Claressa Shields stops Kaye Scott in six rounds, targets Lauren Price

Claressa Shields stopped Kaye Scott in the sixth round in Atlanta, reclaiming the WBC and WBA middleweight titles. The victory moved Shields to 19-0 and gave her the fourth knockout of her professional career.

Scott’s corner ended the contest at one minute and 38 seconds of the sixth round. The Australian had never previously been stopped as a professional, but Shields’ combination of speed and power eventually overwhelmed her.

Shields said the result was primarily a test of her own ability rather than an answer to critics questioning her punching power. She returned to middleweight after becoming undisputed heavyweight champion and said she worked methodically to break down an opponent with considerable experience.

The win also added another unusual achievement to Shields’ record. After taking heavyweight championship honours, she became only the second titleholder in more than 120 years to win or regain a championship at a lower weight. Roy Jones Jr. achieved the earlier version of that feat after winning the WBA heavyweight title from John Ruiz in 2003 before reclaiming light-heavyweight gold later that year.

Shields’ victory came before a crowd of more than 17,000 at State Farm Arena. It restored her two middleweight belts and strengthened a career that already includes undisputed championships in three divisions and world titles across five divisions.

Lauren Price is now the opponent Shields expects to face next. The undefeated Welsh fighter is an Olympic gold medallist and unified welterweight champion, and a meeting between the pair could take Shields to the United Kingdom. Mikaela Mayer is another name under consideration if the Price fight does not happen or after that contest.

The Atlanta event was another major occasion for women’s boxing, a sport Shields believes has reached a point where its leading fighters can pursue the biggest available match-ups. A bout with Price would give her the chance to continue that push against one of Britain’s leading champions.