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The White House pulled the plug on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of polygraph tests to root out leakers, according to a report.

Patrick Weaver, a current adviser to Hegseth, alerted high-ranking administration officials that he could soon have to submit a polygraph test, the Washington Post reported. That prompted a call to Hegseth to drop the lie detector tests.

Weaver, who has previously held roles on the White House’s National Security Council and in the Department of Homeland Security during President Donald Trump’s first administration, took offense to the potential measure.

The investigation to identify leakers within the Department of Defense began in late March with a memo from Joe Kasper, then Hegseth’s chief of staff.

‘Recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications with principals within the Office of the Secretary of Defense demand immediate and thorough investigation,’ Kasper wrote in the March 21 memo.

‘The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,’ Kasper added.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

The revelation is the latest controversy at the Pentagon, which earlier this year endured the ‘Signalgate’ scandal. Discussions about military action between Hegseth and a group of top Trump officials were leaked, despite being conducted on the encrypted app.

Then-national security advisor Michael Waltz assumed ‘full responsibility’ for the misstep of including the Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on the Signal chat alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Hegseth.

In the aftermath of the accidental leak to a journalist about impending U.S. military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, Trump has remained firmly in Hegseth’s corner, offering public support.

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NASCAR hits Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Cup Series drivers take on the legendary 2.5-mile oval in the Brickyard 400.

Only three active Cup Series drivers have won the Brickyard 400, with Kyle Busch winning back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, Brad Keselowski taking the checkered flag in 2018, and Kyle Larson kissing the bricks last year.

Busch will be among the winless drivers hoping to use his experience in the Brickyard to capture his first victory of the 2025 season. Another driver who has high hopes for a great day in Indianapolis is Bubba Wallace, who has two top-five and three top-10 finishes in four Cup races on the IMS oval and would be the 16th and final driver to make the playoffs if the regular season ended today.

With just five races remaining before the 10-race playoffs begin, can a winless driver catapult himself into the Top 16? USA TODAY Sports will have full coverage of Sunday’s Brickyard 400. Follow along for the latest updates.

NASCAR at Indianapolis: Brickyard 400 start time, TV, streaming

  • Date: Sunday, July 27
  • Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • Start time: 2 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT with an altcast on truTV
  • Live stream: WatchTNT, Max and Sling TV

Stream the Brickyard 400 on Sling

Who is on the pole for the NASCAR Brickyard 400?

Weather report for NASCAR Brickyard 400

It’s a cloudy but warm day in Speedway, Indiana for today’s Cup Series race. Accuweather forecasts predict temperatures will stay in the mid- to high-80s with humidity around 70%. There’s at least a 30% chance of rain for much of the afternoon with the highest chances clearing out before green flag racing.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was out of the lineup on Saturday, July 26, and will need to go on the injured list with a right ‘elbow issue.’

Manager Aaron Boone told reporters after Saturday’s 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies that Judge had a flexor strain but that his UCL is intact.

“With that strain, if you go out there and play with it, you put the UCL in jeopardy,’ he said. ‘We’ve got to get that healed up.’

Boone is hopeful that Judge won’t be out much longer than 10 days. Once Judge gets off the injured list, he will be a designated hitter at first. He’ll then start throwing so he can work his way back to playing in the outfield.

Judge leads the majors with a .342 average and .711 slugging percentage, ranks second with 37 home runs and 85 RBI entering Saturday and was the favorite to win his third American League MVP award.

The Yankees had a seven-game lead in the AL East on May 30 but have struggled for the past two months. After Saturday’s games, they trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 6 ½ games for the division lead.

Judge was the Yankees’ primary center fielder last season with Juan Soto in the Bronx, but he moved back to right field in 2025.

Ryan McMahon, acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, made his Yankees debut starting at third base on Saturday, going 1-for-3.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano criticized Major League Soccer’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi for the team’s home match vs. FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26 over skipping the All-Star Game.

Messi and Jordi Alba were both out due to league discipline as Inter Miami and Cincinnati played to a scoreless draw at Chase Stadium.

“Now I have a question: What if today’s game was an away game?’ Mascherano said afterwards. ‘Would you ask for Leo not to play? Because when it comes to filling stadiums and making money, no one complains.

“The thing is: This game happened to be a home game. That’s the issue. I’ll leave it up to you to decide.”

Mascherano also questioned officiating against Inter Miami. The club is the only team in the league to not have a penalty kick granted this season.

There were two instances against Cincinnati where they should have received a penalty call, Inter Miami contested. Luis Suarez and Fafa Picault incurred contact on two separate plays, but no penalty was awarded.

“A team that has scored as many goals as we have in MLS … zero penalties,” Mascherano said. “Strange, considering how much we’re in the area, zero penalties. I’ll leave that for you to think about.”

Inter Miami did get the most controversial call of the match to go their way against Cincinnati, though.

Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson scored a header (90’+3’), but appeared to hit Inter Miami defender Noah Allen in the head during the score. The play was ruled a foul on the field, and VAR wasn’t enough to overturn it to a goal.

“The referee delayed the whistle to allow the opportunity for VAR to review for a possible goal. After the VAR check, the referee’s decision was confirmed,” lead referee Tori Penso said in a pool report after the match.

Mascherano was seen yelling “do your job” at least twice towards officials, including Penso, resulting in a yellow card being shown in the first-year coach’s direction in the 70th minute.

Both sides earned one point in the standings after the draw. Inter Miami maintained fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points, while Cincinnati (49 points) dropped to second place behind Philadelphia (50 points).

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hammering Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Sunday as the South American country holds municipal elections to fill hundreds of mayoral positions and thousands of council seats.

The municipal contests are happening one day before the one-year anniversary of Venezuela’s presidential election, which was widely condemned by the United States and other international observers as illegitimate. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has been escalating pressure against Maduro in recent days, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday accused the foreign head of state of being the leader of an entity aiding terrorism against the U.S. 

‘One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro defied the will of the Venezuelan people by baselessly declaring himself the winner, the United States remains firm in its unwavering support to Venezuela’s restoration of democratic order and justice,’ Rubio said in a statement on Sunday. ‘Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government.’

‘Maduro is the leader of the designated narco-terrorist organization Cartel de Los Soles, and he is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe,’ Rubio continued. ‘Maduro, currently indicted by our nation, has corrupted Venezuela’s institutions to assist the cartel’s criminal narco-trafficking scheme into the United States.’

The Justice Department charged Maduro and 14 other former and current Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and other criminal charges in March 2020. At the start of this year, 10 days before President Donald Trump returned to office, the State Department increased its reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture from $15 million to up to $25 million. 

‘For years, Maduro and his cronies have manipulated Venezuela’s electoral system to maintain their illegitimate grip on power,’ Rubio added on Sunday. ‘By scheduling the municipal elections on the eve of the anniversary of the stolen July 28 presidential election, the regime once again aims to deploy the military and police to suppress the will of the Venezuelan people.’

‘The United States will continue working with our partners to hold accountable the corrupt, criminal and illegitimate Maduro regime. Those who steal elections and use force to grasp power undermine America’s national security interests,’ Rubio said. 

Maduro became the Venezuelan president in 2013, but the U.S. has not recognized his presidency since 2019. The U.S. and other countries have refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of the July 2024 Venezuelan election, citing widespread fraud. 

The Treasury Department on Friday sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles, also known as Cartel of the Suns, as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist.’ The U.S. alleges that Cartel de los Soles is headed by Maduro and other Venezuelan high-ranking individuals in his regime ‘who corrupted the institutions of government in Venezuela, including parts of the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and the judiciary, to assist the cartel’s endeavors of trafficking narcotics into the United States.’ 

The U.S. claims the Venezuela-based group provides material support to Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. The Trump administration classified Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as foreign terrorist organizations in February. 

According to the Treasury Department, the name Cartel de los Soles is derived from the sun insignias often portrayed on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officials. 

The cartel ‘supports Tren de Aragua in carrying out its objective of using the flood of illegal narcotics as a weapon against the United States,’ according to the Treasury Department. 

Bessent said on Friday that the new action ‘exposes the illegitimate Maduro regime’s facilitation of narco-terrorism through terrorist groups like Cartel de los Soles.’

‘The Treasury Department will continue to execute on President Trump’s pledge to put America First by cracking down on violent organizations including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and their facilitators, like Cartel de los Soles,’ he added. 

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Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., believes it’s ‘weird’ that the Trump administration has not released documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, but at one point, it was the last thing on her mind.

Democrats have searched for an opening to sharpen their messaging against Republicans, and have pounced on the administration and their colleagues across the aisle to release the documents. But Republicans have questioned why their counterparts didn’t have the same energy when former President Joe Biden was in office.

In a recent interview on PBS’ ‘Firing Line,’ Slotkin, who has emerged as a leading voice in the Democratic Party, said that while she did not know what was in the documents, it was odd that President Donald Trump and his administration had not released them.

‘The president and his allies have created so much anticipation about these files at this point, it’s just weird that they’re not releasing them, right? The president fomented this,’ she said.

But nearly five years ago, ahead of Biden’s eventual victory and a Democratic trifecta in Washington, the issue of Epstein was not a priority for the lawmaker, who at the time was in her first term in the House.

In a video from 2020 obtained by Fox News Digital, Slotkin said that diving into the connections between former President Bill Clinton and Epstein were not ‘front of mind.’

The sentiment came in response to a question about why there had been little mention of allegations that Clinton was in the trove of documents related to Epstein. She argued that there were more pressing issues at the time, like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout spurred by it.

‘In the face of those problems, I will be honest, I don’t spend a ton of time looking into connections between Bill Clinton and other people, because that doesn’t help my constituents every single day, right? And my job is to focus on those issues,’ she said.

‘I have no special knowledge of those issues, but my job is to focus on the things that affect people’s pocketbooks and their kids, and if I’m not making positive progress towards that, I’m not doing my job,’ she continued. ‘And so, I can’t answer your question, because that’s not where I live and where I focus.’

Fox News Digital reached out to Slotkin for comment for this report but did not hear back.

Congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, have pushed for more transparency from the Trump administration on the release of a trove of documents, known as the so-called Epstein files, in a saga that has engulfed Capitol Hill for much of July.

The furor in Congress stemmed from a Justice Department memo released earlier this month that declared the Epstein case closed, and has not lost steam in the time since.

Epstein intrigue paralyzed the House, causing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to send lawmakers home early as a bipartisan swell grew to uncover the documents. 

The Senate has been less chaotic. Still, Senate Democrats have ramped up their messaging against the administration, while many Senate Republicans would prefer to focus their attention elsewhere. 

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The Talons were three outs away from defeating the Bandits in Game 1 of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s inaugural championship series, but inclement weather rained on their parade Saturday, July 26, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The first game in the best-of-three series was postponed in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Talons led the Bandits 3-1 after rainstorms led to multiple weather delays at Rhoads Stadium. Game 1 will resume on Sunday, July 27, at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by Game 2 of the title series at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.

‘Thank you for your understanding and support,’ the AUSL said in a statement.

Here’s everything you need to know about the AUSL championship series:

What happened in Game 1 of the AUSL championship series?

Game 1 was originally scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, but rainstorms and lightning led to a two-hour weather delay and pushed the start back to 5 p.m. ET.

The first three innings of Game 1 featured a pitchers duel between the Talons’ Georgina Corrick and the Bandits’ Lexi Kilfoyl, which many fans expected as Corrick (2.04) and Kilfoyl (2.35) had the lowest ERAs in the entire league entering Saturday. 

However, the bats got going in the fourth inning as each pitcher went through the lineup a second time. In the top of the fourth inning, the Bandits’ Bubba Nickles-Camarena hit a blooper to left field that scored Delanie Wisz from second base for the first run of the game.

The Talons immediately answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run from Tori Vidales to tie it up, 1-1.

The Bandits brought in pitcher Emiley Kennedy to start the fifth inning, but the Texas A&M alum faced immediate pressure after walking Sierra Sacco and hitting Maya Brady, the first two batters she faced. The free passes came back to bite. The Talons’ Sydney Romero moved her teammates into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Caroline Jacobsen brought in Sacco with a grounder to second base. The play at home was close, but Sacco slid in before the tag was applied. Vidales followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Brady and give the Talons a 3-1 lead. 

Corrick returned to the mound for the sixth inning and retired the side in order, before another weather delay went into effect. The Talons are 14-0 this season when leading after five innings. 

Will the Talons keep the momentum going or will the Bandits answer back?

When does the AUSL championship series resume?

Game 1 of the AUSL championship series will resume on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 27 at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local) at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Game 2 will follow at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local).

How to watch Bandits vs. Talons: TV, stream for Game 2

  • Time: 2 p.m ET (1 p.m. CT)
  • Location: Rhoads Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+

Full AUSL championship series schedule

All times Eastern. * If necessary

The Talons secured home field advantage with the best record in the league:

  • Game 1 resumes – Sunday, July 27: Bandits vs. Talons (11:00 a.m., ESPN2)
    • Postponed due to weather delay. Talons lead 3-1 at the bottom of the sixth inning.
  • Game 2 – Sunday, July 27: Talons vs. Bandits (2 p.m., ESPN)
    • The Talons’ Montana Fouts, who has the third-lowest ERA (2.71) in the league, and the Bandits’ Taylor McQuillin are expected to start Game 2 on Sunday.
  • *Game 3 – Monday, July 28: Bandits vs. Talons (7 p.m., ESPN2)

Talons’ full roster

  • Head coach: Howard Dobson
  • General Manager: Lisa Fernandez
  • Catcher Sharlize Palacios (UCLA)
  • Infielder Bri Ellis (Arkansas)
  • Infielder Tori Vidales (Texas A&M)
  • Infielder Sydney Romero (Oklahoma)
  • Infielder Hannah Flippen (Utah)
  • Infielder Ali Aguilar (Washington)
  • Outfielder Sierra Sacco (Mississippi State)
  • Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen (Clemson)
  • Outfielder Victoria Hayward (Washington)
  • Utility Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU)
  • Utility Maya Brady (UCLA)
  • Pitcher Megan Faraimo (RHP, UCLA)
  • Pitcher Raelin Chaffin (RHP, Mississippi State)
  • Pitcher Montana Fouts (RHP, Alabama)
  • Pitcher Georgina Corrick (RHP, USF)
  • Pitcher Mariah Lopez (LHP, Utah)

Bandits’ full roster

  • Head coach: Stacey Nuveman Deniz
  • General Manager: Jenny Dalton-Hill
  • Catcher Jordan Roberts (Florida)
  • Catcher Mia Davidson (Mississippi) *Temporary Inactive List
  • Catcher Mary Iakopo (Texas)
  • Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton (Arkansas)
  • Infielder Sydney McKinney (Wichita State)
  • Infielder Delanie Wisz (UCLA)
  • Infielder Erin Coffel (Kentucky)
  • Infielder Skylar Wallace (Florida)
  • Utility player Cori McMillan (Virginia Tech)
  • Outfielder Morgan Zerkle (Marshall)
  • Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena (UCLA)
  • Outfielder Bella Dayton (Texas)
  • Pitcher Taylor McQuillin (LHP, Arizona)
  • Pitcher Emiley Kennedy (LHP, Texas A&M)
  • Pitcher Odicci Alexander (RHP, James Madison)
  • Pitcher Sarah Willis (RHP, UCF)
  • Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl (RHP, Oklahoma State)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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President Donald Trump’s approach with Russian President Vladimir Putin pivoted drastically this month when, for the first time since returning to the White House, he not only confirmed his support for Ukraine in a NATO arms agreement but issued an ultimatum to the Kremlin chief.

The warning came in a clear message: Enter into a peace deal with Ukraine or face stiff international sanctions on its top commodity, oil sales.

While the move has been championed by some, it has been questioned by others who debate whether it will be enough to deter Putin’s war ambitions in Ukraine. One security expert is arguing the plan will work, but it might take years to be effective.

‘I think it will be effective, and he’s going to stick to that strategy. He’s going to continue to push Putin to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith, not come to the bargaining table, make promises that the Russians don’t plan on keeping,’ Fred Fleitz, who served as a deputy assistant to Trump and chief of staff of the National Security Council during the president’s first term, told Fox News Digital.

‘That’s something Trump’s not going to tolerate,’ Fleitz added. ‘We will see this is just the first six months of the Trump presidency. This may take a couple of years to solve.’

But Trump campaigned on ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which has proven to be more complicated than he suggested from the campaign trail. And not everyone in the Republican Party has backed his approach when it comes to Europe, including a staunch Trump supporter, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

‘We do not want to give or sell weapons to Ukraine or be involved in any foreign wars or continue the never-ending flow of foreign aid,’ Greene said on X. ‘We want to solve our own problems plaguing our own people.’ 

Fleitz pointed to Trump’s decision to directly strike Iran and argued it reflected Trump’s ability to be nimble as a leader. 

‘He looked at the intelligence and realized it was getting too close, and he decided to adjust his policy, which was first diplomacy,’ Fleitz said.

‘But Trump also specified something very important. He said to his supporters, ‘I came up with a concept of the America-first approach to U.S. national security, and I decide what’s in it,’ Fleitz added. ‘He has ownership of this approach, and he will adjust if necessary.’

Though Trump had made clear from the campaign trail that he wanted to see Europe take a leading role in the war in Ukraine, last week he countered a major talking point from some within his party, including Vice President JD Vance.

Vance has argued against arming Ukraine and said in an op-ed last year, ‘[It] is not just a matter of dollars. Fundamentally, we lack the capacity to manufacture the amount of weapons Ukraine needs us to supply to win the war.’

Trump agreed to sell NATO nations top U.S. arms that will then be supplied to Ukraine.

‘We want to defend our country. But, ultimately, having a strong Europe is a very good thing,’ Trump said, sitting alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Security experts have largely argued that the future of Ukraine’s negotiating ability and, ultimately, the end of the war, will play out on the battlefield. 

On Thursday, John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program, told U.S. lawmakers on the Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, in a defense briefing that Ukraine needs to be supplied with long-range strike capabilities that can hit key Russian missile and drone plants.

‘Ukraine shouldn’t be restricted merely to shooting down ‘arrows’,’ Hardie said. ‘An optimal approach will combine both offense and defense. Ukraine needs to be able to hit the ‘archer’ and the factories that make the ‘arrows.’

‘Putin will continue his unprovoked war so long as he believes it’s sustainable and offers a pathway to achieving his goals,’ Hardie argued. ‘By shoring up Ukraine’s defense of its skies and enabling Ukraine to inflict growing costs on Russia’s war machine, as well as pressuring the Russian economy and exhausting Russia’s offensive potential on the ground, we may be able to change that calculus.’

But Fleitz, who serves as vice chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, said he believes this war will only be brought to an end when an armistice agreement is secured. 

‘I think there’s probably going to be an armistice where both sides will agree to suspend the fighting,’ Fleitz said. ‘Someday, we will find a line where both nations will agree to stop fighting.’

Ultimately, he believes this will happen by Ukraine agreeing not to join NATO for a certain period of time, though with Moscow’s understanding that Kyiv will be heavily armed by Western allies. 

‘I think there’s a way to do this where Russia wouldn’t be concerned about growing Western European influence in Ukraine, and Ukraine would not be worried that Russia will invade once a ceasefire or armistice is declared,’ he added. ‘Maybe this is a pipe dream, but I think that’s the most realistic way to stop the fighting.

‘We know from history conflicts like this take time; peacemaking takes time,’ Fleitz said. ‘I think that over time, Trump is going to have an effect on Putin.’

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Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons has a significant (and loud) ally on his side during his ongoing contract extension dispute with the team: Cowboys fans.

Fans attending the Cowboys’ ‘Opening Day Ceremony’ at training camp let team owner Jerry Jones know exactly where they stood on the Parsons issue on Saturday, July 26. As Jones, flanked by cheerleaders, took the stage to give a speech to the energetic crowd in Oxnard, California, multiple fans shouted, ‘Pay Micah!’

The demand was clearly audible in a video that Jon Machota of The Athletic posted to social media site X.

Parsons is still awaiting a contract extension from the Cowboys as he enters the 2025 season on an expiring rookie contract. Saturday’s heckling made it clear that the fans are more interested in Jones getting a deal done than in hearing his promises about an improved roster.

Micah Parsons’ contract dispute, explained

Parsons is set to enter the fifth-year option season, the last year of his rookie contract, in 2025. The four-time Pro Bowler is one of multiple star players across the NFL who have voiced discontent about his current contract ahead of the 2025 season.

‘I will never understand it,’ Parsons said in an interview with WWE wrestler Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker. ‘We wanted to do the contract last year – then you go out there and perform again. You would think, ‘All right, we’ll get it done early, we know some guys are about to get re-paid.’ There’s Myles [Garrett], Maxx [Crosby] is going, so you would think, ‘Hey, let’s get ahead of that.’

‘You can’t want us to take less (now) because you’re the one that decided to wait.’

Garrett, Crosby and now Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt are all fellow edge rushers who have signed massive contract extensions this offseason – Garrett and Watt’s deals have each surpassed $40 million in average annual value. As Parsons pointed out, the longer the Cowboys wait, the higher his price will rise as other players’ deals push new boundaries for the edge rusher market.

Parsons has reported to the Cowboys’ mandatory offseason activities – June minicamp and the start of training camp this month – while still making clear his desire for a new contract.

Jerry Jones’ comments on Micah Parsons negotiations

Jones himself shared his stance on the ongoing dispute during a media availability session at Cowboys training camp earlier in the week.

‘Just because we sign him doesn’t mean we’re going to have him,’ Jones said. ‘He was hurt six games last year, seriously. (Note: Parsons missed only four games last year with a high ankle sprain.) We’ve signed, I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in (quarterback) Dak Prescott.

‘Contracts are four, five years, OK? There’s a lot of water under the bridge if you step out there and do something in the first two or three. You can get hit by a car. Seriously.’

Given the reaction to the Cowboys owner’s training camp appearance on Saturday, it seems the team’s fans are less than satisfied with the explanation.

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You can run from Claressa Shields, but you cannot hide. You can try to trade punches with her, but that’s not going to work, either.

Yet the latest example: Shields dominated Lani Daniels in a victory by unanimous decision Saturday night, July 26 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

The judges scored the 10-round bout 100-90, 99-91, 99-91.

With the victory, Shields defended her undisputed heavyweight title and improved her record to 17-0.

Daniels stayed on the move in the opening rounds with the clear strategy to stay out of danger. Shields, who looked frustrated, chased after her opponent and to the delight of the sellout crowd landed punches.

But the track meet evolved into an actual boxing match with some electricity.

Daniels, the 37-year-old from New Zealand, opened up in the final rounds. She took a pounding but landed some shots before the final bell rang.

“I mean, she was just very, very tough and she was tricky toward the end,’’ Shields said. “But I know I won every round.’’

In chasing after Daniels early, Shields said she lost her “gas tank.’’ She kept punching even if that tank was on empty. Although in the later rounds she grew more stationary as the fight took place in close quarters.

“I thought she wanted to fight but she didn’t fight until the last three rounds,’’ Shields said. “And even then she was doing a whole bunch of head movement. She even headbutted me twice.

“But Lani is strong. She’s tough. And she got a big head.’’

Daniels’ record dropped to 11-3-2 with the loss.

The fight was Shields’ first since testing positive for marijuana after her victory over Danielle Perkins by unanimous decision, Feb. 2 in Flint, Michigan. Shields was suspended for five weeks before Michigan officials said evidence showed that a procedural error occurred during the drug test and Shields would face no disciplinary action.

Though a possible fight between Shields, 30, and Laila Ali, 47, has generated interested, a stronger candidate to be Shields’ next opponent is WBC and WBA super middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2).

Shadasia Green, the WBO and IBF super middleweight champion, beat Savannah Marshall by unanimous decision in a victory that fueled speculation of a possible fight between Green and Shields. But asked earlier this week about fighting Green, Shields responded, “Shadasia didn’t really sound too confident when my name came up.’’

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, analysis and highlights from the Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels card:

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels: Round-by-round analysis

Undisputed heavyweight title fight, 10 rounds

Lani Daniels came out alone. Claressa’s leading an army of dozens, including Rick Ross.

Round 1

Lani Daniels (a.k.a. “The Smiling Assassin’) comes out beaming despite being a massive underdog against Claressa Shields. Shields was beaming too. So who will be smiling when it all ends? The fight begins. Daniels bouncing around while Shields shadows her and measures her opponent. They trade jabs. Shields moves forward and aims for the body. Daniels backpedals. Shields showboating a little as she chases Daniels, who’s trying to bait Shields. Doesn’t work as Shields lands a right as the bell sounds. Shields 10, Daniels 9

Round 2

Daniels spent the first round running away and frustrating Shields. Now what? More movement from Daniels. Shields stalking her like prey. Shields misses with some big punches. Shields flicking the jab as Daniels stays on the move. Crowd boos. Shields throwing haymakers that mostly miss. Now she fires jabs at the body. Shields lands some big shots. Pounds away as the bell rings. Shields 20, Daniels 18

Round 3

Daniels comes out and is immediately circling the ring. She grabs Shields, then lets go. Shields connects with a body shot. Shields lands a left. She moves in behind three fast jabs but misses with the big punch. Shields uncorking big punches. Daniels lands a left. Shields smothering Daniels and chasing after her as the bell sounds. Shields 30, Daniels 27

Round 4

Daniels fires a jab early, then finds herself under siege with body shots. Shields jabs to the body. Now it’s back to head hunting. Daniels lands a shot, and Shields fights right back. Shields attacking as Daniels is on the ropes. Shields on the ropes and Daniels lands a couple of shots before Shields erupts and the bell rings. Shields 40, Daniels 36

Round 5

Daniels slugs and Shields slugs back. Daniels lands a hard right. Shields misses with two big shots. Shields lands a couple jabs. Daniels heating up. Has Shields on the ropes and she’s busy, but Shields is firing. Shields winding up. Shields pounds Daniels’ body and then aims for the head. Shields 50, Daniels 45

Round 6

Shields out behind the jab. Maybe catching her breath. But wow, those jabs she’s throwing are FAST. Daniels has slowed down. Shields lands a couple of head shots, but Daniels is moving in and throwing punches. Not nearly with the same force as Shields, who’s working Daniels’ body. Digging into the body some more. Shields 60, Daniels 54

Round 7

The two fighters meet at the center of the ring and mix it up. Shields landing the big punches, but Daniels stands her ground and pokes away. Shields swinging with gusto and Daniels poking away. Shields lands a huge right, attacking the body and head. Shields unloading. Daniels uncorks a shot late in the round. Shields 70, Daniels 63

Round 8

Daniels no longer running. Advancing forward now. Shields waits behind that jab. Shields cornered. Unleashes punches and pushes Daniels back. Connects with a left. And a big uppercut. Yet Daniels is coming forward and doing her best to throw leather. Daniels showing aggression but Shields still dominating the action, although Daniels got in some shots. Shields 80, Daniels 72

Round 9

There’s no running in Daniels now. She’s almost dictating the fight, and Shields is allowing Daniels to come forward. Once again, she’s in the corner and fighting off Daniels. Shields digs in with body shots. Credit Daniels for her toughness, but, wow, Shields still firing. Shields lands a big left and keeps the fists flying. Daniel responds but nothing that appears to hurt Shields. Shields 90, Daniels 81

Round 10

Daniels advances as the round begins. Shields against the ropes, and apparently content. Fires punches and fights her way off only to get back on the ropes again. Daniels throwing punches but looks spent. Daniels connects with a hard left and she’s not done yet. Shields unloads, but it’s not enough to drop Daniels. Shields 99, Daniels 91

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels fight card results

  • Claressa Shields def. Lani Daniels by unanimous decision, heavyweight title fight
  • Tony Harrison def. Edward Diaz by unanimous decision, middleweight
  • Pryce Taylor def. Robert Simms by unanimous decision, heavyweight
  • Samantha Worthington def. Victoire Piteau by majority decision, for the WBA super lightweight interim title
  • Caroline Veyre def. Licia Boudersa by unanimous decision, featherweight
  • Da’Velle Smith def. Martez McGregor, super middleweight
  • Cameran Pankey def. Dominique Griffin by unanimous decision, featherweight
  • Jaquan McElroy def. Joshua Flores by unanimous decision, middleweight
  • Kahmel Makled def. Devario Hauser by stoppage, light heavyweight
  • Sardius Simmons def. Demetrius Banks by unanimous decision, heavyweight

Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

Claressa Shields will face Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26 at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

  • Date: Saturday, July 26
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels main event ringwalks: 10 p.m. ET
  • Stream: DAZN

Watch Shields v Daniels with DAZN PPV

Tony Harrison def. Edward Diaz by unanimous decision

Harrison, the former world middleweight champion, returned to the ring after a two-year layoff and got a scare in the 10-round bout.

After controlling most of the fight, he got knocked down by Diaz at the end of the ninth round. A slugfest ensued in a wild 10th that electrified the crowd as Harrison prevailed.

The knockdown looked precarious, especially since his last fight – against Tim Tszyu in 2023 – ended with his getting  knocked out in the ninth round. But this time Harrison got back on his feet and showed resolve.

The judges scored it 96-93, 98-91, 97-92 in favor of Harrison, a 34-year-old from Detroit who improved to 30-4-1.

Diaz, a 34-year-old from the Dominican Republic, fell to 15-7.

Tony Harrison vs. Edward Diaz: Round-by-round analysis

Middleweight bout, 10 rounds

Round 1

Tony Harrison, a former WBC super welterweight champion, is about to begin his first fight since his 9th-round TKO loss to Tim Tszyu more than two years ago. Edward Diaz is getting a chance to test him as the fight gets underway. Diaz out first with jabs. Nothing lands. Harrison delivers a couple of body shots and Diaz responds with solid punches. Diaz countering nicely. Diaz lands a hard overhand right. Harrison responds with a flurry. Harrison 10, Diaz 9

Round 2

Two big misses by both boxers. Harrison ends up on the ropes – probably not where he needs to be. Diaz showing some aggression. Harrison leaning on the jab, and it’s fast. Diaz missing on a couple of big shots while Harrison makes effective use of the jab. Nice exchanges as the round ends, and Harrison delivers the last shot – an uppercut. Harrison 20, Diaz 18

Round 3

Diaz showing aggression and lands a nice right. Harrison answers with jabs and is backpedaling as Diaz swings and misses with an overhand right. Harrison connects with a combo, which energizes Diaz. Harrison delivers a left to Diaz’s midsection. Is Harrison growing? His height advantage looks more significant. Harrison lands a straight right that catches Diaz’s attention. Harrison 30, Diaz 27

Round 4

Harrison grows passive, and Diaz revs up. Diaz fails to capitalize. Diaz has Harrison on the ropes but does little damage. Harrison getting more active and connects with the left. Nasty jab from Harrison. Harrison digs in with a nice body shot. Harrison throwing punches with more snap while fighting in close quarters. Harrison 40, Diaz 36

Round 5

Diaz comes out stalking and Harrison seems comfortable backpedaling. Diaz revs things up but Harrison looks solid and lands a solid combination. Harrison looks strong as he throws the jab and the occasional right. Diaz wakes up and fires punches, but soon enough Harrison is back in control. Harrison 50, Diaz 45

Round 6

Diaz emerges the aggressor and attacks Harrison on the ropes. Harrison stabilizes things by firing his jab and exploiting his reach advantage. Harrison digs in with a body shot and a jab before Diaz pushes forward and lands a couple of nice shots. Diaz has absorbed plenty of punches but looks no worse for the wear. Harrison using that length again. Harrison 60, Diaz 54

Round 7

Harrison nearly does the splits after unleashing a hard right. The referee gets a towel and dries up the canvas. Harrison drills Diaz with a jab and a few more. Diaz swings and whiffs with an overhand right. Harrison showing some nice defense. Harrison popping Diaz with that jab again. Diaz opens up and fires away. Harrison stands his ground and digs into the body. Harrison 70, Diaz 63

Round 8

Diaz still swinging hard. Can he connect? Connect in a big way? Harrison grows more passive and leans on that jab. That jab is sweet. Or, if you’re on the wrong side of it, sour. Harrison delivering with authority. Harrison 80, Diaz 72

Round 9

Harrison firing that jab. To Diaz’s chagrin. Making it hard for Diaz to close the gap. But Diaz is moving forward. Just not able to do much, if any, damage. Diaz chasing Harrison … on a road to nowhere? Harrison slips away before Diaz can inflict much pain. Harrison goes down! Just as he nails Diaz, Diaz drops Harrison with a hard right. Harrison is up on his feet as the round ends. Harrison 88, Diaz 82

Round 10

Diaz charges after Harrison, clearly looking for the knockout. Harrison is stationary and taking heavy blows. Harrison now fires back. Harrison looks alive and now is digging in before he takes a hard right from Diaz. Heavy exchange of blows. Both men fighting bravely – and hard. Harrison snaps back Diaz’s head with an uppercut. Diaz is swinging super hard while taking heavy punches. These guys are slugging it out. What a finish! Harrison 98, Diaz 91

Pryce Taylor def. Robert Simms by unanimous decision

The crowd booed when Taylor was declared the winner of the eight-round heavyweight bout against Simms.

The outcome was indisputable, but the crowd’s response was understandable.

Taylor spent a significant portion of the fight showboating rather than trying to take out Simms, an ample target at 5-foot-11 and 258 pounds. But despite the crowd’s disdain, Taylor overpowered Simms during the occasional stretches when he turned serious.

The judges scored it 80-72, 80-72, 80-72 for Taylor, a 28-year-old from Brooklyn who improved to 9-0.

Simms, a 41-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, fell to 12-5-1.

Pryce Taylor vs. Robert Simms: Round-by-round analysis

Heavyweight bout, 8 rounds

Round 1

At 6-foot-4 and 278 pounds, Pryce Taylor has a noticeable size advantage over the 5-foot-11, 258-pound Robert Simms. Simms lets fly with the left. Taylor staying patient rather than rushing into a potential windmill. Simms whirling away with the left, and Taylor responds with some powerful shots. Simms against the ropes and getting pounded. Taylor shimmies in the ring and draws laughter. Simms, who has taken a pounding, is not laughing. Taylor 10, Simms 9

Round 2

Simms throwing reasonably good punches. But Taylor is undeterred and attacks Simms’ body. Simms fights back, as Taylor swings big and misses big. Taylor 20, Simms 18

Round 3

Taylor exposing his body and all but getting Simms to hit him. Then he unloads with some big punches. Taylor controlling this fight, but not dominating it as it appears he could. Simms occasionally landing significant punches. Crowd boos as Taylor showboats before he resumes punching. Taylor 30, Simms 27

Round 4

Taylor appears to be toying with Simms. But Simms maintains a puncher’s chance given the decent power he can generate. Taylor takes three straight rights to the face, then responds with body work. Taylor 40, Simms 36

Round 5

Taylor stalking, but without much urgency. Still looks to be playing around. Shimmies again and the dancing and showboating continue. This is turning embarrassing, as Taylor coasts and showboats. The crowd boos. Understandably. Taylor finishes the round with hard rights. Taylor 50, Simms 45

Round 6

More foolishness from Taylor, who looks into the crowd and nods. This is devolving into farce. Up go chants: “Knock him out. Knock him out.’’ Now Taylor unloads, with a smile. Simms still on his feet, comfortably. Taylor 60, Simms 54

Round 7

Taylor comes out with some more seriousness. More no-look punches from Taylor. Simms throws a hard right and Taylor responds with force. Taylor may simply have grown frustrated that he can’t take out Simms. Taylor 70, Simms 63

Round 8

Probably a moral victory for Simms to finish this fight on his feet. But no victory for the crowd, although Taylor is unloading with a minute left in the fight. Simms wobbles, but rather than fall down he unloads a couple of punches as the bell sounds and the crowd boos. Taylor 80, Simms 72

Samantha Worthington def. Victoire Piteau by majority decision

Claressa Shields came out to watch Worthington, who was seeking her eighth knockout and to maintain her unbeaten record.

Worthington had to settle for something less decisive, beating Piteau by majority decision in their 10-round bout to win the WBA super lightweight interim title.

Worthington dominated the first half of the fight and did just enough to prevail after Piteau mounted a comeback.

The judges scored it 99-91, 95-95, 96-94 for Worthington, a 29-year-old from Lexington, Kentucky, who improved to 12-0.

Piteau, a 26-year-old from France, fell to 14-3.

Samantha Worthington vs Victoire Piteau: Round-by-round analysis

For the WBA super lightweight interim title, 10 rounds

Round 1

With the WBA super lightweight interim title up for grabs, here come Samantha Worthington and Victoire Piteau. And make note that Worthington has 7 KO’s while winning all 11 of her fights. Worthington the aggressor and landing big shots early. Now attacking the body with her right hand. Piteau unleashes a flurry, but without Worthington’s power.  Worthington 10, Piteau 9

Round 2

Worthington comes out charging hard. The two exchange sharp blows, and Piteau is not backing down. But Worthington is almost relentless and more powerful than Piteau. Worthington 20, Piteau 18

Round 3

Claressa Shields is three rows behind Worthington’s corner watching the fight, according to DAZN. Piteau throwing a flurry and Worthington responds with a sledgehammer of a right. Worthington 30, Piteau 27

Round 4

Piteau bravely staying within range of Worthington’s punches. She’s eating punches in exchange for chances to land them too. Now Worthington makes her pay. The gutsy Piteau lands a combination and deserves the round. Worthington 39, Piteau 37

Round 5

Piteau still standing her ground and eats a big left. Worthington now attacking Piteau’s body. Piteau just keeps swinging, with less authority than frequency. Worthington walking through the punches, some hard ones, too. Worthington 49, Piteau 46

Round 6

Piteau firing away with her pistols as Worthington tries to load up with the howitzer. Worthington shoves a left into Piteau’s face. But she responds with a right. Lands a hard right, too, as the round ends. Worthington 58, Piteau 56

Round 7

Worthington digs in with body shots. Piteau has weathered the storm and now she’s the one who looks relentless. Worthington 67, Piteau 66

Round 8

Worthington charges out and lands punches, but Piteau fires back. Worthington is landing the big shots again, despite the peppering coming her way from Piteau. Now Worthington appears to be tiring. Piteau lands some late counterpunches, but it’s Worthington’s round. Worthington 77, Piteau 75

Round 9

Piteau’s tank doesn’t look to be close to empty as she keeps firing away. Worthington has lost her snap and eats a big right. Piteau lands a combination and Worthington is unable to dominate as she did early in this fight. Worthington 86, Piteau 85

Round 10

Worthington comes out swinging, and Piteau is swinging back. Worthington connects with a solid right. And another. But Piteau fights back and lands a solid right of her own. Sensational exchange as the round comes to a close. Worthington 96, Piteau 94

Caroline Veyre def. Licia Boudersa by unanimous decision

Veyre smothered Boudersa, landing 158 punches to only 60 punches for Boudersa in their 10-round featherweight fight. It ended with Boudersa bleeding badly – largely because of an accidental headbutt – and the outcome in no doubt.

The judges scored it 99-91, 98-92, 99-91 for Veyre, a 36-year-old from Canada who improved to 10-1.

Boudersa, a 32-year-old from France, fell to 24-4-2.

Caroline Veyre vs. Licia Boudersa: Round-by-round analysis

Featherweight bout, 10 rounds

Round 1

Caroline Veyre bounced back from her first loss with two victories. Licia Boudersa needs a win to boost her stock after going 2-2 in her last four fights. And here they come as the bell rings. Boudersa comes out firing jabs. Veyre mostly on the defensive. Boudersa looks substantially bigger too as she uncorks her right hand. Impressive opening for Boudersa. Boudersa 10, Veyre 9

Round 2

Boudersa throwing effective jabs. Fighters got tangled up and that appears to be Veyre’s strategy, get inside and neutralize the jabs. Veyre lands a couple of hard lefts. Bounce-back round for Veyre. Boudersa 19, Veyre 19

Round 3

Early exchange won by Veyre. She’s showing considerable aggression and lands a shot to the body. With Boudersa against the ropes, Veyre lands a flurry of shots. Veyre showing terrific footwork too while landing more punches. Veyre 29, Boudersa 28

Round 4

Boudersa warned by the referee for holding. Boudersa was not warned for the two lefts Veyre landed on her. Another solid round for Veyre. Veyre 39, Boudersa 37

Round 5

Veyre lands a head-snapping jab. Boudersa exerting plenty of effort but struggling to get to Veyre, who remains active and is putting together combinations. Boudersa responds with a big right. Veyre 49, Boudersa 46

Round 6

Veyre comes out aggressively again and lands combinations. Boudersa winds up and throws the right. Swing and a miss. Twice. Veyre throwing with less velocity but with precision. And now Boudersa is bleeding badly from the nose. Veyre lands two solid lefts and is going in for the kill. Quick on her feet, too. Veyre 59, Boudersa 55

Round 7

Boudersa shows some fight, but this is about more skill than fight. Boudersa eats another right and Boudersa is warned for the second time about shoving down Veyre. Veyre lands a combination and Boudersa collapses on Veyre after pushing her down. Cheap move. Veyre 69, Boudersa 64

Round 8

Looks like more target practice for Veyre, landing an assortment of punches. Stiff jab to Boudersa’s face. And another. Veyre’s quickness paying off big time. Veyre 79, Bourdesa 73

Round 9

Boudersa throws a couple of big overhand rights. At least one of those landed. Ref now warns Veyre for holding. Inside fighting ensues. Boudersa bleeding badly from the left eye resulting from a headbutt. Veyre attacking now. Blood coating both boxers. What a mess. Veyre 89, Boudersa 82

Round 10

Bell rings but Boudersa remains on her stool. Now she’s up and ready to go. Credit Boudersa. Showing no sign of quit. And, well, no sign of winning. Boudersa lands a terrific straight right. Veyre looks unfazed. A nice left from Boudersa as the fight comes to a close. Veyre 98, Boudersa 92

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels fight card

Main card

  • Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels; Heavyweight, for the undisputed title
  • Tony Harrison vs Edward Diaz; Middleweight
  • Pryce Taylor vs Robert Simms; Heavyweight
  • Samantha Worthington vs Victoire Piteau; Super lightweight, for the WBA interim title
  • Caroline Veyre vs Licia Boudersa; Featherweight

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels fight card odds

Fight card, according to DAZN and odds according to BetMGM on Saturday.

  • Claressa Shields (-2500) vs Lani Daniels (+1000); Heavyweight, for the undisputed title
  • Tony Harrison (-1400) vs Edward Diaz (+800); Middleweight
  • Pryce Taylor vs Robert Simms; Heavyweight (odds not listed as of writing)
  • Samantha Worthington (-600) vs Victoire Piteau (+450); Super lightweight, for the WBA interim title
  • Caroline Veyre (-900) vs Licia Boudersa (+600); Featherweight

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels Predictions

Bleacher Report: Shields via fifth-round knockout

Staff writes: ‘Perkins comes into the bout looking to play spoiler. The 42-year-old will be the biggest opponent that Shields has seen in the ring, but is still considered to be a massive underdog.’

Sports Illustrated: Claressa Shields

Apratim Banerjee writes: ‘Claressa Shields is certainly the more decorated athlete heading into the contest and she is the favorite for a reason. However, Shields is making a jump to heavyweight. That said, Danielle Perkins is naturally a heavyweight and could have the strength and weight advantage over Shields, making her chances interesting. However, Shields is too experienced and crafty and should be able to manage a decision win against Perkins. A finish looks unlikely to take place.’

Sportskeeda: Claressa Shields via unanimous decision

Staff writes: ‘Shields is the more polished boxer and will control the pace of the fight. She will force Daniels on her back foot right from the opening bell. Her accurate jabs will prevent her opponent from gaining any kind of momentum. Shields will also target Daniels’ body to limit her movement inside the ring.’

Claressa Shields post-retirement scenario

Claressa Shields said she’s unsure if Laila Ali will come out of retirement at 47 and fight Shields for $15 million. That’s how much Shields said her team is prepared to guarantee Ali.

“I know I can be 60 and if one of these young girls come calling me out when they got $15 million, I’m stepping out,’’ Shields said. “I’m stepping up and I’m going to get the money. Especially if I’m in good shape and I’m helping and I believe that I can still fight. I’m definitely going to do it.’’

Claressa Shields expects sellout crowd

Claressa Shields is expected to fight in front of a sellout crowd of 19,000 at Little Caesars Arena, according to the fight card’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita.

“Yeah, we’re definitely going to have a packed out arena,’’ Shields told USA TODAY Sports earlier this week. “We’re doing really great at ticket sales. I don’t know if I can announce how much the ticket sales is yet, what our gate was, but it’s highest gate that I’ve done so far and we have worked so hard on this.’’

Claressa Shields drug test drama

This fight was Claressa Shields’ first since testing positive for marijuana after her victory over Danielle Perkins by unanimous decision Feb. 2 in Flint, Michigan. Shields was suspended for five weeks before Michigan officials said evidence showed that a procedural error occurred during the drug test and Shields would face no disciplinary action.

Claressa Shields to clash with Jake Paul company?

Claressa Shields, the star of Salita Promotions, addressed whether Salita Promotions might one day be rivals with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Jake Paul. MVP partnered with Netflix on an all-women card held in front of a sellout crowd of 19,729 on July 11 at Madison Square Garden.

“Hey, they got all those good girls on the roster,’’ Shields said of MVP, “but they don’t have the greatest and that’s a problem for them.’’

Of course, Shields was referring to herself, the self-described G.W.O.A.T. (Greatest Woman Of All-Time).

“I wish them well, but at the end of the day, I’ve always been a one-woman army and looks like I’m winning the war so far.’’

Claressa Shields sizes up Lani Daniels

Yet another Claressa Shields fight, yet another victim? She sized up her next opponent, Lani Daniels, during an interview with USA TODAY Sports.

“She’s not as big as Danielle Perkins,’’ Shields said, referring to her last opponent, “but she’s very elusive. She’s fast, she’s aggressive, she’s very awkward and I look forward to figuring it out and fighting her on Saturday.

“I am very great at being very strategic and figuring out how about putting my opponent through the most pain and beat ’em up in here. And that’s my own goal is just to beat her up. I want to beat Lani Daniels up. I want to put her on an entertaining fight. I want to collect some more belts and I want to continue to let everybody know I’m the greatest woman of all time because the things that I do these other girls can’t do.’’

Claressa Shields’ new tattoo

Shields’ newest tattoo, apparent when she shifted the top of her swimsuit at the weigh-in, is “Papoose.’’ Papoose, born Shamele Mackie, is a rapper and Shields’ boyfriend.

Papoose relationship history with Remy Ma

Papoose, a New York rapper born Shamele Mackie who is Claressa Shields’ boyfriend, is embroiled in a messy divorce from Remy Ma, also a rapper from New York. On May 22, Papoose posted on Instagram what he said was confirmation that a complaint or divorce had been filed.

“The only reason I haven’t filed previously Is for the sake of my daughter,’’ he wrote on Instagram, suggesting the drama has turned the situation “into a circus.’’

Shields and Papoose acknowledged their relationship at the end of last year after Papoose and Remy Ma were estranged.

Papoose net worth

The net worth of Papoose (47), Claressa Shields’ boyfriend, is $500,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Shields (30) has a net worth of between $5 million and $10 million, according to Finance Monthly.

Who is Remy Ma?

Remy Ma, the estranged wife of Papoose, in December posted text messages she said showed Papoose and Claressa Shields were having an affair before the boxer and rapper had publicly acknowledged the romance. Papoose fired back on Instagram, writing that Remy Ma chose “to cheat repeatedly.’’

Remy Ma is a four-time Grammy-nominated rapper from the Bronx who also has appeared on reality shows such as ‘Love & Hip Hop.”

Claressa Shields is candid about camera

On X, Shields wrote, “Everyone want they face in the camera. Sit down it ain’t bout you today.’’

Surely Shields means the camera is for her.

Claressa Shields and Laila Ali feud continues

Claressa Shields is putting her undisputed heavyweight title on the line against Lani Daniels Saturday, July 26, but a piece of her mind is occupied by someone else.

Laila Ali.

Shields and her team have said they put $15 million in escrow for Ali — provided she agrees to fight Shields. Four days since they made the offer, Ali has yet to respond, according to Shields.

“Do you want to entertain a fight or do you not?’’ Shields said, referring to Muhammad Ali’s daughter. “And I think that she should let me and the public know because the public is very, very interested. …

Read more on what Claressa Shields had to say about rival Laila Ali.

Claressa Shields eyes motherhood ahead of fight

World champion Claressa Shields joined The Pivot Podcast ahead of her highly anticipated fight against Lani Daniels in Michigan on Saturday, July 26, where she discussed her future outside of boxing.

The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor, featured a discussion with boxing star Shields. During the episode, she announced her plans to start a family with her partner, rapper Papoose, next year. She explained that one of the main reasons for this decision is her desire to be present for her children rather than waiting until later in her career to start a family. Although she plans to take time off to have a child, she intends to return to the ring to continue her boxing career at some point. — Elizabeth Flores

Claressa Shields’ gift beyond boxing

“Attention has always just kind of came to me,’’ Shields told USA TODAY Sports. ” I can go and hide in the corner and people would still find a way to (approach her). People gravitate toward me and it’s been that way my entire life.’’

On Saturday, July 29, Shields is expected to fight in front of a sellout crowd of 19,000 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, according to Dmitriy Salita, promoter of the 11-fight card with Shields putting her undisputed heavyweight title against Lani Daniels in the main event.

Josh Peter has more on Shields and her gift beyond boxing.

Claressa Shields wows at weigh-in

The undisputed women’s heavyweight champion wore high heels, a fur coat, an eye-catching swimsuit and a G.W.O.A.T. chain.

Before Shields stepped on the scale, someone brushed her long blond hair and she flexed her biceps. Her official weight: 174.6 pounds.

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels main card, ring walk start times

  • Main card start time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Main event ring walks: 10 p.m. ET (approximate)

Claressa Shields parents

Claressa Shields’ father, Clarence, signed her up for boxing, according to Shields. “…even though, he did not want me to actually fight!’’ she wrote on Instagram. “My dad believed in my dreams and me at very young age! I thank God for him! He’s who I get my loud laugh, Gift of gab and quick jab from: I can really write paragraphs about my dad!’’

Of her mother, Marcella Adams, Shields wrote on Instagram, “My mama is my biggest supporter and supports everything I do. She has a hard job because I ain’t the average woman. And wasn’t the average kid. Imagine a little skinny girl coming home with a busted lip or a black eye from boxing the boys.’’

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels live stream, price

Claressa Shields will face Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26, and the event will be streamed on DAZN. In the U.S., fans can purchase the event for $29.99.

‘The Fire Inside’ movie

“The Fire Inside,’’ a movie about Claressa Shields’ life and boxing career, was released in December. Ryan Destiny, the actress whose work includes roles in the FOX TV musical “Star,’’ played Shields.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie scored impressively – 93 percent based on 120 reviews and 94 percent based on more than 500 verified ratings. But the movie has generated $8.1 million at the box office, about $4 million less than its budget.

Claressa Shields vs. Lani Daniels: Tale of the tape

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