*Ryan Destiny’s new film “The Fire Inside” is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, considered by many to be the greatest female boxer of all time.
The news release states: “Claressa, a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield, pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun.”
Directed by Rachel Morrison and penned by Academy-award winner Barry Jenkins, “The Fire Inside” chronicles Shields’ rags to riches rise to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Watch the trailer above.
“It was a strange yet powerful experience to see someone portray my life and real-life scenarios,” said Shields in a new interview with MadameNoire. “The film covers my journey from age 11 to about 20, and to see it all condensed into an hour and 45 minutes was overwhelming. I kept thinking, “Wow, all this happened in my 29 years,” she explained.
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“Watching it felt like reliving those moments, but through someone else’s eyes. I loved how Ryan Destiny portrayed me, how Barry Jenkins wrote the story, and how Rachel Morrison directed it,” she continued.
“The film captured my story accurately. As a female boxer, I’ve often been misunderstood—labeled as the “angry Black woman” or having misguided motivations, like wanting to fight men because of past trauma. That narrative was never true. This film corrects those misconceptions, showing that women in sports are passionate and driven too,” Shields said.
“I want to yell and scream and jump on the ropes too. I’m happy about (my) hard work being put in. So with that, seeing that passion on screen was very surreal, and I was stuck. I just couldn’t believe how well Ryan portrayed me. Every time I looked at her, I’d ask myself, ‘How did you do that?’”
Shields hopes viewers “feel inspired” when they watch the movie, “and believe they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” she added.
“The film shows that when you work hard and truly believe in yourself, failure becomes unlikely. We all have dreams, and the world has something to offer each of us. Sometimes, we hold ourselves back by doubting what’s possible. I tell people to go for it and be confident. I remember being a 13-year-old girl going to school with a black eye from boxing, telling everyone I would go to the Olympics. They thought I was crazy, but I believed in my dream. I worked hard, manifested it, and never gave up. I hope viewers walk away with that same fire inside them, ready to pursue their own dreams.”
“The Fire Inside” is scheduled to be released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on December 25.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Claressa Shields: I Never Talk During Fights! | WATCH Exclusive Interview
