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Boxer Claressa Shields on How The Fire Inside Captures Her Real Life Story

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Boxer Claressa Shields on How The Fire Inside Captures Her Real Life Story

As I sat down to watch “The Fire Inside“, I tried my best to detach myself from the story, pretending it was about some other athlete from Flint, Michigan. But alas, that lasted only a few minutes! The remarkable performance of Ryan Destiny brought tears to my eyes as she captured not just my physical mannerisms, but also the spirit and fire within me.

The first time boxer Claessha Shields saw “The Fire Inside”, a movie based on her life story that will be released in theaters on December 25th, she attempted to view it objectively. She imagined the story was about another athlete from Flint, Michigan struggling with poverty and striving for an Olympic dream. Shields intended to watch the film critically, much like she usually does when assessing sports movies.

In this 10-minute exercise, Shields gave it her all. “I really threw myself into it,” she said, a sentiment understandable when one sees oneself portrayed on screen. The acting of Ryan Destiny, who played Shields, left the two-time gold medalist amazed: she managed to perfectly mimic Shields’ gestures, both in and out of the ring.

Shields, 29, says to TIME, ‘I was almost speechless, thinking about our beginnings compared to our present state.’ This is a testament of transforming hardship into strength.

The Fire Inside combines elements of two films, as it doesn’t stop at Shields winning the gold medal in London, a typical ending for a rags-to-riches success story. Instead, written by Barry Jenkins, who co-wrote the 2016 best picture Oscar winner Moonlight, this film ventures into an area seldom depicted: the aftermath of Olympic victory, a time that for many athletes in lesser-known sports is marked by disillusionment and even despair. The promised financial rewards often fail to materialize, leaving them questioning the purpose of their endeavors.

Films concerning sports marketing don’t sound buzzy on the surface. But The Fire Inside hits a strong note. After her London triumph a dozen years ago, Shields didn’t fit the “girl-next-door” bill that brands were looking for in sports endorsers. Women’s sports weren’t as popular as they are now, and women’s boxing was still a curiosity. The movie captures Shields’ struggle to capitalize on her athletic achievements.

Though the story concludes with triumph. Women’s boxing has grown over the past decade-plus. Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, for example, were the co-main event to the widely panned Jake Paul-Mike Tyson bout on Netflix last month; the rematch of their 2022 Madison Square Garden classic was watched by nearly 50 million households around the world, according to Netflix. And Shields now regularly makes $1 million for her bouts. “All women are different and it’s OK to be your true self,” says Shields. “They may have not accepted me then. But they definitely have to accept me now.” 

After the London Olympics, Shields found a contented conclusion to be rather improbable. In The Fire Inside, she describes a particularly challenging period where she, back in Flint at night, was purchasing diapers for her infant nephew in a supermarket. There, amidst the cereal aisles, she saw Olympians gracing the covers of cereal boxes. The cover of Essence magazine’s 2012 Women of the Year issue, featuring four American Olympic gold medalists—track stars Carmelita Jeter, Allyson Felix, Sonia Richards-Ross, and gymnast Gabby Douglas—also brought her feelings of sadness. “It was quite painful,” she said. “I wasn’t angry, just deeply saddened, thinking that my gold medal didn’t hold as much significance as theirs. Realizing that my sport is considered the most difficult by many, but not universally respected, I felt this sadness. Still, I was happy for the other athletes. Yet, I couldn’t help but wish I had been in that photo with them.

In contrast to how it was depicted in the movie, Shields herself never attempted to sell her gold medal at a pawn shop. Instead, she kept it locked away in a safe for some time. She explains that winning the gold medal at such a young age didn’t bring her the recognition she felt she deserved. She wanted to let go of that past achievement and focus on her future progress. Additionally, she considered discarding it by throwing it into the Flint River, but her family and friends prevented her from doing so.

“I think the pawn shop kind of replaced going to the Flint River,” she says.

Indeed, Shields did engage in sparring matches with her boyfriend during her teenage years. In the movie, a romantic relationship unfolds between Shields and her boxing training partner, whom she calls Zay. Interestingly, his real name is Ardreal Holmes Jr., a fact that was not disclosed in the film. They began their relationship when Shields was 16 and continued until she turned 21. In addition to being her boyfriend, Holmes Jr. is also a professional boxer: he recently won a 10-round decision on December 12 in Flint as a southpaw.

On February 2nd, Shields’ next battle will take place in Flint, and it’s not about retirement – this World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titlist is gearing up for a fight against the unbeaten Danielle Perkins for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title. “People might think I’m retired due to the movie about my life,” Shields explains, “but I’m not done yet! I’m a world champion who is still actively defending my titles, so keep watching!

As for her totally removed, unbiased, neutral and objective sports movie grade for A Fire Inside?

“A-plus-plus.” 

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2024-12-25 17:06

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