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