Claressa Shields and Laila Ali, women's boxing pioneer and the daughter of Muhammad Ali, used to be close. Things have changed, and Shields discussed the situation with fellow Olympic gold medalist and boxing great Andre Ward on his Art of Ward podcast.

Shields said the issues between her and Ali aren't damaged beyond repair, but admits things were said and done that need to be hashed out. The beef between Shields and Ali was at its peak in 2020, but it never materialized into a fight. Shields revealed that the money Ali wanted was offered, but the latter didn't get clearance to fight.

While Shields never fought Ali when their rivalry was at a fever pitch, she still believes they could create the biggest fight in women's boxing history. Ward asked Shields why the rumored fight between her and Ali didn't happen.

"Me fighting her right now is still the biggest fight in women's boxing," Shields told Ward. "Right now. You got all the Amanda Serranos and Katie Taylors, but Claressa Shields vs. Laila Ali -- even in an exhibition -- is still the biggest fight in the world for women's boxing. So why would I turn that down?"

Here is a look at the entire interview, which I encourage you to watch. Ward has become arguably the best interviewer in the combat sports space, and he's just getting started.

Ali is now 46, and coming out of retirement seems less likely, but it's tough to say never in a world where tons of cash is being offered for fights between active fighters and legends.

Jake Paul just fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson on Netflix, and it produced the most-viewed boxing event in history. Shields-Ali wouldn't do those kinds of numbers, but there is some merit to it potentially being the biggest fight in women's boxing history.

Serrano-Taylor II was on the undercard of Paul-Tyson, and while it was the best fight of the event, the massive viewership it garnered was because of the main event. Shields-Ali is likely a main event if it happens in the United States.

Perhaps a good landing spot for the fight could be on the same card as Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor, if that rumored exhibition match comes to fruition in India. A card with Paul-McGregor and Shields-Ali is going to draw attention, and most importantly for the fighters involved, there will be massive paydays for all four.

As far as the beef is concerned, it would be great to see Shields and Ali bury the hatchet. Both women have meant so much to women's boxing, and they have represented themselves and the sport well.

Shields, 29, is moving into another stage of her career. She's looking to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, which would make her a four-division undisputed champion in the sport. That's something that has never been done before.

With Shields' biopic, The Fire Inside, hitting theaters on Christmas Day and her continued pursuit of greatness in boxing, she's arguably in her prime as a professional.

According to Shields, she wants to retire at 38.

Before that, Shields told Ward she has plans to move back down to 154 pounds to pursue a few big-money fights. On February 2, Shields faces Danielle Perkins in a defense of her WBC heavyweight title.