Claressa Shields has openly praised the achievements of Katie Taylor and says she harbors no resentment about a potential showdown between the two legends never coming to pass. Taylor is set to step into the ring for what is expected to be her farewell bout this weekend, facing Flora Pili in an undisputed super‑lightweight world title fight at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park, a venue that will be packed with more than 80,000 spectators. The Irish superstar, a two‑weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold‑medal winner, is poised to hang up her gloves, and the boxing community widely regards her as the greatest female fighter of all time.

Across the Atlantic, five‑division world champion Claressa Shields has emerged as perhaps the closest challenger to Taylor’s lofty reputation at the very top of the sport. "Am I number one? I’ve always shared that spot with Katie," Shields told Sky Sports. "We joke that we’re 1A and 1B because we’re both that good.

I’m not someone who obsesses over the pound‑for‑pound rankings. I know I’ve been in the top one or two for the past five or six years. But I also know Katie is an incredible fighter, a true warrior.

I wish her a happy retirement and hope she lands a big knockout in her final bout." Shields, a three‑time undisputed champion, has competed at heavier weight classes than Taylor, which explains why their paths never crossed in the ring despite both enjoying glittering careers. "I’m not upset that it didn’t happen," Shields added. "Weight classes exist for a reason, and I respect her greatness just as she respects mine.

I’ve beaten the best in my divisions, she’s beaten the best in hers. That’s something to be proud of. So no, I’m not angry we never got a chance to fight. I’m just happy to watch her greatness and she’s done the same for me.

I wish her a happy retirement." Taylor enters Saturday’s contest as a 25‑to‑1 underdog after suffering her sole professional defeat at the hands of Chantelle Cameron in May 2023. Among Taylor’s many career highlights is a historic trilogy of victories over Puerto Rican legend Amanda Serrano. The first encounter in that series made history as the inaugural women’s bout to headline Madison Square Garden. "I think Katie’s done what she set out to do.

This is her moment," Serrano told Sky Sports. "After 17 years in the sport, it’s about time.

Katie and I have made a lot of money together, we’ve written history together, and we’ve delivered big fights. She’s given enough to the sport; she deserves this homecoming fight. I’m thrilled for her and can’t wait to see what her future holds once she’s retired, with family life and everything else.

She’s earned it." Both fighters have become symbols of progress for women’s boxing, breaking barriers that once seemed insurmountable. Taylor’s Olympic gold in Rio 2016 and her subsequent dominance in the professional ranks helped legitimize women’s boxing on the global stage. Shields, meanwhile, has repeatedly proven that she can dominate multiple weight divisions, a feat that few male or female boxers have achieved.

The conversation about who is the greater fighter often circles back to the notion of “greatness” being subjective. For some, the measure is titles held; for others, it is the impact on the sport’s popularity, the ability to draw crowds, or the quality of opposition faced. Taylor’s career is punctuated by high‑profile fights that attracted mainstream media attention, while Shields’ willingness to move up in weight and take on larger opponents showcases a different kind of bravery. Even without a head‑to‑head clash, the mutual respect between the two athletes underscores a broader narrative: the evolution of women’s boxing is no longer defined by a single champion, but by a cadre of elite fighters pushing each other to new heights.

Their statements reflect a shared understanding that rivalry can coexist with admiration, and that the sport benefits when its biggest stars lift each other up. As Taylor prepares for her final bout in front of a sea of fans at Croke Park, the atmosphere is electric. The event is being billed not just as a title defense but as a celebration of a career that has inspired countless young athletes, especially girls, to lace up gloves and step into the ring. The anticipation of a possible knockout adds drama, but the deeper story is one of legacy.

Shields, watching from the sidelines, has expressed genuine happiness for Taylor’s impending retirement. She acknowledges that the sport has grown because of fighters like Taylor, and she looks forward to the next chapter of her own career, perhaps seeking new challenges in different weight classes or even exploring opportunities outside the ring. In the end, the question of whether Shields or Taylor is the greatest may never be definitively answered, but the dialogue itself highlights how far women’s boxing has come. Both athletes have carved out indelible marks on the sport, and their mutual admiration serves as a testament to the respect they have earned from peers, fans, and the broader boxing community.

As the final bell rings for Taylor’s storied career, the sport stands ready for the next generation to build upon the foundation laid by these two extraordinary champions.