Negotiations are still underway to arrange a clash between Claressa Shields and Lauren Price after the American champion reclaimed two world middleweight belts on Saturday. Shields reclaimed the WBC and WBA titles with a decisive sixth‑round stoppage of Kaye Scott, adding a third middleweight world championship to her already impressive résumé. The unbeaten fighter from Michigan now has her sights set on a potential showdown with the unified welterweight champion Lauren Price, and her promoter Dmitriy Salita says he is eager to lock down the terms for a fight that would pit two Olympic gold‑medalists against each other. "We’re working on it as we speak," Salita told Sky Sports.
"Our intention is to make the fight. From what I understand, we have met every request from Price’s promotional team, BOXXER, and from Lauren’s camp." Salita explained that he invited both fighters and their representatives to a face‑to‑face meeting because he views the athletes he promotes as partners who understand the business side of boxing. "I wanted Lauren and Claressa to sit down together and see if there were any outstanding issues. Claressa is extremely savvy and has a lot of experience negotiating big fights, and I know Lauren is just as sharp," he said.
Although the two camps have not yet been able to finalize an agreement, the dialogue remains open. "Unfortunately, they weren’t able to make it, but the conversations are ongoing and we want to make the fight," Salita added. In addition to the Price matchup, Shields has been linked with other high‑profile opponents. One possibility is a bout with WBO and IBF middleweight champion Tamm Thibeault, while another option could be a fight against fellow American Mikaela Mayer, who is scheduled to face Chantelle Cameron in a unified super‑welterweight title clash in Birmingham on August 29, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
"Claressa wants to fight the best and be part of the biggest, most impactful events – that’s always been clear," Salita noted. He also hinted that there are backup plans should the Price fight fall through. "There are a few other conversations taking place in case the Lauren Price fight doesn’t come together.
We’ll make a decision soon, but whatever is next, the goal is for it to be another legacy‑making moment for Claressa and for boxing." Shields’ recent performance drew a massive crowd to State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and the event attracted attention from some of the most prominent figures in both sports and entertainment. Salita believes that Shields’ appeal now extends well beyond the boxing ring.
"It was incredible. We were getting calls and requests from some of the biggest stars in hip‑hop, music, boxing and culture right up until the final bell," he recalled.
Names mentioned included Usher, Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Gates, and Terence Crawford, among others. "The atmosphere was electric.
It was a special night in a packed arena and a real reflection of Claressa’s star power and how far her reach has grown beyond boxing." The prospect of a Shields‑Price showdown carries significant intrigue for fans and pundits alike. Both athletes are Olympic gold‑medalists—Shields won gold in the women’s middleweight division at the 2012 London Games and repeated the feat in 2016, while Price captured gold in the welterweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Their shared amateur pedigree adds a layer of historic significance to a potential professional encounter, promising a clash of technical skill, power, and tactical acumen. From a business perspective, a fight between two high‑profile female champions could generate considerable pay‑per‑view revenue and attract mainstream media coverage, further elevating women’s boxing on the global stage. Salita’s comments about the involvement of celebrities and music icons suggest that the promotional team is already positioning the bout as a cultural event, not just a sporting contest.
If the negotiations succeed, the fight could be scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025, depending on venue availability and broadcast agreements. Both fighters have expressed a desire to stay active, and a matchup of this magnitude would likely serve as a springboard for future unification bouts in their respective weight classes. For Shields, a victory over Price would solidify her status as the preeminent female middleweight and potentially open doors to a high‑profile crossover fight in the welterweight division.
For Price, a win would mark her first major professional triumph and cement her transition from a decorated amateur to a world‑class professional contender. In the meantime, fans will be watching closely for any updates from Salita’s camp and the promotional teams involved. The boxing community remains hopeful that the logistical hurdles can be overcome and that the two champions will finally meet inside the ring, delivering a bout that could be remembered as a milestone in the evolution of women’s boxing.