Claressa Shields is eyeing fights Stateside and in the UK with Lauren Price because the Olympic champions put together to lock horns for the primary time later this yr.
Price stays unified welterweight champion after battling to victory over a recreation Stephanie Pineiro in Cardiff on Saturday evening, in a bout that left her bloodied.
The unbeaten Welshwoman confronted off with five-weight world champion Shields – who has been undisputed in the heavyweight division since February 2025 – in the ring afterwards, with a conflict at middleweight earlier than the top of 2026 now wanting doubtless.
Shields and Price (proper) shared the ring after the Welsh fighter’s win over Stephanie Pineiro
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Shields, 18-0 as a professional, mentioned of combating Price: “I look forward to fighting her and she doesn’t mind coming up to 160lbs.
“She even desires to return to America. We could do a fight there and then do a fight in the UK. If the primary fight is nice sufficient.
“When I beat a woman they do not need to rematch me however I consider along with her pedigree she can provide a greater fight.
“She will be one of the best-skilled girls I have fought, so we will see. I felt the confidence and energy when she spoke. She looked me in my eyes and said, ‘hey, let’s do it’. You don’t get that from a lot of girls.”
Shields’ promoter, Dmitriy Salita, instructed Sky Sports about Shields vs Price: “We’ve had positive conversations and I believe it’s a fight that can happen this year. It will likely take place in the US.
“Claressa touring to the UK to attend Lauren’s fight is an indication of respect and recognition of her expertise.
“Claressa has great appreciation for the fans and the boxing culture in the UK, so a future fight there is certainly not out of the question.”
Dmitriy Salita and Wynn Records information the profession of Shields (pic courtesy of Salita promotions/Stephanie Tapp)
‘I would make simple work of Price and Mayer’
Shields claimed Olympic gold at middleweight in London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and with Price doing likewise in Tokyo in 2020, the undefeated American says that makes a match-up between the 2 much more interesting.
Reflecting on Price’s hard-fought victory over Pineiro, Shields added: “Lauren was in the fight of her life but showed resilience, showed toughness, showed Olympic pedigree.”
Price was bloodied throughout her weekend win in Cardiff
Still, Shields expects to “make easy work” of Price and additionally three-weight world champion Mikaela Mayer if she ever fights her countrywoman.
Mayer is eager on that conflict and Shields desires it too, however harassed {that a} showdown with Price is extra important.
“I told Mikaela yes – but this fight with Price is way bigger than me and Mikaela. Price is an Olympic champ, Mikaela is not. She is a great champion – but I will make easy work of both of them.
“Mikaela is aware of that. She is a bit taller and rangier than Lauren however I’ve been round Mikaela for years and me and her have by no means sparred. There is a motive for that…”
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Mikaela Mayer is a fighter very a lot in demand, however who does she need to tackle subsequent?
If Shields had been to tackle Price away from dwelling, it would be her first fight in the UK since she recorded a unanimous-decision victory over Savannah Marshall at London’s O2 Arena in 2022 – a bout she says confirmed her she was “greater than she thought”.
“I came over here and fought against a knockout artist in Savannah Marshall. She was supposed to knock me out. I took her to the deep waters and drowned her.
“That fight confirmed me I’m a lot extra athletic and larger than I ever thought I used to be. I used to be sturdy for that fight, spent a lot time with my coach, and simply felt prepared.
“Even when I was booed and people said, ‘she is going to beat you’, to dominate the way I did, it showed me ‘wow, you are really, really great’.”
