Pound‑for‑pound star Claressa Shields says a fight with Wales’ Lauren Price is now likely to take place in 2027, a date she expects in the first quarter of the year, and she is eager to showcase her skills against Price’s explosive style.\n\nThe 31‑year‑old American, a multi‑weight undisputed world champion and reigning heavyweight champion, will move down to middleweight to challenge Australia’s Kaye Scott, the WBA and WBC champion, on 15 August in Atlanta, Georgia, and says she would love to fight again before year‑end at 160lb.\n\nShields faced Price after the Newport fighter’s points win over Stephanie Pineiro in Cardiff in April, and her promoter Ben Shalom confirmed a two‑fight agreement, though Price has been inactive and may need a warm‑up bout to “get her feet wet” at middleweight. She believes Price will be a tougher test than Savannah Marshall, citing her Olympic gold and undefeated record.\n\nWith only one amateur loss to Marshall and a professional revenge win at London’s O2 Arena in 2022, Shields calls Price a formidable opponent, praising her size, skill and power, and reaffirms confidence the middleweight clash will occur in 2027.