Claressa Shields dismisses what's in leaked emails, wants no part of fighting on Jake Paul's cards

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Jake Paul has caused a disturbance wrong the boxing satellite and beyond. He already wasn't connected women's champion Claressa Shields' bully side, and present much substance has been added to the occurrence betwixt the two.

USA Today Sports+ this week published excerpts of leaked emails from Shields' manager, Mark Taffet, and promoter, Dmitry Salita, to Paul and promoter Nakisa Bidarian, dating to Paul’s combat connected Triller against erstwhile NBA prima Nate Robinson. Paul knocked retired Robinson successful the 2nd circular successful November 2020 connected a paper that featured Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. Paul has attempted to enactment with Shields, and it appears Shields' team reached retired to Paul astatine immoderate constituent astir being connected that card.

"Claressa is evidently 1 of the champion pistillate boxers of each time, but the numbers (of viewers) she has didn’t marque consciousness for america successful presumption of what Mark was hoping to execute for her (in purse money), truthful I didn’t deliberation it added to the Tyson-Jones pay-per-view, which ended up being the eighth largest successful history," Bidarian, who assisted Triller with the event, told USA Today Sports+ arsenic to wherefore the sides could not scope an agreement.

Taffet past sent an email connected March 15 pitching Shields' potential engagement successful an April 17 combat paper for Triller. That paper featured Paul knocking retired erstwhile MMA champion Ben Askren. On March 5, Shields — already the undisputed middleweight champion — beat Marie-Eve Dicaire to triumph the IBF, WBA, and The Ring airy middleweight titles to spell with the WBC and WBO belts. 

"Claressa had a historical triumph . . . to go the archetypal antheral oregon pistillate successful the four-belt epoch to triumph an undisputed satellite rubric successful 2 value divisions. We are present opening a program for our adjacent fewer fights, and would emotion to sermon retired program with you to spot if Triller is funny successful being the video level of the world's top pistillate fighter. We would emotion to enactment connected your April 17 paper if you person a slot available," Taffet wrote.

MORE: Jake Paul, Dana White speech insults and challenges successful latest warfare of words

Bidarian told USA Today Sports+ that determination wasn't a concern request for Shields to beryllium connected the card as the absorption was connected Paul. Meanwhile, Paul has been teaming up with seven-division women's champion Amanda Serrano.

On July 14, Salita offered his services to Bidarian regarding logistics and events pursuing a determination to Showtime. During this time, however, Shields became 1 of galore fighters to knock Paul for taking attraction distant from boxers.

Shields, who astatine 1 constituent threatened to writer Paul for defamation, has responded to the USA Today Sports+ report. She said she was ne'er progressive successful the emails and that she was ne'er expected to combat connected the Paul cards.

Taffet made his ain statement, successful effect to the Daily Mirror of London's roundup of the drama. "I solicit opportunities and [Shields] decides if she wants them oregon not . . . precisely the mode a manager/athlete narration should be. She doesn’t solicit opportunities," helium wrote connected Twitter.

Shields said that she volition beryllium acceptable to sermon the substance aft her middleweight rubric defence adjacent period against Ema Kozin.

"I'm focused connected 1 thing, looking spectacular Feb. 5 erstwhile I support my World titles! After that I’ll talk astir these lies floating around," Shields wrote connected Twitter.

The past year-plus has been engaged for Shields, who besides competed successful MMA for the Professional Fighters League, going 1-1 successful 2 fights. 

Paul, who has attempted to go an advocator for women’s boxing by teaming up with Serrano, besides responded to the USA Today Sports+ report. "Let’s enactment this down america and enactment unneurotic to proceed to physique women’s boxing," helium wrote connected Twitter.

Shields briefly responded, saying that each she cares astir is her upcoming fight.

Besides Shields, Paul is successful a conflict with UFC president Dana White. Paul has offered to discontinue from boxing and articulation the UFC to combat Jorge Masvidal, successful speech for amended combatant pay.