Claressa Shields has been banned from all future Most Valuable Promotions events after slapping fellow boxer Alycia Baumgardner during Saturday’s MVP MMA event headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano in California, MVP announced Tuesday.
Shields and Baumgardner were caught on tape arguing in the VIP area before Shields slapped her. Shields is the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and WBF heavyweight champion, and Baumgardner currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, & The Ring super featherweight belts.
“MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior toward fighters, staff, media, or guests at any of our events,” the MVP statement read. “Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable in any MVP environment. MVP does not condone, tolerate, or accept Claressa Shields’ behavior in that setting and it reflects poorly on MVP and women’s sports, which we have worked tirelessly to uplift.
“Effective immediately, Claressa Shields is banned from all MVP events until further notice. There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest inside a private VIP area is unacceptable.”
Watch the incident below.
Baumgardner released a statement on Monday night saying she was “physically assaulted without provocation” by a person who “has publicly celebrated other fighters’ brain injuries,” and revealed she plans to handle the situation “legally and professionally.”
Shields posted on social media about the incident, saying Baumgardner was “playing victim” after saying “I’ll beat your ass right now.”
Check the complete statements by MVP and Baumgardner below.
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