Claressa Shields, the 31-year-old undisputed heavyweight boxing champion and multi-weight world titleholder, will likely face Lauren Price, 32, the unified welterweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, in early 2027 instead of this year [1, 2, 3].
Promoters had agreed on a two-fight deal between Shields and Price, but the showdown has been delayed due to Price's inactivity since April 2026, when she defeated Stephanie Pineiro and called for the fight with Shields [1, 2, 3]. Shields noted, "I think me and her will fight in 2027 in the first quarter," emphasizing the expected timing [1].
Before meeting Price, Shields will drop down to middleweight to face Australia's WBA and WBC champion Kaye Scott on August 15, 2026, in Atlanta [1, 2, 3]. Shields said of Price, "When I look at Lauren fight, she's very explosive. She's fast. She got a lot of skill. I can't wait to get in there and showcase my skills against her" [1].
Price would need to move up two weight divisions to meet Shields at middleweight, adding complexity to the matchup [1]. Shields expects to fight again at middleweight by the end of 2026 before facing Price in 2027 [1, 2, 3].
With Shields's fight against Scott scheduled for tomorrow, August 15, 2026, fans will likely see the Shields-Price bout in the first quarter of 2027, pending Price’s return to competition [1, 2, 3].
