“I feel like I put too much time on hold on having a kid and being married and stuff for boxing. We already have it planned out… I don’t want to wait till I’m 43.”
Two months ago, the GWOAT admitted she’s put off marriage and kids for too long while chasing championships. With both her and rapper Papoose experiencing failed relationships in the past, their bond today shines through, from him helping in her training sessions to constantly supporting her outside the ring. That respect and protectiveness showed again last week when Shields found herself in an uncomfortable spot.
Attending Terence Crawford’s historic showdown with Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium, Claressa Shields was there to support ‘Bud’ as he became the first man in the four-belt era to capture undisputed status in three weight classes. But what was supposed to be a night of celebration turned uneasy when Claressa Shields was reportedly followed and wrongly approached by a fan. The situation prompted Papoose to step in, making sure his partner was safe and reminding everyone just how strong their bond really is.
Was Claressa Shields secretly caught on camera?
Yesterday, Claressa Shields shared a video on her YouTube channel, opening up about the strange encounter she had at the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez fight. The three-division world champion explained that while she was chatting with J Prince, Abdullah Mason, and others, a man suddenly walked up to her and started calling her Serena Williams. “At first, I was like, huh?” Shields said. “The way he said it, I knew he knew I wasn’t Serena. Like, you know damn well my name is not Serena. And when have you ever seen Serena with orange hair?” She said the man repeatedly interrupted, calling her by the wrong name, even as she tried to brush him off and return to her conversation.
According to Shields, Papoose eventually stepped in. “Pap told him to move or just to chill out, and the dude started getting smart with Pap,” she explained. While the 30-year-old didn’t seem angry at first, she said the man’s persistence made things uncomfortable, especially since he kept following her. “It was weird. It was like bro, if you don’t gone somewhere…”
Claressa Shields also suspected the man was recording her with special glasses. “Where you all get off with them glasses, you’ll be having on? Glasses that be recording people. Where you all get off with that? Is that even legal?” she asked, pointing out how unsettling it is that people secretly film others for content. She added, “I think he was just trying to go viral, but if he did, it was going to be in a bad way.”
In the end, the Flint native said she and Papoose made it clear they weren’t tolerating disrespect. “Pap definitely do not play around,” she noted. “I know Pap got the hand. So you all can just put two and two together about what happened, but he don’t take no disrespect. I don’t take no disrespect. But I block people like that.”
Shields chalked it up to the man chasing attention, saying she’s seen similar videos online. But this time, she made it clear, she wasn’t having it. The way she described Papoose stepping in right away highlighted just how protective he is of Claressa Shields, and she made sure to give him credit for that as well.
Papoose proves he’s the man of class Claressa Shields deserves
After her dominant win over Lani Daniels, Claressa Shields took to Instagram to thank her partner, rapper Papoose. “And 😊 To my man @papoose ….. Thank you,” she wrote. “You are the epitome of a REAL MAN! How you have added to my life and my happiness, I can’t speak about how great you are enough. I’ve been in the driver seat of my life since ‘FOREVER,’ and now you came and took the wheel and let me ride shotgun 🤩🥹 Thank you for being who you are…” Shields continued to express her gratitude for the role Papoose has played in her life.
She further praised him, writing, “Despite all the ‘wrong’ names that people add to you, you are truly just a Smart, GREAT MAN, Genuine, Loving, Honest & Kind Person. This weekend would [not have] been possible without you! I say that humbly! You helped me make ‘one more’ of my dreams come true! If it’s Us vs Them, we [are going to] always win.” The 17-0 boxer made it clear just how much his support has meant to her.
Notably, Claressa Shields and Papoose have been in a romantic relationship for some time now, making it public in late 2024. This development came during Papoose’s ongoing separation from his estranged wife, rapper Remy Ma, to whom he is still legally married. That said, it’s unfortunate that Claressa Shields had to endure such an awkward and unsettling situation, but she was grateful that the love of her life was there to step in, take control, and protect her from any potential harm.
