Shields says proposed Lauren Price fight likely to take place in first quarter of 2027
Claressa Shields told BBC Sport on 7 August 2026 that her long-teased meeting with Wales' Lauren Price is now likely to be staged in the first quarter of 2027, comments made ahead of her scheduled middleweight challenge against Kaye Scott on 15 August in Atlanta, Georgia.
Shields, 31, is unbeaten in 18 professional fights, was the first boxer to become undisputed in three weight classes and is the reigning undisputed heavyweight champion; Price, 32, is unbeaten in 10 pro fights and is the unified welterweight champion, with both women Olympic gold medallists.
"When I look at Lauren fight, she's very explosive. She's fast. She got a lot of skill. I can't wait to get in there and showcase my skills against her," Shields told BBC Sport, and she added: "I think I will have this fight and I'd love to fight again at the end of the year at 160lb [middleweight]." "I thought it was going to Lauren, but I don't know when Lauren is getting back in the ring. But I think me and her will fight in 2027 in the first quarter."
Shields and Price faced off in the ring after Price's points victory over Stephanie Pineiro in Cardiff in April; Price's promoter Ben Shalom later said a two-fight deal with Shields was agreed, but Price has not fought since and public discussion of the matchup had quietened.
Shields said she expects the clash to occur at middleweight and suggested Price — who would need to move up two divisions from welterweight — might take a warm-up fight to get her "feet wet" at the higher weight.
Shields will drop to middleweight to challenge Australia's WBA and WBC world champion Kaye Scott on 15 August in Atlanta; Scott is 41 and has won five, lost one and drawn one as a pro. Shields said of Scott: "She has a great amateur background and she's been fast-tracked to some world titles. I'm just going to go out there and show how great I am and see if she's tough enough to withstand that," and the report described Shields as a heavy favourite for that bout.
Shields has lost only once in her wider boxing career — to Savannah Marshall as an amateur — and avenged that result professionally at London's O2 Arena in 2022; she acknowledged an area for improvement in her pro record, noting she has just three stoppages in 18 pro wins and saying: "I don't think it has anything to do with my power. I hurt every girl I fight. I'm dropping girls. Beating their faces up," adding, "But am I just throwing the right shot at the right time to get a knockout? I know I have a lot of power."
Shields' immediate confirmed engagement remains the 15 August trip to Atlanta to face Kaye Scott, and she has publicly predicted her own meeting with Lauren Price will take place in the first quarter of 2027.