Shields eyes Price after dominant middleweight return

Claressa Shields reclaimed her WBA and WBC middleweight titles on Sunday, decisively defeating Kaye Scott in the sixth round. Returning to the 154-pound division for the first time since 2023, Shields, a five-division world champion, demonstrated her prowess by dropping three classes to face the 42-year-old Scott from Australia.

Dominant from the outset, Shields showcased exceptional hand speed and accuracy, ultimately securing her fourth career stoppage win and elevating her professional record to 19-0. The intense training camp, during which Shields cut 38 pounds to reach 160 pounds, was described as exceptionally challenging. Scott was outmaneuvered by Shields' precision and power, succumbing to a barrage of punches in the fifth round.

Following the victory, Shields suggested Lauren Price, the current welterweight champion, as her next opponent in December or January. Alternatively, Shields could face compatriots Mikaela Mayer or Tamm Thiebault, who holds the IBF, WBO, and Ring middleweight belts. Shields emphasized the significance of the unification moves, acknowledging that the girls in question lack the experience she possesses.