(This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.)
Boxer Claressa Shields is preparing for a world title heavyweight bout against Danielle Perkins on February 2, but she’s also open to discussing the possibility of another match-up.
Jake Paul.
"I don’t know if it’s something that can happen, but I know that I can whip Jake Paul’s (expletive) and people who are against that are just sexist and they don’t know boxing," said Shields, the most decorated female boxer in history, to USA TODAY Sports. "It’s very strange to me that they think a YouTuber can beat a woman boxer with two Olympic gold medals, multiple world titles, and who has fought as a heavyweight.…"
"He does not have the experience. They talk about power. You can have power, but you got to have the skills to land a punch."
A representative for Jake Paul did not immediately respond to requests for comment made by voicemail and text message.
Shields, aged 29, boasts a professional record of 15-0 with three knockouts. Standing at 5-foot-8, she is expected to weigh in at about 175 pounds for her second consecutive heavyweight bout.
Paul, 27, has an 11-1 record with seven knockouts and has mostly fought as a cruiserweight, with a 200-pound maximum at weigh-in. He is coming off a victory over Mike Tyson by unanimous decision – which did not impress Shields.
"Jake Paul showed that he has not gotten better with his skills," she remarked. "He needs to train harder and better. And honestly, I think the girl that I’m getting ready to fight against, Danielle Perkins, can beat Jake Paul, too."
Shields’ issue with Paul appears to partly originate from Paul choosing Savannah Marshall to defeat Shields in 2022. The only defeat of Shields’ career came against Marshall as an amateur in 2012 at the world championships.
Shields avenged that loss by defeating Marshall by unanimous decision.
"(Paul) tried to apologize and all that other type of stuff after he picked Savannah to beat me in a fight," Shields said. "But (expletive) that apology. Fight me."
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
