It would take a huge amount of money for Claressa Shields to hang up the gloves and fight barehanded.
Boxing in its original form has made a huge comeback in modern times.
Bare-knuckle boxing has exploded in popularity since Jim Freeman and Joe Brown of BKB (now BYB Europe) professionalised the sport in 2015.
Boxing is currently the fastest growing combat sport in the world, and Conor McGregor's involvement has only increased its profile.
The former two-division UFC champion recently became part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), a company accustomed to signing big names.
Former UFC lightweight titleholder Eddie Alvarez and former gloved world champions Paulie Malignaggi and Austin Trout have all fought under the promotion's banner.
But for the right amount of money, they could also sign Shields, the pound-for-pound queen of women's boxing, to their biggest contract ever.
“I don't like the idea of fighting with my bare hands. It might sound bad coming from me, but it's brutal,” Shields told talkSPORT.com when asked if he would consider a move to BKFC.
“That being said, the fighter in me says if they bring me the right amount of money, I'll go up there and fight bare-handed.
“But it has to be $1 million or $1.5 million. I've got to bring in a million dollars. I know I've got a great arm, but I know someone's going to hit me with their bare hands. Well, look at this face, this face looks good.”
“You think I should take such a risk just because I want to see you guys punch me with your bare hands, because I want to entertain you?
“Look, I want to be entertained and I want to spend a million dollars to go out there and entertain them.
“If they give me that much money, I can make it happen, because I am the best boxer in the world. But if they want me to fight the best boxer in the world bare-knuckle, show me the money. Lots of money.”
Shields is the first undefeated two-division champion in the four-division era and has beaten every boxer he has ever faced both as a professional and an amateur.
She has already won world titles at light middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight, but the 29-year-old is now looking to become a four-division champion by defeating WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanis on July 27.
The bout will take place at 175 pounds (the light heavyweight limit) and will be for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title.
Lepage-Joanisse previously weighed as much as 231 pounds but won the heavyweight belt at 173 pounds.
In addition to his boxing exploits, Shields is also active in mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
She won her debut bout by third-round TKO against Brittney Elkin, but lost on points to Abigail Montez in her second bout.
Shields returned in February with a split decision win over Kelsey DeSantis and will now face fellow boxing rival Savannah Marshall in her next bout inside the cage.
