Was Claressa Shields Really the First Woman to Headline State Farm Arena? Laila Ali’s 2004 Atlanta Fight Raises Questions.

Claressa Shields and her team are facing criticism after promoting her Kaye Scott victory as the first time a woman boxer headlined Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

But boxing history tells a different story: Laila Ali headlined the venue in 2004, when she defeated Gwendolyn O’Neil.

So was Claressa Shields’ historic achievement exaggerated—or was Laila Ali’s place in women’s boxing history overlooked? In this video, we break down the controversy, the historical timeline, and why getting women’s boxing history right matters.

Was Claressa Shields REALLY the first? You decide.