One of Muhammad Ali’s former wives, in attendance at Claressa Shields’ victory over Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26, addressed a possible showdown between Shields and Laila Ali.
‘I think Laila needs to stay in the kitchen,’ Khalilah Camacho-Ali told Seconds Out after Shields beat Daniels by unanimous decision at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Camacho-Ali, the boxer’s second wife, repeated her kitchen comment during Shields’ post-fight press conference and also blurted out, “You the champ. You the champ.’’
Smiling, Shields responded, “Thank you. I am trying to whoop Laila Ali’s ass.’
Laila Ali is the daughter of the legendary boxer’s third wife, Veronica.
Shields has said her team put $15 million in escrow for Laila Ali — provided she agrees to fight Shields — in what is part of a simmering feud.
During an interview with USA TODAY Sports, Camacho-Ali expounded on her comments about Laila Ali.
‘Yeah, she’s a good cook,’ Camacho-Ali deadpanned. ‘I mean, she got all kind of spices in her name.’
Lailah Ali, 47, was 24-0 with 21 knockouts before she retired from boxing in 2007. But Camacho-Ali implied Laila Ali is more talented in the kitchen than she is in the boxing ring.
‘As a fighter, she’s not as good as Claressa,’ Camacho-Ali said. ‘She doesn’t have that bulldog attitude.’
Shields, 30, improved to 17-0 with three knockouts after her victory over Daniels. Camacho-Ali said she attended Shields’ last two fights, both in Detroit, because she already was in the city for other engagements.
Laila Ali indicated she wanted $15 million to $20 million to fight Shields. But Camacho-Ali said she doesn’t think it’d be worth it, speculating that a loss in the boxing ring could undermine Laila Ali’s success in business and reputation. She is married to retired NFL receiver Curtis Conway and has two teenage children.
‘I think she’s a great young woman with a beautiful family,’ Camacho-Ali said. ‘I think she needs to leave (boxing) alone. She’s too old for that and she’s not that good.’