Claressa Shields and Laili Ali hasn't been booked -- despite big interest in the scrap -- and there's a simple reason why ... the G.W.O.A.T. says the retired boxing star is SCARED!
TMZ Sports caught up with 30-year-old Shields in Los Angeles on Thursday -- as she arrived at lunch with her boyfriend, rapper Papoose -- when we asked about the status of the Ali fight.
"Layla and her representatives have told us no. Like, the answer is 'no.' She doesn't want to fight. And that's fine. I have no problem with that.