Claressa Shields is no stranger to controversy, but her latest clash may have cost her access to one of boxing’s fastest-growing promotional brands. On Monday, May 18, Most Valuable Promotions announced that Shields has been banned from all future MVP events following a physical altercation with fellow champion Alycia Baumgardner.
According to ESPN, the confrontation started with a verbal exchange between the two fighters before Shields appeared to slap Baumgardner’s hand away inside a private VIP section. MVP responded swiftly, releasing a statement saying, “Effective immediately, Claressa Shields is banned from all MVP events until further notice.”
The promotion added that while fighter rivalries are common in combat sports, “to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest inside a private VIP area is unacceptable.”
The incident adds another layer to a rivalry that has been simmering publicly for years. Shields and Baumgardner have repeatedly traded shots online over legacy, pay, accomplishments, and pound-for-pound rankings in women’s boxing.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed champion in multiple divisions, has often positioned herself as the face of the sport’s modern era.
MVP’s statement made clear the company believed the line had been crossed. “MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior toward fighters, staff, media, or guests at any of our events,” the company said. Baumgardner later described the altercation as “physically assaulted without provocation” and stated the matter “has been and will continue to be handled legally and professionally.”
Shields pushed back on social media, claiming Baumgardner had been verbally aggressive and threatening before the incident escalated.
The altercation also lands amid a stretch where Shields has repeatedly found herself at the center of headlines outside the ring. Earlier this year, the Michigan Commission temporarily suspended her after a marijuana-related drug test following her win over Danielle Perkins, though the suspension was later lifted after officials determined there had been procedural issues during the sample collection process.
Shields has also spent the last year battling criticism over a disputed “first undisputed champion of the four-belt era” museum display and drew heavy online backlash after anonymously calling into a boxing podcast to defend her own legacy against critics.
Outside of boxing, Shields’ name also became tied to viral drama involving rapper Remy Ma and Papoose after allegations surfaced that she was involved with Papoose during his split from Remy Ma. Shields denied wrongdoing and publicly stated she does not “fight women over men.”
