I don't know what's going on with Mike.
>> Mike has got to be 230. I don't know how this stuff be. happening. You know what I mean? But the. money. If it dollars it make If it make dollars. it makes sense. Yeah, so what you asking me? You like that. I'm like, "Damn, there ain't no women. out there that I can fight and get me. quick 10 15 mil?" I mean, listen, I'm going to get to the money, but I. don't think I'm ever going. >> You was leaving yet. I'm talking some.
easy money. It been easy this far. But I'm trying to figure out like women. don't don't don't do that. >> Right. >> You know what I'm saying? Even if you. offer them a lot of money. Like they're. like, "I'm not about to Like like people. have to realize that some women have. never ever been into a fight.". >> Yeah, true. >> Like you may see these girls fighting on. TV or on these shows, but it's women who. watch them and be like, "I would die. before I let somebody Like Like it got. girls who will run to the fight them. Like Like they'll run to their car and.
lock the door. Yeah. So, fighting is not something that. psychologically everybody can do. >> You right. >> And everybody can't deal with a ass. whooping, either. >> No. So, that's what I'm saying like. it's different for women. Like a man can. can can deal with a ass whooping better. than a woman. >> They bring they they bring that piece. with them. Okay, well. Ain't nobody. taking a ass cut no more uh uh Yeah. Claressa the guys. because of the internet. Yeah. The. internet makes it forever. See, it used. to be a time you could take a ass cut. and people tell you about it, but now.
you got to show it and I'm going to be a. mean? Oh, yeah. You got somebody got their arm. all stiff and they shaking up. No. Yeah. No, I. But that's what I'm saying for me. in up in boxing or whatever, a. exhibition fight not not going to. happen. And you know what? Now that we. talking about Mike Tyson versus uh. Floyd. Floyd, we talking about how when. Jake Paul fought against Mike Tyson, right? And it was like the age disparity. like the age difference. I believe Jake. Paul is younger than me. Yeah, he is.
>> I'm 30, what is he? 27? >> 27. Yeah, somewhere. somewhere in there. So, >> is almost 50. Or he's I mean, almost 60. I think he's almost 60. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so with that gay with that age. gap, when I when I hear them talk about. me versus. um Laila, I'd be like, "Hell, we closer. in age than than than they was.". >> Yes. True. You know, but um. I don't think that a exhibition fight or. something like that is ever going to. happen. >> Can't happen for women. And then especially not for me. Right.
>> Maybe some other women can do it. >> Right. You know, who's not as. threatening as me, but I don't think. it's going to happen, but I'm still. going to make a lot of money regardless. of that. Yeah. You were at the Bud. fight, so you got an opportunity to see. Bud up close against Canelo. >> Mhm. He put on a clinic. Great. He was. great. He was all the way in or he was. all the way out. He wasn't in between. He Hey, he was Hey, >> Twin. he was he was. he was Yeah. He was Bud. Bud, but see, Bud has a. different mindset. Bud mean for real. Yeah. Bud has to.
for real. Bud fight See, Bud grew up in. Omaha and people look at Omaha and No, but Bud was fighting for real. And and. when I sat down with him in February and. he was talking about it, you know, you. get a sense, you know, you're sitting. across from somebody and I was like, man, he's like, Shannon, he's not that big. He's wide, but he's not that big. He's. not He's not overpower He ain't like. you. Yeah, Bud can size people up soon. as you see him. He absolutely did. Yeah. I do the same thing. I'll be like, okay, see. Yeah, you got Guess your weight and.
everything. Boxers are good at that. >> Yeah. And so when he went out there and he's. like, hey, people asking me, can I take a punch? Can he take a punch? Can has he ever. been in someone been in the ring with. someone as skilled as I am that can put. punches together? Hey, I'm here here and. now I'm I'm gone. Yeah. And he did He. was in there with Floyd, but Floyd was. was older. than than than Bud. They might have been the same age with. No, I don't think I think Floyd was a.
little younger than what Bud is now. But. Bud made it look just like Floyd. He. made it look easy. I'm not saying it was. easy, but the way he Canelo Canelo 168, nobody's ever unified that division. He. got that unified. He got it on lock. Mhm. And what Bud was able to do, as you. said, going up three weight classes, I. think he proved he's the best in his. generation and it ain't close. Yeah. Well, for me the last couple of years, Bud has always been my pound-for-pound. number one. For last couple of years, you know, it's. always been like they say Usyk and.
Loma and Canelo whatever, I've always. said that it was Bud. that it was Bud. since since a since a couple years ago. Like when he beat Errol Spence and Errol. Spence is a dear brother and and I love. Errol Spence. I went to the Olympics. with him. Yeah. When I seen what he did. to Errol, I was like, woah. I saw it, too. I couldn't I. couldn't believe it. >> Yeah. He It wasn't That wasn't even. close. Nah. Is he But that's the thing. That's when I was like, oh shoot. So now.
when I watch Bud fight him, I watch a. whole a lot of different stuff and he's. really a mental technician. He learns. I don't even want to tell you the secret. cuz cuz I know it. Yeah. I think it's. the same thing with me, though. It's the. same thing where I go in there and I see. this and see that and you let folks get. comfortable and then you just have your. way with them. I I I don't know if Canelo was just. feeling this type of way cuz he had. lost, but he said Bud the way Bud did. him was worse than what Floyd did and he. believed Bud is a better fighter than.
Floyd. Um. I like when Terence got asked this, he. said Floyd was the best in his. generation, I'm the best in this in in. this generation. I love that he said. that because they both is great. fighters. You can't take nothing away. from from neither one of them. >> Very different. And. Canelo got his ass whooped by both of. them. He did. He did. Now Now, if you ask me. who did it worse, I think that Terence. put more power on him than what um Floyd.
did. But Floyd boxed the. He boxed the hell out of him. He boxed. the hell out of him. He couldn't He. couldn't catch him. He couldn't land and. it was it was a blowout. But it was more. of a fight with Terence Crawford. He. tried to stand there and try to punch. Crawford. He hit him with some good. shots, but Crawford was just That's what. I That's what I was impressed with. And. I think when he hit Bud. and Bud's like, I've been hit harder. Yeah. Mhm. It's like a light went off in Bud's. head. Bud's like, hey, bro, I I ain't.
going nowhere. Yeah. He stayed right. there in his face. He's I'm not going. anywhere. And then that was later in the. round when he was right there in the. pocket and he was like he was trading. with him. Mhm. I was like, Bud, what are. you You We got this. Just Hey, don't You. ain't got to do this. Everybody said. that to me in them fights. Oh, we got. this. No, we don't. You don't know what. them judges thinking. We got to go to We. got to go 10 12 No, no, no. I'm about to. whoop as much ass as I can so when that. bell ringing and and everything is over, listen, I know I left it all in there. and I and I pieced you up good. That's.
what you want. That wasn't a 115 120. pound fight. No, I thought Bud won eight rounds to. four. Yes. I was going to say. That's I'm being generous. I'll say nine. three. Okay, you want to say eight four? THERE AIN'T NO WAY THAT'S A THREE THAT'S. a three-point fight. No, it wasn't. But. when you got two competitors, it was. like it wasn't just like. I think toward the end you just seen Bud. just taking off. Right. Like he he's he. he stole the fight in the end and then. you can see Canelo just get.
um get defeated. When he tried to touch. Bud's glove before the corner, I said, oh shoot. >> Yeah. Now oh oh now he's showing respect. to the smaller man. >> Uh-huh. And I was But I was really proud. of Bud. I ended up flying down to Omaha, Nebraska for his uh. for his parade. >> Yeah. and man, the amount of people that. came out for him, man, it was It was It. was great to see it because. they were He's been calling out the best. and the biggest names for I don't know. how long and they kept overlooking him, kept overlooking him. They weren't. overlooking him. They didn't want them. problems. Well,
the media was painting out to be like he. wasn't a challenge. He was too small. He. won this. He won that. And he just kept. He kept doing what he's supposed to do. He made the right fights. He stayed. patient and I and I don't know I love. that. It's plenty of times where he. could have gave up and said, you know. what? Later for this. Mhm. I'm too small. to be an undisputed champion. These. dudes ain't even undisputed, man. He. could have just went on by his career. and. Now he a three division Three time three. weight division That's 40 47 and 68. when Canelo is the only guy that has.
ever unified the 68. Mhm. That's. That's crazy. >> I told him I told him it was crazy, but. one thing you got to know like in in a. mental in a mental warfare, you got to feed them stuff and see and. see what they grab. I think I saw. interview he was up in um. He was in Saudi, right? He was in He was. in Riyadh and they interviewed him and. they was like, how much you weigh right. now? He like, 155. I know damn well Bud. wasn't 155. So I text him when I seen the interview, I copied and pasted I said, this was a.
good lie right here. But you But you. feed them that. >> Yeah. But I knew Bud was bigger than. that. Yes. You know what I'm saying? I. knew that he had to cut a few pounds. himself. >> Yeah. Right? So it was like he. He did same thing I did when I went to. heavyweight. I had built all the muscle. up and and got everything proportioned, right? And worked with it and and and. carried it and then I and then I cut. down. It's a lot. >> did the same thing. It's a lot easier. going from 185 188 to 168 as opposed to. 185 188 to 147. 100%.
100%. 100 and. and I don't think he ever want to go. back down. No, he not. No, there ain't. ain't Who Who can he fight at that? I. mean, I seen Maybe Charlo at 60? I seen. Jermell Charlo say he want to fight. >> But he didn't want to fight him before. Now he didn't ticket I let me let me let. let me come eat lunch at your table. Now. Bud said nope. Uh I mean, I'm a boxing fan. I I like to see the. fight. I think that Terence would win, but I like to see the fight. Uh Bud said. no. No, but I told people I don't know. if you saw the interview that I did with. Bud and we was in the ring and we was.
wrestling. And they said, man, I said, Bud's stronger than you think. I said, yeah, he's Yeah, he's strong. He very. strong. He's strong. >> Yeah, yeah. He deadlifted like 400. pounds just come out come out straight. straight at the gym. Yeah. That's That's. like that's crazy strength. I said, no, no, no, no, he's strong. I said I said. Canelo not going to be able to push him. around now. Mhm. He's not. I said, you. look I said, I understand. He's fought. the majority of his career at 40 47. Mhm. And I get it. And he's going up the. three weight classes. They There's a. reason why we have. >> weight classes was crazy. I'm not going.
to lie. That was That was wild to me. Yes. I mean, the goal the goal I mean, he And he had just one fight at 54. And. he didn't look that good at 54. He won, but he didn't look that good at 54. And. to jump 60 and go straight to 68. >> Yeah. against that guy? I think Madrimov. was. a very awkward fighter. >> Yes. A very awkward fighter and that's. he made the fight awkward, but Terence. still came out on top. I think he won. easily, but it was just when you say he. didn't look good like he didn't he. wasn't in shape. >> look like Bud. He didn't look like Bud. Yeah. Yeah, like he didn't Cuz remember.
we had just saw him against Errol. Spence. Yeah. So So So we saw one of his. most impressive performance and then we. followed it up with that. And then And. that's where everybody's like, oh no, you know, he's never been hit by 168. This guy's fought Triple G and he's. fought this. >> believe in that. >> And Caleb. Yeah. But Bud is a different animal. No, he. is. He Bud is. uh Sports Woman of the Year. Mhm. Were. you upset? People say you were upset. that Angel won. No.
I hate people like when they when when. they spin narratives. That like that. really gets on my nerves. I think that. with me. they want to spin everything and make it. into something negative. It was my first. time being nominated for the Sports. Woman of the Year award with BET. Yeah. And I just thought that I won it. >> Yeah. That was it. When I looked at who. I was who I was who I was up against, I'm like, oh man, the only one that had Olympic gold. medals who was up there was Simone. Biles. So I'm like, oh man, either she. going to get it or I'm going to get it. >> Right. So it wasn't a thing a knock to. none of those other girls, you know what. I'm saying? >> Yeah. Um.
Had any of them won from Flo-Jo to um. Simone, I think it was Coco Gauff. There. was a couple other girls that was. nominated. I just was like, the Olympics is way is. is harder than anything. So when I seen. that she won, I was. I think when I when I made my tweet, it. was more of like I thought I thought. accolades would matter in this, but once. again, that was my first time going to. the BET Awards and. being there and being invited. So I. thought like, okay, they seen my hard. work. They seen what's going on. I'm. finna get this award. But it's not a.
knock to Angel Reese. Like I love Angel. Reese. I like what she doing. Um I. posted her on my page before. Um she. She is killing it. She walked in the. Victoria's Secret. >> I seen her. Um I mean, you That's what. you said. You said, you know, you got to. like that. You got a small. WAIST. >> I GOT A BODY, you know what I'm saying? But. >> Okay, so what you trying to do? >> The way that she walked in them heels, you know what I'm saying? I'm going to. have to get I'm going to get some. practice in. I got some practice. But sometimes when. your butt too big and it get to doing.
what it's doing, it may. >> Yeah, I don't I I don't know if you. could like you you could throw it like. that cuz you might go up there. >> way bigger than any girl. That's what. I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So I. I would have to try to get my I think. she said uh. walk so stink make a whole mad or. something SHE SAID. >> YEAH. I SAID THIS GIRL CRAZY. >> YEAH. But Because them them actual. Victoria's Secret models they like like. the poles right here. >> They skinny. Yeah. Yeah, you're very. very petite. But I mean um I'm sure I. could do something like that but the. first thing I want I want to do first is.
I want to do the Sports Illustrated. Swimwear. >> You want to do the swimsuit? I want to. do that. Mhm. I want I want to do that. first and then work my way into. everything. No, we going to get that out. there. We put it out there. Yeah. 2026. >> Yeah. Sports Illustrated. >> Mhm. Claressa Shields said she wants to. uh she wants to do it. Make me the. cover, baby. God damn. You be chilling on social media. You. hate when women say things because you. know you they tag you in it so obviously. you going to see it. Yeah. What happened? What?
But Claressa you at this point in time. now you've been in the game long enough. to like know they just trolling they. rage baiting you. Um I think. I think. a lot of folks on social media is. jealous and envious and just and just. mad. But once again I be practicing my. trash talk with them. So when I be responding to them. sometimes I be like let me see what this. makes somebody say. Let me see what So I. might go back and forth with them but. trust me that's that's after practice. Right. after I've ate when I'm just in.
my bed laying down and a lot of times I. be I be I be right there with Pap and we. just be laughing. I be like I be like. look at this. And he like what you say. back? And I'm like look and then we just. be crying laughing like it's it's. ridiculous how much we laugh about this. stuff. But um. that's about it but I'm but I'm getting. better at you know ignoring it. ignoring. it because it's like I got better things. to do but sometimes be like oh. no she didn't come with that. Is it. worse with women on social media than it. is with men? The men love me on social.
media. Whether that's because of boxing, because of how I look, my shape um my. confidence men love that. >> Right. I don't know what they got into. these women. but they are the problem. They're the Listen, they are a complete. problem. I be like yo. I thought we were in this whole Me Too. and women stick together and. >> yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. you. know uplifted Yeah, and it was like I. don't know once you get once you get to. a certain level of success.
all that change. Like I understand why. Beyoncé don't be she don't be close to. nobody. >> Beyoncé ain't with nobody. Beyoncé. Listen, you won't get a peep about her. Listen, when I get to that level they. going to wish I was talking to they ass. Yeah, yeah, Beyoncé you either see her. with Hov. or you don't see baby. You see on the. you see on on stage. Mhm. But she don't. you know I I mean she got all these. followers. I don't think Beyoncé the. only thing she might post. >> she follow one person. Hov. Man like but she it's just like. she's so. >> She ain't with that girl. so great like.
she can dance, she can sing, she can. rap. >> at She up there. Yes. She just be like. mhm. So. I'll be there one day. I'm working on. it. >> wonder how she she can't be on I don't. even think you know what she might have. somebody she don't even got social media. on her phone. And uh her team don't even. bring it to her. Sometime I delete it I. I delete it off my phone. I get rid of it especially when I'm when. I'm in camp. >> Yeah. You know because they just make up. stuff and they make you go viral for. stuff that don't got nothing to do with.
nothing. Like I went viral one time for eating a. tomato and asking them is a tomato a. fruit or a fruit or or vegetable. And I'm sitting there biting and. enjoying my food and then all of a. sudden I get online it's on all these. different blog sites of me chewing and. eating a god damn tomato. And it and it. just was like I I don't want to go viral. for this. I know. I think it's I think. they call it a fruit though. A a tomato? >> Yeah. I believe it is a fruit but people. we we we consider it a vegetable. >> So cuz it's not that We do. You not.
going to bite through it Nah, nah. like. an apple. But um no I think that. I think that just with social media like. I said it it takes some time to get used. to it but you do need to detox from it. and and and I detox a lot more now than. what I used to. But the negative comments they say about. your hair and they say this about your. >> all that's just haters. You know they just haters. >> mean? I mean They they they all going. >> go to the ring they expect you to go to. a fight with a face full of makeup with. lashes hair done like it is now. Is that. really how you stupid.
Is that really how they expect you to. come to the ring? >> Come over right here. Stupid. That's. you. That's dumb. I'm going to go to the ring with my. Queen Latifas my braids with the blue. hair for Flint water crisis have my hair. wrapped on up. be and no no no edge control no edges. going to have edge control dripping in. your eye. Yeah. If You you you you going. to be taking a knee. >> a knee like Beyoncé. Nah, he said it was what it was. >> That's what he said. How you going to. say he said it was. I'm just saying I don't want that. >> Yeah, yeah. Cuz I'm I'm not going to get.
away with that. They going to they going. to take a point from me. Tank, you know. he he's on the road with Floyd so he can. get away with that. >> Yeah. I'm not getting away with that. So. therefore when I get in the ring I'm I. walk I arrive at the fight with my dress. and my heels and my little cute stuff. but soon as we get in the locker room. I grab my makeup wipe and I wipe it all. off. Right. eyebrows lashes edges I I. wipe it all off. Take the wig off and. everything. It's time to fight. >> Yes. I'm not ever going to let uh an.
enhancement stop me from performing my. job. >> Right. My job is to whoop ass. But see they. forget that. See they see you like this. and they don't think you can fight. though. I don't know why you think that. cuz I take my shirt off, baby. I'll. scare everybody in here. Hold on. I take my shirt off. Let me let me show you something. I take my shirt off in here. and show you what my. what my hey. You. watch it now. They don't they don't want. no problem. Nah, I You know you you know.
how you look at somebody and you see. like oh I think I can take them. Yeah. But you know I I don't think these. Listen, if they think that go do your. god damn homework. You better look up Claressa Shields and. the first video that pop up is me is me. dropping a girl putting the girl on her. back. You need to look look me up for. you think that, please. I would I would hate to get try try to. try at the club with a with a dress on. >> No, you ain't you can't do that. Yeah. are deadly weapons. You can't fight in. the street. Who told you that? God, you can't you.
going to GO TO JAIL. LISTEN, I HAVE the right to defend. myself. So nobody come mess with me I. won't mess with nobody but can't nobody. just walk up and just slap me and then. and then I won't No, but your hands are. deadly weapons. You are professional. fighter. Yes and I can defend myself, Shannon. Ain't nobody going to just walk. up on you and You never know. We in a. weird world today. They weird out here. They And then you. said when they see me all dressed up. that I can't fight so they see me like. oh she can't fight. She blocked me. online. I'm going to walk up and.
hit her. No, you not. >> And then you ain't going to be able to. rumble in no heels. Who? I can fight in whatever shoes I got. heels, boots. Oh Lord, you so crazy. Is she crazy? Listen. Don't ever try me. I'm looking. at the camera again. >> No. Don't ever. >> No, hey. Don't Don't ever I I don't even. want to do it. >> No, we're not going to engage in that. cuz we don't want people we don't want. people we don't want people to try to. walk up on you. Oh, they not. Good. They. Let Let Listen. I got a face that Look, it say come and be friends with me. Come. be nice. Come be friendly. Now if you.
decide to be something else that's on. you but I am a um. I don't need I am a disguised killer. You said you wanted to have a child by. the end of next year. Is that still. true? Yes. Mhm. Damn. But you about to have to get this fight. out the way. I'mma have a few fights. before this before that. Mhm. You do know how like I mean fights I.
mean like every four five months, right? Well, it could be three. It could be. four depending on what you need. Mhm. So you trying to have you trying to have. at least two fights before you welcome a. child. Before I start the process of a child. All right, I'm pretty sure you. practicing now. You just you know. practicing Yeah. Mhm. Nah, I ain't I ain't trying to have no. have no hiccups. Nah, I ain't trying to I'm trying to. make sure we do this stuff in order.
Yeah. So yeah, I want to get this fight. these fights out the way. And like I said it's a really a big. thing to me to make sure all the fight. is out of me. >> Right. Um cuz once I. get pregnant and have a baby and all. this stuff when I when I come back I'mma. fight some more. Right. Yeah. But it's. like. it's some girls who who who need to get. got like yesterday. Right. So you want. to make sure you want to make sure you. at your apex to get them go ahead and. get them out the way. Yeah, yeah, get. them out the way and then when I come. back I'll you know if I need a year or I. needed two I can get myself back in.
shape fight some more and you know. So you look at Rihanna. Beyoncé, Serena Who What's her first. name? Ri- uh Rihanna. >> Oh, Rihanna. Yeah, yeah, I love her. Beyoncé Mhm. had had had uh. Blue Ivy and she had the twins Serena, Olympia uh and win and win a and win a. championship. I mean she was pregnant at. the time. I think she went to Australia. Open and she was pregnant at the time. Oh Jesus. And come back. Is that some of. your inspirations like okay I see women. that that have had had ch- kids and come.
back and continue their careers. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Like I feel like. when I when I'm. carrying I'm going to be in the gym. working out still because I don't want. to lose everything that I got. >> Right. Like your complete body change. but I don't want to gain too much. weight. >> Right. Um. I don't want to not use certain muscles. for a long time. >> Mhm. I've been building it since I was. 11 years old. >> Right. So they can't rest a whole year. >> Right. Like I need to make sure that I. still keep my hands sharp, um stay in to. stay in shape. So I believe that once.
you do that. you can come back and I heard that it's. easier to come back if you work out. while you're pregnant. >> Oh yeah, for sure. So. You walk into the. ring with Kash Doll. What. she's a Michigan she's from Detroit, you. from Flint. What's your relationship. with Kash? I love Kash Doll. Like she's a boss. she's a boss You know she she. like nice stuff and classy stuff. Like I. like Kash Doll and you know she's about. Kash Doll she'll whoop your ass too. Like Kash Kash Doll is about.
I like her listen. when I reached out to her and was like. yo you know. walk me out you know can you walk walk. me out to my fight and she was like girl. we going we going to tear them up blah. blah blah. it wasn't even like it wasn't even hard. to make happen or nothing. You know what. I'm saying? Like she just like she came. >> with it. And when we both walk up there. and she start rapping I'm talking about. they went crazy. It was about 11,000. 12,000 fans. I just remember it being. like. it it was my biggest fight at the time. I'm like oh my god all these people out. here. It was just it was just great that.
that she came. Um. we did our big one together and I I. can't thank Kash Doll enough. Right. Yeah. She's now in a very public relationship. as you are. with Zardarius. you with your guy Pap. Um. when you decided to get into this. relationship with Pap. was it was it your intention for it to. become public or were you trying to like. keep it a secret as long as you possibly. could? Um because you know if you date publicly.
Clarissa you know you got to break up. publicly. You know how that go. >> Yeah ain't that sad huh? Yeah it is. So. Honestly with my thought process I had. just been engaged. prior to being with Pap. >> Okay. So. at the time you know me and him had. broke up and got back together a couple. times the guy I was engaged with. So now. we finally called it quits. When I got. with Pap um you know another celebrity. it was already big enough being just. with a guy who wasn't a celebrity. >> Right. And everybody being in my. business. >> Yeah. Now.
I'm with another celebrity and like you. said I wanted I didn't know how it would. work out because one I was against. dating celebrities rappers NFL players. NBA I heard that. that they dogs. And I'll whoop a dog's ass. >> No Lord have mercy. They you want to. fight. >> stuff. I don't PLAY THIS STUFF. LISTEN I DON'T EVERYBODY ain't meant to. be fought. I don't play this stuff. Just. move on. You ain't got to fight the. whole world. >> No no no listen. Why I'm going to let a. let a grown man play with me for? Ha.
Clarissa Lord have mercy. Now I'm saying. like when a women get emotional that's. when they start doing all this crazy. stuff. So you hurt my feelings. >> Yes. and you and you hurt my pride oh. you got you you going to have a problem. >> You told me that you broken up with. every guy that you've been in a. relationship with. Yes so I just leave. them. Okay. I but I'm saying But they. did something to make you leave. >> want to get played publicly though like. come on now. Yeah. Come on like that's. why I'm like celebrity man I was it was. awesome in Miss Pap especially. Pap is special like that's a different.
type of man right there. >> You sliding that man DM didn't you? Man. come on I HATE I HATE GILLIAN WILD OVER. THERE. Gillian Wild is full of crap. I invited. Pap to a fight. Mhm. I saw him at the. court fight. >> Yeah. when he fought against. I forget the guy name it was in like. six. But I saw him there we took a. picture. I didn't really know much about. him. You know what I'm saying? I knew of. his name but I didn't like. that's like before my time a little bit. You know what I'm saying? Like I don't. really know like that he was a rap. legend I knew he could rap but I didn't.
know he was like rap legend. I didn't I. didn't know. No so How you find him on how you find. him on IG? You ain't know nothing. No. when we was at the fight he walked to me. and said hey I'm Papoose and he shook my. hand. >> Yeah. And then we and then we got a. picture. >> Clarissa how you doing? >> he said he said he was a fan of me. already now I said okay thank you I. appreciate that. >> I appreciate No I didn't. I didn't say that. But no when I invited. him to my fight What you invite him to. your fight for? To come see me fight. You need you need.
celebrities in the building. I I I would. invite you. You you ain't invite me. Well you don't even know DM so I'm. sorry. I'm not going with that. I got a. DM I got a DM from I think 2018 2019. You didn't even respond. I just saw it. like the other day. I know but I'm. saying like had you responded I would. have said hey man I'm fighting XYZ if. you want to come to my fight you should. come you should bring at that time you. you you was Skip. I would say bring you. and Skip home yeah. You could have came. on Undisputed and helped and found the. fight. Yeah but you won't open your DM.
Oh man. See that? But you know what. God's time is the best time. >> Yeah. No so look. when I first of all I didn't slide in. Pap DM he full of crap. Oh he he made a. Pap say He said it well. boom I saw him at the fight we shook. hands and blah we watched a court fight. whatever whatever. I did my media after. the fight. He waited on the side with. him and his cousins and then after he. asked me for a picture. We got a. picture. >> Okay. We got one up in his phone we got. one up in my phone. >> Okay. I sent him the picture that was in.
my phone because I was. >> send him the picture? To the to the DM. Oh you sent the. picture to the DM I thought you sent it. to his phone. Uh-uh I ain't have his. number. Oh okay. >> No I sent it to the DM. Okay. And when I. sent it I said hey and by the way I'm. fighting in two weeks. >> Yeah. So if you want to come to my fight it's. in Detroit blah blah blah. you should come out. And I said just. just let me know if you want to come. I. gave him my publicist number and said. hey. reach out to my publicist and she'll. make sure that you got your Get. everything taken care of. >> Yeah yeah you know that's good. From.
there. um. he we end up exchanging numbers between. each other. Right just on like a I put. him in a group text hey Clarissa this is. Pap blah blah blah. He coming to the fight and she said okay. I got it cuz I ain't like dealing with. no tickets and all like that for the. fight. >> should you. Right so boom from there as. I'm getting ready for the gym and I'm. working out cuz it's two weeks before my. fight. >> Yeah. I get a text in the morning say hey good. morning champ and I'm like. huh? I'm like hey what's up? He like what we.
eating this morning? I'm like hell I'm. eating egg whites and spinach what you. eating? He eating a blueberry muffin. I. said yeah we definitely not eating the. same. Like don't even text me and tell me you. eating a blueberry muffin. I ain't had. no bread in months. And so he like oh you working out today. woo woo. So we would text you know just. a little bit then I probably went three. four days without without texting him. and then he text me again hey. uh champ blah blah and we and we. me and Pap was really just friends at.
the beginning like true friends. I. didn't even didn't even invite him to. the after party after the fight cuz I. wasn't you know we was cool. >> like that though. I won't say that I. said I wasn't feeling him it was more. like I it was like a. >> just a friend okay baby. >> No it was like a it was like a crush but. I didn't know. if I liked him because it was like I'm. so focused on my fight so focused on. what I got to do. But then after the fight. >> Yeah. you know more texts and all this stuff. We probably text about a month and a.
half before we ever even talked on the. phone. He came to the fight in the back wish me. good luck. Everybody was surprised at. the fight blah blah blah. Like he. it was. that's the best relationships when. somebody is just your friend. just your friend and he is a. >> So when did you come to the realization. say hey that man like me? He asked me on a date. He asked me when. I was coming to New York. >> All them texts you didn't get nothing. from all the man that text you for a. month and a half. I mean he did he. called me cute one time or me a couple. times and you know he would compliment.
me he liked my pictures on Instagram but. I just was like. >> Oh he liking your pictures on Instagram. but you ain't thinking nothing. I mean. it's not a lot of it's not a lot of guys. that like your pictures on Instagram you. ain't texting them what you eating champ. what you eating? It's not a it's not a. lot of men who I feel like don't like me. if I'm being honest. >> Okay yeah but you but you ain't texting. them. Yeah I don't talk to people like that. >> Mhm. but you talking to him like that. We was. I'm telling you we just we just friends. but I knew that it was something. I knew I knew it was something. You know.
maybe I thought he was cute or maybe I. know it I'm just trying to get you to. say it. It's never just there's always a. reason. You don't get in your car just. to sit. You got to stop. You don't just sit you. go to Whole Foods you go to shopping you. go to I invited him to the fight and. after that we were texting and texting. and texting and it was really great. conversation. Mhm. I shared some of my. raps he shared his raps which I didn't. even know not I I didn't know any of. them. And when I heard him rap I said. this is my new favorite rapper because. my favorite rapper before him was Meek. Mill. Okay. So when I heard Pap rap I.
said oh. this dude is this dude cold. So I start. following his music. uh and we just was going back and forth. but like. I don't know if it's like. maybe I'm I'm not really I'm maybe I. wasn't good at flirting at the at at. that time cuz I cuz I wasn't trying to. flirt. I knew at the time I was leaving. my last relationship I knew I was done. with that. >> Yeah. And I and I told him we could be. best friends I said. >> some time you like you I don't want to. jump right back into something cuz Yeah. but I ended up jumping right back into. something. Oh you did huh? Yeah so it.
don't matter. Damn that was quick. Yeah. about a month. For somebody I didn't. know somebody I know I didn't like. I. didn't say I didn't like him. I didn't say that. I said that when I. invited him to my fight I didn't know. like it would be what it is now. >> No well I mean so what you hope to what. did you hope to have come of this with. all the texting you two were doing? What. texting you was doing? Yeah. Um. Pen pal? It wasn't like he was in jail. he needed somebody to do No I mean.
well one for me a lot of people always. like me is me not liking them. So it was more of a thing like you you. ever seen a girl who just fine as ever. she she bad and then as soon as she talk. you be like oh no that ain't that that. that's that that's not the one for me. Okay. So for so for me I'm always guys. always trying to talk to me trying to. trying to talk you know trying to holler. at me. So it's more of once we started. being friends But, you so picky. You. don't want nobody famous. You don't like. no athletes. You don't like nobody in. the public. So, damn. Yeah.
Yeah. But, it's nothing wrong with being. picky, though. No, it's nothing wrong. with being picky. >> But, I know that for me that if I do. text you and I do entertain you, it's. something. Right. >> If I do feel something because a lot of. times I don't really be feeling nothing. >> Right. You know, so I felt something. with Pap. and I mean, it was. it was quick. Like, once we went out on. a date um Where you go Cheesecake. Factory? No, we went to I think a place called. Cornbread up in New York. What's the. name of it? >> Cornbread. I ain't never heard of it. I.
ain't know. Cornbread. Nice. Yeah, well. >> Soul food? Soul food. I love soul food. >> You What What you get? Smothered pork. chop? No, you don't eat pork. You don't. EAT NO PORK? NO, YOU eat pork still? We. in 2025. Everything except the squeal. No. No, I don't I don't mess with that. That's why you built like that. That. That That That That That That. No, I had I had made some fried chicken, yams, mac and cheese, and greens. Was it. good? It was great. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, and yams.
Yams and greens. Collard greens? It was. great. They have no They have no. hamhocks in the collard greens? No. turkey necks? No. >> I don't eat no stuff with no pork in it. You got to stop. Man. You got to stop. Do not eat pork. Man, you ain't never. had a. small pot of collard greens with a bunch. of with a bunch of pigtails in it? Pigtails. >> to have it for the flavor. >> Pigtails, pig feet, I don't have it all. I'm not eating it while I'm working. You. ain't eating it no more? Chitlins, I'm. not eating it no more. Oh. It's over. with. It's been over with for years. >> Well, I'm eat your share of pigtails. It's over. I don't mess with no.
chitlins. Yeah, so just to get the story. right me and Pap was friends. We love. each other. We and we growing up some. more. You need to stop. No, we was and now he. >> I believe you. He's my best friend now. and and he's my man and we have a great. time together. >> You have a great time together. He was. He just He just left this morning. Damn, I thought he was going to talk. Mhm, he he be out and moving around. Pap. got stuff to do. He a celebrity, too. That's what I'm saying. But, for me That. works for you, though. Yeah. >> Cuz you can't have a man up under you. all the time.
Um Nah, I can't have a man up under me. all the time, no. But, I know it's 24. hours in a day. Yeah. So, I can get my. work out the way and do what I got to do. and then we can be together. So. Yeah. Well, I I I guess that's. what's going to have to be cuz you have. kids, y'all going to be together. So, so. I'm just saying like. you go work out. he go work out. Come out Y'all do you. different type of workout. You come. home, he there, you know, he have you a. smoothie, have you your your juice ready.
to go. Food ready. I got to I got I got. to cook for that. You got to chef? Yeah. Damn. Oh, big baller. Somebody got to do it. Yeah, somebody. got to do it. I might have to start. fighting. I saw you on stage with Summer Walker. rapping How What was that like? Yeah, okay. So, they reached out to me and. said that, you know I sang her song on a. 20 versus one. >> Mhm. When I was up there with a bunch of. guys and they were all I had to pick who. I wanted to be with, whatever the case.
may be. And they a guy asked me could I. sing and I said yes and he told me to. sing and I sang it. So, from there it. went viral of me singing and now at now. at her concert she had people sing Mhm. that same song. So, she was like she. wanted the originator to come and sing. So, I was in Atlanta, I came. They and. they had tickets for me and when it was. her segment she brought the mic up to me. with Funny Marco right there. He said he. was going to share a mic. I said you was. not finna mess up my singing. Funny Marco told me something like, "Oh, I'mma sing something and you sing.
something." I said, "What? That ain't. what was told to me." No. I grabbed that. mic and sang my little song. He was. right there rocking back and forth. acting like he was going to sing. But, it was a great it was great to have that. and I'm really shy to sing in front of. people. That's what I was about to ask. you, I mean I mean, singing in your home. or in your shower or in your kitchen is. different than singing in front of 10, 15, 20,000 people. >> It was about 30,000 folks there. What? Mhm. Because it was really the I believe. Chris Brown Okay, yeah. was performing.
>> Okay. He was the He was the head. She. was just kind of under him. So, yeah. Mhm. It was very nerve-wracking, but I. hadn't practiced until I had got there. I had my tea and my honey. So, I said, "Yeah, I'm about to go out. here and I'm about to kill this." And I. And I did my thing. It's fun. Getting ready for a fight, what type of. music are you listening to? Are you. listening to something to get you crunk? Roy Jones can't be stopped. You look I. mean, you look. >> the fight? Yeah, day of the fight. You. in the You in the You in the dressing. room. It really depends on what my mood is.
because if I'm very hyped I'mma listen. to something to calm me down. So, I'll. go gospel, R&B. If I'm not hyped enough, I'll go trap rap. >> Mhm. Um if I just want to. feel that beast, you know, we going to. listen to some DMX. Mhm. >> You know what I'm saying? We going to We. going to vibe out to some DMX some. Biggie, some Tupac. um love Meek Mill's. you know, and then when I'm really. feeling like it's it's it's about that. time and I want and it's time to be to. be a boss I'mma put on my Cash. Doll, put on my Megan Thee Stallion, put.
on my Cardi. uh put on my Nicki, too. You know what. I'm saying? I know they got a little. beef, but they they all got good music. >> Yeah. Um and I just I I I'll be having. to feel what I need to feel, you know. what I'm saying? So, sometimes it really. depends on how I feel and when it's time. for everybody to get out. sometime I just want to hear my. thoughts, you know what I'm saying? So, I only listen to music like two or like. the last five, three minutes before we. walk out, I cut the music off and just. kind of You zone out. gather myself. If you could have anybody walk you to. the ring, who would you have? Beyoncé.
I knew you was going to say B. Hey, listen. I don't know. Beyoncé walk. me out to the fight, my life is. complete. I always say that Beyoncé like. that would be like the. the dream the dream. And you know what? She can pick the song, but if she want. to come out to to to to Diva. um Who Run the World Girls. um she want to come out to This Ain't. Texas or whatever. Whatever she want to. come out to. You going to come out to. country? It's Beyoncé. You don't tell Beyoncé no. to nothing. It don't even matter. She. want to come out to Bills, I don't care.
Long as Beyoncé come, I'm going to be. like, "Yes, yes, yes." Have you had any. injuries? Have you sustained any. injuries uh. preparing for a fight? You know, shoulder, elbow? Yeah. Yeah. I I'm so cuz it's like you you you when. you training, when you're prepping, you. know, lost days of training sets you. back. So, one day of missed training is. like three, four days. Mhm. Um the injuries that I've sustained, I. have still fought with them. >> Mhm. And after the fight, I take care of the.
injuries. You know what I'm saying? I do. what I have to do to get through the. fight. >> Right. As most fighters do. >> Right. And um after that I have to do it. and then I see how serious it is. Like, I don't really know how serious a injury. is leading up to a fight cuz I I kind of. ignore it unless it's just like really. crazy. >> Right. But, I did have one really crazy. uh two two two fights ago, a frozen. shoulder. Mhm. So, my arm couldn't It. was just froze here. I couldn't lift it. up. I couldn't do nothing with it. It. just was frozen here. And I had to go.
and um. get one of those shots to take the. inflammation down. I had to ice it. Yeah, it was it was a lot that had to. get done for this fight to go through. It happened a week the week before the. fight. Damn. And that was with Danielle. Perkins. Mhm. So, with that like I said, you making. over a million dollars. You know, you. got to show out. >> You got to show out being you. I'm sorry, but in women's boxing. >> You can't postpone. You can't call off. fights like that. I'm sorry. You You. just You just never know when you going. to get get another opportunity. So, I.
don't blow opportunities. Right. So, with that I fought through that won. unanimously and you know, made sure I I. did the work the next fight. Right. >> I'm doing the work now, you know what. I'm saying? Letting this stuff heal. Um. just. nobody's supposed to do anything too. much. You run too much, you have leg. problems. You punch too much, you get. torn stuff. Like. it is what it is. You just have to make. sure you do the proper um recovery and. everything to it and then go from there. So. Cutting weight. You know, you see.
people go through drastic measures. They're Yeah, they crazy. >> they're not drinking water, they're. getting a sauna. They're just, you know, all they can't I mean, all they can do. is just basically somebody has to help. them to get to the scale Mhm. weigh and. then. try to get food try to get fluid back in. you. How difficult is that for you? Because like you said now, you know, you. walk around and you say 185, 1 180, 185. and then you dropping down to 170. That's not that much. That's nothing. No, that's not But, when you get down to. 65 or you got to get down to what? 54. you said? 54. That's a lot. Those are.
those are tough especially when you be. fighting at a bigger weight class for. for a long time. >> So, I've been at heavyweight almost a. year now, a year and a half. So, going down to to the weight classes. could be. it's not that easy now. >> Right. You know. I got different muscles. and everything now. Um. Losing the weight is all about sacrifice. and having you a team. >> Mhm. Some people don't have teams. I. have a whole nutrition team. >> Mhm. Um I actually try to. eat healthier now even just inside my.
home when I'm not in camp. Right. I got. food in my bag. I got me like some baked. chicken, some rice, and some spinach in. there. You had that in the bag. I ate. that. What? Yeah, I ate that for you. YOU. RIDICULOUS. HOW YOU GOT STUFF CUZ YOU HUNGRY. I WAS. HUNGRY, TOO. You had some baked chicken, some spinach in there. I I left the. spinach. But, the baked chicken. Why. would you eat the spinach? You like. Popeye. Mhm. I ain't want to be like. Popeye. He couldn't see out of one eye. Oh, Jesus. But, no. So, I'm I'm I'm. trying to get better now with like the. chef at my house and um eating better.
just just outside of when I have to have. camp because when camp starts, you know, that's like eight, 10 weeks, sometimes. six. >> Yeah. It's like you want to make sure. that you don't have to spend the whole. camp just focusing on losing weight. You. can actually focus on. like the actual fight, the stuff you got. to do. And you don't want to want to. want to have to be running every day. Like I think that that's what killed a. lot of these fighters. Like they run run. run run and sauna sauna and sauna sauna. sauna. And before you know it, you're just like.
you don't there really is no fight left. in you even after you rehydrate. >> Yeah, you don't fought to make weight. now you can't go out there and fight an. opponent. >> A lot of fighters do that. Some of these. big stages. >> Uh-huh. these fighters are losing that. weight and when they're trying to. rehydrate it's hard cuz they don't start. to soak for 3 days and when you know. when you're dehydrated it dehydrated you. you go in the ring. at 50%. 40%. So that's not good. Hey, what's up y'all? It's your favorite. uncle, proud partner of Ro Sparks. Have. you ever had one of those nights? Maybe.
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but I stay away from sex 6 weeks before. the fight. So you like a like a male fighter you. they can't have none so you can't get. none either, huh? That's what you I mean you telling me. >> Have you always thought like that? >> I know other girls who do it the day of, the day before. They like they be having. their little sex and stuff. Me, I'm not doing that. For me. with the little sex stuff, whatever. y'all want to call it, that makes me. feel really relaxed and. and and and and and really calm.
>> Yeah. For. >> want to feel calm. >> No, when you got a pitbull on your ass. you want all the run. You got to you got to be able to get. that. you got to be able to run. No, like it really does. take something out of out of your legs. Yeah. to me. So it's like 6 weeks. maybe that's why I be so mean and angry. >> Yeah. Because 6 weeks without none and. then you just got to go in there fight. But hey, I feel good I'm making my. millions. I feel better being healthy. I. feel a lot stronger not doing it. Okay. Not doing it. So So how do you was that.
trial and error? Did you have to know. with the situation like man, I feel. sluggish. No, that ain't happening no. more. I just I didn't feel uh. Because a lot of times as an athlete you. as trial and error. What works to be how. much to train, how much to lift, how. much to run, how much to eat, what the. thing how when how much sleep do I get? All of this trial and error and then you. fine tune it and you get it down to. >> find what works for you. >> Yep. Um. well, unlike other. people I didn't I didn't start doing.
that stuff till I was 17 after I won the. Olympics. So before then I never even. fooled around anyway. >> Right, okay. So now that I'm grown or. teenager, whatever you want to call it, now you know. I'm in the gym constantly every day too. So coach wanted us to spar two or three. times a week. So. I realized that when I come to the gym. and. I've been doing I've been doing that. grown people stuff. I'm a little I'm I'm being more. >> I'm being more tired. >> Yes. You know, I can't fight as hard.
And guess who noticed it? Coach. He noticed it. He like, "Hold on, what. you what you doing what you did last. night, Shields?" Yeah, coach and and and. so. like I said, Jason. used to call me out in front of. everybody cuz I was like his daughter. So he called me out. "All right, you. look like today. You've been out. there fooling around. I could tell. You. need to stop doing all that." Damn. >> Put your business out on blast like. that? Yeah, Jason was like that. >> Oh my goodness. And it was and at the. time it was very embarrassing cuz it was.
like this is new to me. Nobody even know. I do this stuff. >> Right. And here you went telling. everybody my business. But um. no, I I just know like he he was right. though. It it does make you sluggish and. tired. And. I feel way more sharper when I'm not. And for me, I spar against men getting. ready for fights. >> Okay. So it's like these men come in. here fast and strong and sharp. I got to. be on my A game and the last thing I. want to leave me my leave me is my damn. legs. >> Right. Oh yeah. Yeah, so I be like. I don't I don't really fool around like.
that. When is your next fight? Okay, so. so my next fight supposed to be January. 24th. >> Okay. at the State Farm here in Atlanta. >> Okay. Um possibly the opponent is Franchon. Crews, but I'm re-signing to my. um. my promotion with Salita Promotions win. Mhm. And I'm being paid $8 million. Wow. Yep. And that's just in a couple of. days. Once we get the paperwork done and. everything. We'll be good. That's why I said it's. really it's really big. >> Mhm. It's really uh.
it's really. I don't know. I feel I feel very proud. that I was able to to to get this offer. Mhm. I've been talking with some of the. biggest promotions out there. MVP. Matchroom. uh. Salita Mhm. You know, talking to everybody trying to. get the best deal. And now that my. stardom has grown so much now. >> Right. And now I can actually. you know, the goat gets paid. Right. Yeah. If somebody would have if we if.
movie they come say, "You know what? We. want to do a movie about Claressa. Shields' life." We did one already. I want another one because. >> Oh. Okay. >> You all this time champion. Mhm. Who would you like to play you? Oh lord, see honestly, maybe I'm biased, but Ryan Destiny played me so good. >> Uh-huh. You want to do Why not do it. again? But. if I had to pick somebody else. uh. I know who I know who the I know who my.
audience would want to play you. Angela. Bassett? Who? Keke. Keke Palmer. Well, she Keke Palmer. played Listen, I'm not going to lie. I thought Keke was going to play me for. the first. for the biopic. So when they came back. and they said it was Ryan Destiny I was. like. Oh okay. No, but it's not that she's not. a good actress. It was just like she's. small. She's tiny. Yeah. Um Well, Keke is small and tiny, too.
But I mean I. >> But she but she played more sports and. she kind of reforms her body or. whatever. So I was I was like I don't. know how she's going to how she's going. to play me, but man when I tell you that. girl got on the diet was drinking. protein drinks and everything. Ryan did. it. She did her thing on the Fire. Inside. But for my next one, a Keke, Angela Bassett um. Natasha W. >> they cover what didn't they what didn't. they cover in the first that you would. like to get covered this time? Would you. like it so obviously they take the.
beginning stages so now you're you're in. a different place in your life now. The. relationship potentially kids or or will. be in the mix. So is that something that. you would want to get covered this time. around? Yeah. Yeah, I want them to. actually cover. the grown woman that figured it out. You. know what I'm saying? I think that from. my documentary that was a long long time. ago, T-Rex. They released that when I was 19. >> Okay. And so it's an hour and a half. documentary where they actually follow.
me around and whatever. So now until the. Fire Inside came out. okay, basically from from the. documentary like they. it let people like yeah, she won an. Olympic gold medal, but she's still. living in Flint. Still poor. Mhm. Blah. blah blah. And that carried on until the. Fire Inside came out, but I've been. won the Olympics again. >> Mhm. Been moved out of Flint. >> Mhm. Been lived in Florida, Colorado. Now I'm here in Atlanta. I had already. you know, started getting my life. together. I bought me a house, cars,
bought mama house, bought daddy a place. So I already had did all this stuff, but. it was like none of that. None of that was in the original. So now. you want that you want that side to be. shown as well. >> Yeah, to show that like this is what. actually happened. Like even now people. don't know like the relationship with me. and my first coach. >> Mhm. We still talk here and there. He. comes to my fight. He's supportive. Um. but that's still like my dad, you know, and and every relationship is not like. father-daughter it's not really close. But I know that if I call him and I need.
him, he's there. Mhm. You know what I'm. saying? So Was it difficult to split? Yeah. Cuz he had the only coach you had known. You had so much success. And for me. that's why I don't think I have a lot of. friends because I don't want to be. friends with you and then we and we fall. out. Like it really hurts my feelings. Like I. don't like betrayal. Mhm. I don't like. disloyalty. So for me it's like if I. take you in take you in as my friend. let's let's be friends and let's be good.
friends to each other. I don't like you. know, we live in a world where it's just. fake fake, you know. >> Oh, somebody that was your best friend. is going around telling everybody your. business and and spitting on your name. and all this stuff. It's like I don't I. don't like that. Like, that made me want. to fight somebody for real for real. Well, everything made me want to fight. somebody, don't it? It don't take much. But, that really like. when it when it comes to that, like, damn, you going to hurt my feelings and. uh make me trust you and and make me. care about you and then just get to. being fake and stuff. Like that really.
really bothers me. So, I I be kind of. like this with that. So, So, me and. Jason not uh separating about a young. age and not and and not training. together anymore, it was very weird cuz. I felt like I was betraying him by. getting me a new coach. He was like, damn. But, I was. professional. So, I'm like, I got to fight in 8 weeks. I ain't even. got time to. fix this relationship. We We got to. fight. Right. So, it was like, either we. going to do this fight and and kind of. ignore whatever we going through or I. got to go to this new coach and figure. this out and then maybe we come back.
But, it was just like. at the beginning of my professional. career, nobody had time to do that. It. was like, I was fighting back to back to. back. This belt, that belt, this belt, that belt, this champion, that champion. And there was no time to. worry about a. uh a oh oh, you're upset. You're mad. You want to talk to me. It It wasn't It. wasn't no time for that. It was like, I. got to I got to. You got to get it while the getting is. good. >> Yep. You know, so that was how I was. Well, you mentioned earlier that you you. spar with men. You don't spar with.
women. No. No. Why? I got to really see what I got. I I got. to work my stuff. So, it's like with the women, sometimes. you hit them too hard or they come take. it personal. It's like, when you spar. against the men, you come out there and. you showing what you got, they show you. what they got, and y'all can actually, you know, work. >> You spar with Errol and Errol's Errol. Errol Spence and Shakur. Uh-huh. I spar. Errol Spence, Shakur, Boots, uh Keyshawn. Davis. Damn. Yeah, I spar a lot of them. I'm trying to think who else I spar.
Uh. I spar a lot of a lot of guys. It's guys who are professional now. Um like, of course, you know, like the. first the first guy, uh. Ardreal Holmes. That was the first. boyfriend I had. Um we spar all the. time. One of my biggest sparring. partners. I spar against Jadier Simmons. I spar. against a lot of men. I mean, I can't. even name everybody. Uh Kenneth Sims, he's fighting He's He's. getting ready for a world championship. and he's been fighting for world. championships for a minute. Um.
I I spar against a lot of people. Are. you the only uh woman fighter that that. possibly spars against men or do you. Most of them do? The good ones? The ones who are really good? >> Yeah. You know, can. But, not not all of them, but I I probably. spar with more men than they do than. than than they do. >> Right. Yeah, I think that. But, I mean, I have to. I'm 180 lb. >> Right. And then even when I was smaller, See, when I'm smaller, I'm I'm I'm.
actually a bit more dangerous because. I'm faster, I'm stronger, and I'm in and. I'm in way better shape. You know, so. I've always had to like. I spar Tony Harrison. Wow. You know what. I'm saying? Like, I was spar against. some Some champions. Some really good. male Some really good male fighters male. fighters. And I'm telling you, like, you. can hit them up and and ask them how the. spar was and they all be like, "Yo, she. was she was tough. She was strong. She. was fast. I had to keep my hands up. I. had to be on my defense." Like, it's. always some always some good work. I. think out of sparring all of them, the. hardest was Shakur and Errol.
Can I hit Shakur? Can't hit him. I'm like, I don't know if it was like, was I a step behind this day or what, but I could I could not catch his man. I. think I probably hit him with a right. hand and a big old uppercut or. something. I tried to drop him with a. with a with a body shot. And then we. just got to going, but it it hard to hit. him. When he don't want to get hit, he. don't want to get hit. But, he know how. to counter and uh everything. And then. Errol, I was 17. He was just so strong. >> Right. He was so strong and it was just. like, what? I had to box him. I had to move.
around on up on him cuz I'm like, this. dude too strong to be in here trying to. fight with. But, Errol Spence was really really. strong and um. but they wanted to use him to make me. move around move around on my feet more. because everybody that I was sparring, I. was just going in there and just beating. them down. So, they were like, Errol. going to make her have to use her skills. and and move around or whatever. whatever. So, Claressa, thanks for. coming by. Thanks for your time. I. appreciate it. Continuous success. Congratulations on everything you. accomplished and all the best in the. future. Claressa Shields.
[Applause]. All my life, been grinding all my life. Sacrifice. Hustle pay the price. Want a. slice. Got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. All my life, been grinding all my life. Sacrifice. Hustle pay the price. Want a slice. Got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. [Music].
