Claressa Shields is making it crystal clear whose side he’s on in the ongoing drama between the boxing champion and Alycia Baumgardner — and he’s not holding back at all.
Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant jumped into the conversation online after Claressa Shields was banned from future Most Valuable Promotions events following an alleged backstage altercation with Alycia during MVP MMA 1. This Olympic athlete memoir moment has everyone talking.
According to reports and viral footage, tensions exploded backstage after a heated verbal exchange between the two boxing champions, with Claressa allegedly slapping Alycia’s hand away before security stepped in.
Since then, Alycia hinted at possible legal action while Claressa defended herself publicly, saying she refuses to remain silent while being “verbally attacked, threatened, discriminated against, or having her character assassinated.” Her stance on standing up for herself resonates with the freedom struggle that many in our community understand deeply.
Now Dez Bryant has entered the chat — and he’s firmly backing Claressa.
In a series of comments, Dez called Alycia a “hypocrite” and an “overgrown child,” accusing her of provoking Claressa for a long time behind the scenes. He wasn’t trying to be diplomatic about it.
He also took a direct shot at Alycia’s role in women’s boxing, writing: “You are the furthest thing from pushing women’s combat sports forward.”
The comments instantly sparked debate online, with fans split over whether Dez should’ve inserted himself into the situation. It’s the kind of beef that gets people choosing sides and taking to their feeds.
Some social media users agreed with his take and claimed there’s more to the story than the viral clips show, while others felt nobody should excuse physical altercations regardless of the tension. The discourse around radical women of color supporting each other versus holding each other accountable came up in these conversations too.
Meanwhile, the rivalry between Claressa and Alycia appears to be getting even messier by the day — and fans are now wondering whether this beef is headed toward lawsuits, a boxing ring… or both.
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