Shields or Taylor the greatest? "We're 1A and 1B!"

Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano both wished Katie Taylor a happy retirement as the Irish great prepares for the final bout of her professional career this weekend; Shields played down the idea she was upset the two never shared the ring, praising Taylor's historic career.

>Claressa Shields has hailed the greatness of Katie Taylor and says she holds no qualms over a fight between the boxing greats never materialising.

>Taylor enters her farewell bout this weekend when she takes on Flora Pili in an undisputed super-lightweight world title clash at Dublin's Croke Park in front of more than 80,000 fans.

>The Irish icon, a two-weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medallist, will hang up her gloves widely-recognised as the greatest fighter in female boxing history.

>Five-weight world champion Shields has arguably become the closest rival to Taylor's reputation at the pinnacle of the sport.

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>"Am I number one? I have always shared that with Katie," Shields told Sky Sports. "Me and her joke and say we're 1A and 1B, because we're both just that good.

>"I'm not a person that really cares about the pound for pound list. I know that I've been number one or two on there for the past five, six years.

>"But I know that Katie, she's a great fighter. She's a warrior. And I wish her a happy retirement. And I hope that she gets a big knock out her last fight."

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>Shields, a three-time undisputed world champion, has fought at heavier weight-classes than Taylor, hence the pair never crossing paths in their respective glittering careers.

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>"I'm not mad that it didn't happen," said Shields. "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. I respect that. So no, I'm not upset that we never got to fight.

>"I am happy to be able to watch her and her greatness. She's done the same for me. And like I said, I wish her a happy retirement."

>Taylor enters Saturday's contest 25-1 having suffered her only professional career defeat against Chantelle Cameron in May 2023.

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>Among her highlights is a trilogy of wins over Puerto Rican great Amanda Serrano, the first of which saw the pair compete in the first ever women's boxing match to headline at Madison Square Garden.

>"I think Katie's done what she wanted to do. I think this is her time," Serrano told Sky Sports.

>"You can feel it, I've been 17 years in the sport. It's about time.

>"Me and Katie, we've made lots of money together, we made history together and big fights. I think she's done enough for the sport. She deserves this homecoming fight.

>"I'm happy for her. I just can't wait to see her future when she's retired with her family life and all that good stuff. She deserves it."