Claressa Shields has expressed admiration for Katie Taylor, stating she has no regrets about their anticipated fight never happening. As Taylor prepares for her farewell bout against Flora Pili this weekend at Croke Park in Dublin, where over 80,000 fans are expected, she is set to conclude her illustrious career as a two-weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medallist.

Shields, a five-weight world champion, highlighted their mutual respect, saying, "Am I number one? I have always shared that with Katie. Me and her joke and say we're 1A and 1B, because we're both just that good." She acknowledged the significance of their respective achievements, emphasizing that weight classes played a role in their paths not crossing.

In her words, Shields remarked, "I'm not mad that it didn't happen. We had weight classes for a reason. And I respect her greatness and she respects mine. I beat the best in my divisions, and she's beat the best in her divisions."

As Taylor approaches her last fight with a record of 25-1, following her only loss to Chantelle Cameron in May 2023, her legacy remains intact. Amanda Serrano, another prominent figure in women’s boxing, echoed similar sentiments, stating, "Katie's done what she wanted to do. I think this is her time. She deserves this homecoming fight."

Both Shields and Serrano celebrate Taylor's contributions to the sport, looking forward to her future beyond boxing. Shields concluded her message with heartfelt wishes for Taylor’s retirement, reflecting the mutual respect and admiration shared among these boxing icons.