Shields Says Cyborg Turned Down $2M Saudi Offer

Claressa Shields says Cris Cyborg walked away from a seven-figure payday to avoid boxing her.

The two-sport champion told TMZ Sports that Cyborg declined a $2 million offer from a Saudi backer to meet at 154 pounds, part of a deal that would have paid Shields $3 million. "She turned it down and that's back when we were cool," Shields said, per TMZ.

Shields Blames Sparring Session For Rift

Shields suggested the relationship soured after a training session she claims went badly for the Brazilian. "I think she don't like me because I whooped her a*s in sparring," she said. "She got like this edited clip that she begged me to let her and her team put together. But I had every round when we sparred and I know for a fact she was a deer in headlights."

Shields recently stopped Kaysee Scott to capture the WBA and WBC middleweight titles. Cyborg last fought in MMA, beating Ketlen Vieira at a PFL event.

No new talks between the camps have been reported.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Claressa Shields: Cris Cyborg turned down $2 million to fight me at 154 pounds