Claressa Shields found herself at the center of unexpected online attention this week after listeners accused the boxing star of secretly calling into a YouTube livestream while posing as a supporter to defend her reputation.
Chile Claressa Shields gets exposed for calling in as a “fan” to defend herself.
— ✨GOT DA SCOOP✨ (@GotDaScoop) January 17, 2026
Claressa called into a YouTube channel called “Hood Champion Boxing” to defend things that were said about her. At first she was speaking as if she was a supporter who personally knew Claressa.… pic.twitter.com/RhqxXe2i7O
The moment unfolded during a live episode of Hood Champion Boxing and Sports, where a caller identified herself as an anonymous fan who was upset about what she described as false narratives surrounding Shields’ finances and career. The caller quickly jumped into the discussion, criticizing commentary circulating online and questioning why certain rumors were being repeated without verification.
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“I’m sitting up here listening to this live and I see so much misinformation,” the caller said during the broadcast. She specifically pushed back on claims about Shields’ financial standing, asking, “Why are y’all lying saying that this woman owes tax money—why are y’all lying saying that her image is ruined?”
As the segment continued, the caller referenced Shields’ long career in the public eye and suggested critics were relying too heavily on commentary from online personalities rather than documented facts. “Nobody’s doing any fact checks,” she said, adding that Shields’ life and career have been visible since her teenage years.
What initially sounded like a passionate fan defense began to draw scrutiny as the conversation grew more heated. During later exchanges, the caller appeared to slip out of the third person, prompting listeners to question whether Shields herself was on the line.
“Very, very false. I know Claressa myself, so therefore no, it’s not true,” the caller said at one point. She went on to challenge discussions about Shields’ reported earnings, saying, “She only made $8 million? Like $8 million is not a lot of money? And she has the most lucrative boxing deal in women’s boxing.”
The caller also emphasized Shields’ accomplishments inside and outside the ring, pointing out that she is undefeated and has avoided legal trouble throughout her career. When the host brought up potential superfight scenarios, the caller defended Shields’ business decisions, referencing a hypothetical matchup with Laila Ali and questioning why critics were upset about the financial terms being discussed.
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“I’m trying to figure out where did she do something wrong that has something to do with boxing business,” the caller said. “Because that’s her profession.”