Cris Cyborg Calls Out Claressa Shields for Explosive Boxing Match

Jan 5, 20264 months ago3 min read

Former UFC featherweight champion and current PFL featherweight queen, Cris Cyborg, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to call out female boxing royalty, Claressa Shields, challenging her to a boxing match in October. The heavy-handed MMA pioneer reacted to a post that the Flint, Michigan native p...

The heavy-handed MMA pioneer reacted to a post that the Flint, Michigan native posted, which stated, ‘2 Olympic Gold medals, 19 World titles, 4 Undisputed Titles LATER! #claressashields #Gwoat’.

Shields is alluding to the gold medals she won at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, along with the 19 world titles that she has won in multiple different weight classes. These accolades are boosted by the fact that she’s the proud owner of four undisputed titles throughout her career.

Shields boasts an undefeated record of 17-0, however, she struggles to finish fights, going the distance on 14 occasions. For context, her toughest test (on paper) was Savannah Marshall, who has 10 knockouts across 13 wins. Shields is set to rematch Franchon Crews-Dezurn in February, a woman whom she beat in her first professional fight in 2016.

November 19, 2016 – Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America – Olympian Claressa Shields makes her professional boxing debut against Franchon Crews as part of the Kovalev vs Ward undercard on November 19, 2016 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada Clarissa Shields and Franchon Crews Make Professional Boxing Debut – ZUMAt114 20161119_zap_t114_200

Shields’ boasting on X seems to have hit a nerve with Cris Cyborg, who called out Shields.

Cris Cyborg Slams Shields, Calls for Boxing Match

Brazil’s Cris Cyborg took the opportunity to take aim at Shields, questioning her legitimacy as a multi-weight champion.

Cyborg questioned how Shields has 19 world titles but only 17 fights. As we know, there are multiple belts attached to fights in boxing due to multiple different organisations being involved.

She also poked fun at the legitimacy of the contenders that she’s faced when picking up vacant belts.

How this girl got 19 World titles and only 17 pro fights?!

Chucky cheese prizes@Claressashields out her collecting vacant belts in weight categories without contenders.

Last year she was at the superbowl telling me to fight her 154. I told her I needed more boxing experience.… https://t.co/SwlHIliwKJ

— CrisCy₿org.Com (@criscyborg) January 5, 2026

We know that Shields and Cyborg have sparred previously, and the former UFC star claimed that the American called her out at last year’s Super Bowl, which Cyborg declined due to a lack of boxing experience. Since that, Cyborg has had three professional boxing fights, winning all via finish, adding to her record and now boasting a 6-0 professional record with one exhibition win.

Cyborg tried to tempt Shields in by stating that now she has the boxing experience, she hasn’t heard anything from Team Shields, highlighting how she’s as quiet as a mouse.

She also went on to state her terms for a boxing match. 154lbs, 10oz gloves, no rehydration clause.

Shields has previously stated that she doesn’t believe that Cyborg can box, alluding to a sparring session that the two women had previously.

Claressa Shields says she “beat the s*** out of Cris Cyborg” in sparring: “She cannot box” 👀

▶️ https://t.co/ppOVRzsSiZ #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/XMZQw7S6qr

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 28, 2024

Can you see the fight between Cris Cyborg and Claressa Shields happening in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

Boxing