Shields Sets Sights on Price in US and UK Showdowns

Claressa Shields is gearing up for a pair of highly anticipated bouts against Lauren Price in the US and UK, as the two Olympic champions prepare to face off for the first time later this year. Following Price's hard-won victory over Stephanie Pineiro in Cardiff, the two fighters came face-to-face in the ring, setting the stage for a potential middleweight clash before the end of 2026. Shields, who boasts an undefeated pro record of 18-0, expressed her enthusiasm for the matchup, saying: 'I'm looking forward to fighting her, and she's open to moving up to 160lbs. We may even have a fight in the US, followed by one in the UK, if the first one goes well.' Shields' promoter, Dmitriy Salita, praised the fighter as a 'truly special, generational talent' and highlighted her desire to make the biggest and best fights to propel the sport forward. Salita also revealed that Shields' attendance at Price's fight in the UK was a sign of respect for her skills and a testament to her appreciation for the fans and boxing culture in the UK. Shields, who claimed Olympic gold at middleweight in 2012 and 2016, believes a matchup with Price, the 2020 Olympic champion, would be a compelling one. While Shields expects to 'make easy work' of Price, she acknowledges the Welsh fighter's resilience and toughness, which were on full display during her victory over Pineiro. The American fighter also touched on a potential bout with three-weight world champion Mikaela Mayer, saying that while she's interested in the fight, a showdown with Price takes priority due to the latter's Olympic pedigree. If Shields were to face Price in the UK, it would mark her first fight in the country since her unanimous-decision victory over Savannah Marshall at London's O2 Arena in 2022, a bout that Shields says showed her she was 'greater than she thought'.