Claressa Shields has her next major target in her sights, with plans to face Lauren Price in the opening months of 2027. The American champion, who has won Olympic gold twice for her country, holds world titles across multiple weight divisions and remains one of boxing's most dominant forces.
Shields recently made a significant move down the weight classes, dropping from heavyweight to reclaim both the WBA and WBC middleweight titles at 160lbs following her victory over Kaye Scott. That triumph underscored her ability to compete and win at the highest level regardless of the division.
Price, meanwhile, is an undefeated unified welterweight world champion. The Welsh fighter's amateur pedigree is equally impressive—she captured Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 when competing as a middleweight, making her one of the sport's most decorated talents.
The potential clash between the pair has already captured Shields' attention. She made a point of attending Price's most recent fight, signalling her genuine interest in a future meeting. Shields' promoter, Dmitry Salita, confirmed to Sky Sports that negotiations are underway for an early 2027 encounter.
It's a fight Claressa is seriously interested in. She flew out to Lauren's fight earlier this year with that goal in mind. It's a fight Claressa is seriously interested in. Claressa always wants to fight the best, and a matchup with Lauren would be one of the biggest fights in women's boxing - two Olympic gold medallists and world champions. We would love to see it come together.
Such a matchup would represent a landmark moment in women's boxing, bringing together two of the sport's most accomplished amateur champions at the professional level. Both fighters have proven themselves capable of competing across multiple weight classes and holding world titles, a rare achievement in the modern game.
Shields has long positioned herself as the sport's premier talent, and her promoter believes each appearance reinforces that standing. Shields has previously dismissed any regret over never facing Katie Taylor, suggesting she views herself and the retiring Irish legend as occupying the very top tier of women's boxing.
Claressa reinforces that status every time she steps into the ring. From the beginning of her career, she has challenged herself against the best and made history along the way. Our goal is to keep making the biggest and best fights, and Lauren is certainly a fighter Claressa would welcome that opportunity against.
The American's strategy has always centred on pursuing the sport's most significant challenges. By moving between weight classes and capturing titles at each stop, she has built a legacy that few can match. A showdown with Price would represent another chapter in that ongoing quest to cement her position as women's boxing's greatest fighter.
