Claressa Shields accused of running from $2 million offer for showdown with MMA icon Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg has suggested that Claressa Shields is refusing to entertain her $2 million offer for a boxing clash.

Cyborg will take to the cage in the final fight on her PFL contract this weekend in a 145lbs title defence against Ketlen Vieira this Saturday night at PFL Tampa.

Jose Peñuela / PFL

The event will be broadcast live on the talkSPORT Boxing channel in the UK, with the action broadcast live on ESPN in the US.

Prior to the clash, the Brazilian informed talkSPORT.com that she intends to make a move back to boxing after her last bow with the PFL.

When she goes to her squared circle switch, she is hoping to lure a big name into a mega-fight.

One of those names is multi-weight champion and modern era great Shields.

The American is arguably the most dominant name in female boxing and has never been beaten as a professional.

Recently she scored another brutal KO victory over Kaye Scott, and is now in talks to face British star Lauren Price in a mega-fight.

Shields publicly declared that she wasn’t interested in the bout with Cyborg, despite the public plea.

Cyborg: Shields is running from the fight

When asked about a £2 million offer from Cyborg’s camp to Shields, she told talkSPORT.com: “That was on the table, yes.

“The reality is like this,” Cyborg told talkSPORT.com ahead of PFL Tampa.

“When I had my second fight in boxing, Claressa Shields started calling me out. And I said, ‘Claressa, why are you calling me out? I’ve had two fights.’

“But now I’ve had eight fights. So, if she wants to make this fight happen, cool. I believe she’s been running because you’ll see, in her last fight, she made $500,000.

“She’s running from me $2 million to make this fight happen. And then you see all the things she’s saying about me.

“So, for example, the sparring. You, as a reporter, if you’re sparring me and you beat me up, cool.

“You think you don’t want $2 million for beating me up again? It’s easy. So, this should be no match for her.

“You know what I mean? No match. I know it’s a tough fight. I know it’s a big challenge.

“I love a challenge. My whole career, I never ran for nobody. Nobody can say anything. In my career, MMA, I didn’t run from any girls.”

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Cyborg – I want one final boxing fight

Despite not being able to lure in Shields right now, Cyborg still has a wealth of options on the table.

After Jake Paul’s merger with the PFL, an extension with the MMA agency may well have been on the table.

But Cyborg insists her final fight will be away from the cage, with her focus on extending her boxing record.

“Let’s do it. But I’m focused on my next fight, Ketlen Vieira,” she concluded.

“And after this fight, I know I’m gonna have one more boxing fight for sure.

“But I’m focused on Ketlen Vieira and we’re gonna see what’s gonna happen.

PFL Tampa fight card

Main card

• MAIN EVENT: Cris Cyborg vs Ketlen Vieira – for PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship
• Co-main: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs Tracy Reeder – Light Heavyweight
• Gustavo Oliveira vs Marcirley Alves – Bantamweight
• Luke Trainer vs Roland Dunlap – Light Heavyweight

Prelims

• Magomed Magomedov vs Daniel Marcos – Bantamweight
• Taila Santos vs Sabrinna de Sousa – Women’s Flyweight
• Movsar Ibragimov vs Javid Basharat – Bantamweight
• Dakota Bush vs Morquez Forest – Lightweight
• Natan Schulte vs Makkasharip Zaynukov – Lightweight
• Gino van Steenis vs Robert Watley – Lightweight
• Eoin Sheridan vs James Vake – Welterweight
• Florim Zendeli vs Omran Chaaban – Welterweight

“It’s a big challenge for me. And step by step, you’re never gonna see me say any crap about nobody because I like action. I like to be an example and do my best.

“This is what I’ve done for 21 years.”