Pivot Podcast

Claressa Shields the GWOAT, boxing's best, Laila Ali superfight, on overcoming trauma, silencing doubters, her relationship with Papoose, becoming a mother, defending her undisputed title July 26 & legacy.


Listen Later

"The hardship and everything I went through created the fire inside, people don't understand the woman I am." Claressa Shields Heavyweight Undisputed Champion

In this powerful, no-holds-barred episode of The Pivot Podcast, the GWOAT herself—Claressa Shields—joins Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor for one of her most personal interviews to date.

From surviving a tough upbringing in Flint, Michigan to becoming the only boxer—male or female—to be undisputed in two weight classes simultaneously, Claressa shares the raw truth behind her journey. She opens up about the pain that made her, the critics that tried to break her, and the constant pressure of being a Black woman at the top of one of the most male-dominated sports in the world.

But it’s not all about the ring. In a deeply personal moment, Claressa reveals the reason behind two of her early dreams: Becoming an Olympic medalist and buying a bed. Sleeping on the floor most of her childhood and always having to fight for acceptance led her to fight for what she wanted. Claressa also lets us in on her private life—specifically her relationship with rapper and hip-hop legend Papoose. She talks about the bond they’ve built, what his steady support means to her, and how love and loyalty outside the ring fuel her fight inside of it, even opening up on motherhood in the near future. It’s a side of Claressa the public rarely sees—vulnerable, grounded, and deeply human.

With her next undisputed title defense set for July 26 in Detroit, Claressa shares what’s driving her into this fight, why it feels more personal than ever, and how she's staying focused amid everything—from family to fame to legacy. She addresses the critics who’ve downplayed her success, and the media that still tries to put limits on her greatness while acknowledging that her journey is a lot like her male counterpart, Terrance Bud Crawford, who she calls he twin, not just in the fight game but in life too.

This isn't just another sports interview. It's a real conversation with one of the most dominant and dynamic athletes of our time—who’s still fighting for her respect, her people, and her place in history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Pivot PodcastBy It's Never Too Late To Pivot

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

2,838 ratings


More shows like Pivot Podcast

View all
Club 520 Podcast by iHeartPodcasts, The Volume, and Shay Shay Media

Club 520 Podcast

1,229 Listeners

Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles by The Players' Tribune

Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles

3,381 Listeners

Million Dollaz Worth Of Game by Barstool Sports

Million Dollaz Worth Of Game

10,938 Listeners

All The Smoke by The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts

All The Smoke

7,575 Listeners

Club Shay Shay by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media

Club Shay Shay

7,270 Listeners

The Stephen A. Smith Show by Stephen A. Smith & SiriusXM

The Stephen A. Smith Show

1,499 Listeners

Podcast P with Paul George by Wave Originals

Podcast P with Paul George

971 Listeners

KG Certified by Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions

KG Certified

208 Listeners

Gil's Arena by Underdog Fantasy

Gil's Arena

423 Listeners

Nightcap by iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media

Nightcap

1,743 Listeners

7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony by Wave Originals

7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony

557 Listeners

The OGs by Playmaker HQ, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller

The OGs

238 Listeners

The Big Podcast with Shaq by Playmaker HQ + The Big Podcast Network

The Big Podcast with Shaq

256 Listeners

4th&1 Podcast with Cam Newton by Iconic Saga

4th&1 Podcast with Cam Newton

60 Listeners

Out the Mud by Zach Randolph, Tony Allen

Out the Mud

153 Listeners