Claressa Shields vs Lauren Price is 'mega event' that 'belongs in United States' says the American's promoter Dmitriy Salita
Claressa Shields can reclaim the WBC and WBA middleweight belts when she faces Kaye Scott in Atlanta in the early hours of Sunday morning; Shields is then expected to fight Britain's Lauren Price and the American's star's promoter says the Welsh boxer should come to the USA for the fight
Saturday 15 August 2026 07:15, UK
Claressa Shields versus Lauren Price is a 'mega' fight that 'belongs in the United States', says the American star's promoter Dmitriy Salita.
Shields can add another world title triumph to her long list of achievements when she fights Kaye Scott for the WBC and WBA middleweight belts in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Price, who is a unified welterweight champion, has welcomed a future clash between two Olympic gold medallists but Salita believes Shields should receive home advantage for the middleweight fight.
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"Claressa came down to middleweight to make the biggest fights possible," Salita told Sky Sports.
"She flew to see Lauren Price fight and I invited Price to be ringside for Claressa's fight on Saturday night.
"We want to make this a mega-event, and I believe that fight belongs in the United States.
"That being said, we love the UK and another fight there is certainly not out of the question. It's an incredible time for women's boxing."
But Shields must firstly overcome Scott in Atlanta to become a middleweight world champion for a third time.
"Scott is ready and highly motivated, and Claressa always comes to make a statement," said Salita.
"I expect an electric fight at State Farm Arena. It will be the first time a woman has headlined a combat sports event in this historic building, and we expect a multi-figure gate.
"That's a tremendous milestone for Claressa, women's boxing and the sport as a whole."
Claressa is a generational talent and a legacy-defining champion, and August 15 will be another history-making night.
Shields has proclaimed herself as the GWOAT, meaning the Greatest Woman Of All Time, and she can strengthen her claim as the world's no 1 female fighter, with Katie Taylor set to retire next month.
"Every one of Claressa's fights is historic," said Salita.
"This will be only the second time in more than 120 years of boxing that a fighter has come down from heavyweight to become middleweight world champion.
"Claressa is a generational talent and a legacy-defining champion, and August 15 will be another history-making night."
