CLARESSA SHIELDS made a devastating return to middleweight before immediately setting her sights on a blockbuster showdown with Britain’s Lauren Price.

The self-proclaimed ‘GWOAT’ reminded the world why she is one of the best fighters on the planet after stopping Kaye Scott in the sixth round in Atlanta to reclaim the WBC and WBA middleweight titles.

Claressa Shields in a red boxing outfit, raising her arms in victory.Claressa Shields won her middleweight world title fight. Credit: Getty Images Claressa Shields punching Kaye Scott during a boxing match.Shields dismantled Australian boxer Kaye Scott Credit: Getty Images Claressa Shields and Kaye Scott boxing with a white towel thrown into the ring.Team Scott threw in the towel as Shields was handing out too much punishment Credit: Getty Images Claressa Shields celebrates her victory over Kaye Scott in the boxing ring.Shields got the stoppage in the sixth round Credit: Getty Images

Shields, 31, had dropped down from heavyweight for the contest following a gruelling 38lb weight cut.

But the American superstar remained in control throughout before producing a brutal finish against 42-year-old Scott.

Scott was dropped in the sixth and, after getting back to her feet, found herself trapped on the ropes as Shields unloaded.

The relentless barrage prompted Scott’s corner to throw multiple towels into the ring, with the contest waved off after one minute and 38 seconds of the round.

Victory moved Shields to a perfect 19-0 as a professional and made her a middleweight world champion for the THIRD time.

But Shields revealed afterwards just how demanding her transformation back down to 160lbs had been, saying: “It was a hard camp. I always tell myself that everything is easy work, but it was a really hard camp.

“I cut 38 pounds. I started 14 weeks ago at 198 and got down to 160.”

She added: “It was the most disciplined I’ve been since the Olympics, I feel like. She was stronger than I thought.

Claressa Shields smiling with her championship belt after defeating Kaye Scott.Shields became middleweight champion for a third time Credit: Getty Images

“She was very strong. I knew that, with the amount of weight I’d cut, I didn’t want to exert too much energy early.”

Shields wasted little time looking towards her next challenge, with unbeaten Welsh Olympic champion Price emerging as her preferred opponent at middleweight.

The American wants the mouthwatering clash to happen between December and January, while Price has already welcomed the prospect of facing her.

And Shields is no stranger to a fierce rivalry with a British opponent, having shared one of the biggest feuds in women’s with Savannah Marshall.

Their rivalry dates back to the 2012 World Championships in China, where Marshall defeated Shields on points in the amateurs.

Remarkably, it remains the only loss Shields has suffered across her entire amateur and professional boxing career.

A decade later, the rivals finally met in the professional ranks at London’s O2 Arena, with Shields gaining revenge via unanimous decision in October 2022.

That victory saw Shields take Marshall’s WBO crown and become undisputed middleweight champion – and another transatlantic rivalry could now be brewing with Price.

The Home of Boxing in 2026

There's a massive year of boxing ahead!

It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.

The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua

And did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round.

Now fans are looking forward to Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August.

August

  • Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN
  • Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN

September

  • Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN

*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.

Shields’ promoter Dmitriy Salita told Sky Sports: “Claressa came down to middleweight to make the biggest fights possible. We want to make this a mega-event, and I believe that fight belongs in the United States.”

But he refused to rule out another huge UK night, adding: “That being said, we love the UK, and another fight there is certainly not out of the question. It’s an incredible time for women’s boxing.”

A showdown with Price would give Shields the chance to add another Olympic champion to her glittering resume – while the Welsh star would be bidding to succeed where every professional opponent before her has failed.