Laila Ali will not be ringside when Claressa Shields fights in Atlanta on Aug. 15, even though two prime seats are waiting for her.
Shields’ promoter, Dmitriy Salita, told USA TODAY Sports he had made room for the retired champion at State Farm Arena.
“I’m holding two ringside tickets for her,” Salita said.
Ali’s business partner, Amber Noble, responded.
“No, she absolutely won’t be attending,” Noble told the outlet.
Ali, 48, lives with her family within driving distance of the arena, while Shields also calls Atlanta home. But after months of public back-and-forth and talk of a possible mega-fight, the two champions appear no closer to sharing a boxing ring.
Shields, 31, is scheduled to face Kaye Scott for the WBC and WBA middleweight titles. She enters the bout with an 18-0 record.
Ali retired in 2007 with a perfect 24-0 record and 21 knockouts.
“I think it’s a bigger fight than State Farm Arena, with all due respect,” Salita added. “It would be bigger than Mayweather versus McGregor.”
Shields’ team previously displayed a novelty $15 million check representing a proposed guarantee for Ali. Asked where that offer stands, Salita replied, “It’s waiting to be cashed.”
Ali has stated that she would not fight Shields, who she believes has been disrespectful towards her, calling Shields ‘ nature ” divisive, vindictive, and malicious.”
“So, did her plan work? Did she make me mad enough to come out of retirement after 18 years and start training again, to make her dream of fighting me, and having a big payday, courtesy of Laila Ali, come true? Absolutely not,” she said in a video posted to YouTube.
“[Shields] will not be rewarded with the opportunity to share the ring with me, or anything else. There’s your answer,” Ali later added.