Alycia Baumgardner Wants Claressa Shields—But She Ain’t Coming as Anybody’s Undercard

Alycia Baumgardner wants the smoke.

But apparently there's a condition attached:

Don't ask her to show up like she's somebody's opening act.

And you know what?

That makes the Claressa Shields conversation a whole lot more interesting.

Because this isn't simply about two fighters who don't particularly like each other.

This is about status.

Baumgardner Doesn't See Herself as the Supporting Act

Baumgardner has already established herself as one of women's boxing's recognizable champions.

She's the unified WBA, WBO and IBF champion at 130 pounds, and in April she headlined MVPW's first U.S. event at Madison Square Garden's Theater against Bo Mi Re Shin. She won by unanimous decision.

So when Baumgardner talks like a woman who expects main-event treatment, there's some résumé behind it.

Earlier this year she put it plainly when discussing her standing in women's boxing:

“I am, have been the top dog.”

That's not somebody volunteering to play second fiddle.

But Then There's Claressa Shields

And this is where things get complicated.

Because Claressa Shields isn't exactly standing around waiting for somebody to validate her either.

Multiple divisions.

Championships everywhere.

Two Olympic gold medals.

And now Shields has dropped back to middleweight and immediately put herself right back at the center of the boxing conversation.

So if Baumgardner wants Shields, somebody has to answer a very practical question:

Who's the A-side?

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Because both women see themselves as attractions.

Both have headlined.

Both have championships.

And neither one exactly gives off:

“Whatever you guys decide is fine with me.”

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And These Two Actually Don't Like Each Other

This isn't manufactured promotional beef.

Things already crossed the line earlier this year when Shields and Baumgardner had a physical confrontation at an MVP event. Shields was subsequently banned from MVP events until further notice.

So we're not trying to invent tension for a poster.

The tension is already there.

And sometimes that's exactly what boxing needs.

Two accomplished fighters.

Two big personalities.

Two women who believe they're better than the other.

Put a microphone between them and you're already halfway to selling the fight.

Here's Where Baumgardner Has a Point

If you've spent years building yourself into a champion and a headliner, at what point do you stop accepting somebody else's definition of your value?

That's bigger than boxing.

We've all seen it.

Somebody finally reaches a certain level in their career and then gets offered an opportunity that sounds huge—

but requires them to step backward in status to receive it.

Do you take it because the opportunity itself is bigger?

Or do you say:

“Nah. If you want me, treat me like I belong here.”

That's essentially what makes Baumgardner's position worth discussing.

But Here's Where Shields Has a Point Too

A Shields fight isn't just another fight.

If Baumgardner wants to move several weight classes and enter Shields' world, there's an argument that Baumgardner isn't walking into that negotiation with equal leverage simply because she's also a champion.

Baumgardner fights at 130.

Shields just returned to 160.

That's a 30-pound difference between their current championship divisions.

This isn't:

“Let's meet Saturday at the gym.”

There are serious weight and competitive questions before anybody even argues about whose name goes first on the poster.

And Shields has other potential opponents closer to her division.

So Baumgardner may be saying:

“I'm not an undercard fighter.”

And Shields' side can reasonably answer:

“Then show us why this should be the main event.”

Now we've got a negotiation.

This Is Actually Good for Women's Boxing

Think about where women's boxing was not that long ago.

Getting the fight televised was the victory.

Now we're arguing over:

Who headlines?

Who gets top billing?

Who deserves the biggest purse?

Who is the bigger attraction?

That's progress.

Even the argument itself tells you the sport has changed.

Baumgardner headlined at Madison Square Garden this year. Shields has headlined major arenas.

These women aren't asking permission to participate anymore.

They're arguing over who owns the marquee.

That's different.

So Let's Put It to the WPTG Family

Suppose Baumgardner and Shields genuinely want this fight.

Baumgardner says she's a headliner.

Shields' résumé speaks for itself.

The bad blood is already real.

And both women believe they're the attraction.

So:

Should Claressa Shields vs. Alycia Baumgardner ONLY happen as a main event?

Or if Baumgardner really wants Shields, should she be willing to accept whatever billing gets the fight made?

Because there's a difference between saying:

“I want that smoke.”

And saying:

“I want that smoke—but we're doing it on MY terms.”

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And maybe that's exactly why people would pay to see it.