Papoose says Claressa Shields boxing camps come with 'no sex' & serious sacrifice

Papoose says Claressa Shields boxing camps come with 'no sex' & serious sacrifice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Life inside a championship boxing camp doesn’t just test the fighter — it challenges everyone around them, too.

That’s the reality Papoose described while speaking with trainer and podcast host David 'Flat' Sparks on MRECK TV'sLet The Sparkz Fly, offering a rare look at what it takes to support Claressa Shields during her intense training camps.

When Sparks asked how different it is for a man to be in a relationship with a woman fighter, Papoose didn’t hesitate to explain that many of the same sacrifices apply — especially when a fight is approaching.

“You got a lot of discipline,” Papoose said. “You can’t eat. Damn sure can’t have sex. It’s tough, bro. It’s tough.”

The rapper emphasized that boxing camps demand full commitment from everyone involved, not just the athlete preparing to step into the ring. According to Papoose, Shields’ focus doesn’t waver once camp begins, and her routine reflects the habits of the sport’s all-time greats.

“She’s very self-motivated,” he said. “I wake up in the morning sometimes, she gone. She outside running. We come in after the club — she running again.”

That level of consistency, he explained, makes his role easier, even if the lifestyle itself is demanding. Shields’ discipline also extends beyond workouts, including strict rules around food and recovery.

“Anybody better be careful bringing junk food around,” Papoose joked. “She going to tell you, ‘I’m disciplined. I got to eat this.’”

While the sacrifices can be challenging, Papoose framed them as part of the shared experience of chasing greatness.

“When you love a person and you really there for that person, you’re going to go through whatever you got to go through with them,” he said. “Life is challenging.”

Papoose also pushed back on the idea that elite fighters rely on luck, pointing to Shields’ relentless preparation as proof of why she’s reached the top of the sport.

“The ones that’s at the top, they don’t get lucky,” he said. “They put that work in. People don’t see what’s behind the scenes — the sacrifices you got to make.”