Cris Cyborg and Claressa Shields negotiated the class weight of their proposed boxing fight when they met at the Super Bowl Radio Row.
The two female fighters were former training partners, but this bond later turned into a grudge after the two started trading barbs online. It began when Shields opened the idea of an MMA fight against Cyborg, who agreed if it would be at 145 pounds. Shields, however, denied the condition, pushing her 154 pounds preference. The disagreement about the fight turned into a clash after Cyborg boasted her better payout figures and Shields responded with a warning online. In November, the animosity was reanimated when the two fired back against each other.
🚨 @Claressashields vs. @criscyborg 🚨
Fight negotiations get underway on Radio Row ahead of the Super Bowl. #SBLVIII
The two crossed paths in Las Vegas, wasted no time talking terms. Cyborg suggested 147 pounds, saying Shields should come down based on experience advantage. pic.twitter.com/V4TX7MsMSK
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) February 9, 2024
However, the two fighters showed a different mood this weekend when they met at the Super Bowl Radio Row. It was an unofficial face-to-face meeting between the two, who immediately discussed the class weight of the proposed boxing fight.
In the clip shared online, Cyborg suggested fighting at 147 pounds, noting that Shields already has the advantage when it comes to the sports experience. However, Shields expressed disfavor over the idea. With all this, while the meetup sounds exciting for fans, it still ended with no concrete agreement between the two sides.
In case pushed, nonetheless, the boxing fight would still be far away from the future, with Shields and Cyborg set to have their respective MMA fights soon. To start, Shields will be joining the PFL vs. Bellator champs event on February 24 in Riyadh. The boxer-turned-MMA fighter will face Kelsey DeSantis in a lightweight bout. Meanwhile, Cyborg, despite still not having an official fight booked, is expected to meet Larissa Pacheco. With Kayla Harrison no longer in the promotion, it is certain that the PFL will push the Pacheco fight it promised earlier.
