The Fire Inside (2024) is a biographical sports drama about a US boxing champion, Claressa Shields. In this film, we follow Claressa’s journey of being the first ever US boxer, male or female, to win two consecutive Olympic Gold medals. The journey was challenging as Claressa’s coach, Jason, initially was not interested in teaching Claressa how to box. However, when Jason saw a spark in Claressa, he led Claressa to win her first Olympic Gold. There were many obstacles along the way. The one moment Claressa felt abandoned was when Jason could not join Claressa for the qualifiers in China. The coach and player get past it eventually, and Jason is with Claressa the day she wins her Gold medal.
The Fire Inside (2024) is a biographical sports drama about a US boxing champion, Claressa Shields. In this film, we follow Claressa’s journey of being the first ever US boxer, male or female, to win two consecutive Olympic Gold medals. The journey was challenging as Claressa’s coach, Jason, initially was not interested in teaching Claressa how to box. However, when Jason saw a spark in Claressa, he led Claressa to win her first Olympic Gold. There were many obstacles along the way. The one moment Claressa felt abandoned was when Jason could not join Claressa for the qualifiers in China. The coach and player get past it eventually, and Jason is with Claressa the day she wins her Gold medal.
READ MORE;Why Claressa Shields: ‘Fire Inside’ puts more pressure on upcoming fight
Why does Nicole ask Jason to lower his expectations of winning an Olympic Gold?
Meanwhile, Jason asks his wife, Mickey, what she thinks of women’s boxing. As he has never coached a girl, he is unsure what to do. So Mickey encourages Jason to teach boxing to girls. Five years after the incident Claressa has now become a boxer fighting matches. Furthermore, Claressa also has a nickname as a boxer, and she is called T-Rex because of her tiny hands. Now, Claressa is dedicating her life to boxing, and she is training hard every single day. At home, Jackie (Claressa’s mother) is busy drinking and hanging out with men, not bothered to care for her children. One day after practice, Jason needed to leave early, so Zay dropped Claressa home, and they bonded.
Along with regular matches, Claressa is having a tryout to represent the United States at the Olympics. At the 2012 National Championship, Claressa defeats her opponent Kira, who is much older and more experienced than Claressa. When the reporters ask Claressa how she feels, Claressa is not that happy as she thinks the score is low. However, Jason cheers Claressa up as Claressa will go to China for the qualifiers. At the event, Jason meets Nicole, Head of Marketing and Media Relations for USA Boxing. As they talk, Nicole asks Jason to keep the expectations for the Olympics low as the USA has not won a gold medal since 2004. In her room, Claressa is hopeful while talking to her siblings, promising them a better future after Claressa wins gold in the Olympics.
Why is Claressa upset with Jason?
After a chat with Nicole, Jason is taking Claressa’s training seriously and has put Claressa on a strict diet. While training Jason realizes Claressa and Zay like each other. On the drive home, Jason asks Claressa to keep her mind focused on winning the gold and only after that to think about dating a boy. Although Claressa agrees to do what Jason says, Claressa still goes on a date with Zay. They now come to Zay’s house, where Zay is trying to sleep with Claressa. So Claressa stops Zay and says when she was a child Jackie’s friend used to touch Claressa inappropriately. Hence, Claressa needs to take things slow. Thankfully, Zay understands Claressa.
When Claressa gets home, there is a party, and Jackie is drunk. One of Jackie’s friends tries to dance with Claressa, so Claressa punches him. Immediately, Jackie kicks Claressa out. With no one else to turn to, Claressa calls Jason, who brings her home. The arrangement now is for Claressa to stay with Jason and his family. It’s time for Claressa to head to China, and Claressa has the awful news that Jason will not be able to go with Claressa as only authorized coaches are allowed. This news upsets Claressa deeply. In the first match of the trials against Pooja Rani, Claressa wins easily. Claressa does not have filters while talking to the reporters.
