American boxer Claressa Shields should fight Britain's Lauren Price in the United States before any potential rematch in the United Kingdom, according to Shields' promoter Dmitriy Salita.
The proposed showdown between the two Olympic gold medallists comes as Shields prepares to face Australian challenger Kaye Scott for the WBC and WBA middleweight world titles at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday night.
Salita described a clash between Shields and unified welterweight champion Price as a mega-event that belongs on American soil following Shields' decision to move down in weight class.
"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."
Salita emphasized that while home advantage in the US is the priority, a future fight in Britain remains a distinct possibility for the American star.
"We want to make this a mega-event, and I believe that fight belongs in the United States," Salita said. "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."
Price welcomed the prospect of facing Shields, admitting she would love to share the ring with the multi-weight champion. Shields also confirmed she would be open to fighting Price in America before taking a rematch in the UK.
Middleweight Championship Return
Shields must first overcome Scott in Atlanta in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time to become a middleweight world champion for a third time. The fight marks a historic milestone for State Farm Arena, a multi-purpose indoor venue in Atlanta, Georgia, as it hosts a female-headlined combat sports event for the first time.
Salita expressed confidence that the main event would draw substantial fan interest and generate a significant gate at the historic venue.
"Scott is ready and highly motivated, and Claressa always comes to make a statement," Salita said. "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."
The bout also carries rare historical significance in professional boxing. It represents only the second time in more than 120 years of the sport that a fighter has moved down from heavyweight to challenge for a middleweight world championship.
"Every one of Claressa's fights is historic," Salita said. "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."
Pound for Pound Ranking
Shields, who has proclaimed herself the Greatest Woman Of All Time (GWOAT), can further solidify her position as the top female fighter in the world with a victory in Atlanta.
Her push to reinforce that status comes at a pivotal moment for the sport, with Irish legend and former undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor set to retire next month.
Shields established her elite pedigree by winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016 before winning world titles across multiple weight divisions as a professional. Price similarly claimed Olympic middleweight gold for Great Britain at Tokyo 2020 before capturing unified world titles at welterweight.
If Shields succeeds against Scott on Saturday night, negotiations between the two camps are expected to advance rapidly toward a blockbuster US showdown.
