Claressa Shields Drops 38 Pounds, Stops Kaye Scott to Reclaim Middleweight Titles
Claressa Shields, the undisputed women's heavyweight champion, made a spectacular return to middleweight, reclaiming the WBC and WBA titles with a dominant sixth-round TKO over Kaye Scott. Following an intensive 38-pound weight cut, Shields showcased her unparalleled skill and discipline, setting her sights on future challenges in the boxing world.
Claressa Shields has returned to middleweight in emphatic fashion, stopping Australia's Kaye Scott in six rounds to reclaim the WBC and WBA world titles.
Shields entered Saturday night's fight at Atlanta's State Farm Arena after dropping three weight divisions, but there was little evidence that the dramatic change had taken anything away from her speed or power.
The American controlled much of the contest before breaking through decisively in the sixth.
A heavy left hook sent Scott stumbling backwards into the ropes, resulting in a count. Shields immediately went after her when the action resumed, landing another barrage before Scott's corner threw in the towel.
The fight was officially stopped at 1 minute, 38 seconds of the sixth round, giving Shields her 19th professional victory and fourth by stoppage. The victory returned the WBC and WBA middleweight championships to Shields.
What made the performance particularly striking was what Shields had done before entering the ring.
The 31-year-old had spent her previous fights competing at heavyweight and said she lost 38 pounds during a 14-week training camp to make the 160-pound middleweight limit.
It was her first middleweight appearance since 2023.
Shields said the process demanded a level of discipline she had not experienced since preparing for the Olympics, where she won gold medals for the United States in 2012 and 2016.
Scott attempted to make the fight physical, but Shields increasingly found openings as the rounds progressed.
By the second round, the effects of Shields' accuracy were already visible on Scott's face. Shields continued to work the body and head while avoiding prolonged exchanges that could have allowed the Australian back into the contest.
Scott's resistance finally gave way in the sixth.
The victory makes Shields a three-time middleweight world champion while she remains the undisputed heavyweight champion, adding another unusual achievement to a career already filled with them.
She has won world championships across five weight divisions and remains the only woman to have become undisputed champion in three divisions during the four-belt era.
Now attention is shifting towards who can give Shields her next major challenge.
One name she wants is Britain's Lauren Price, the unbeaten Olympic gold medallist and unified welterweight champion. Shields also mentioned Canadian middleweight Tammara Thibeault as another possible opponent.
Following Saturday's victory, Shields made clear that she wants the biggest fights available rather than simply collecting more routine title defences.
A meeting with Price could provide exactly that.
Shields' promoter Dmitriy Salita said discussions surrounding the potential contest are progressing, although no fight has yet been finalised.
For now, the achievement in Atlanta stands on its own: Shields went from heavyweight back to 160 pounds and still looked dominant.
As Sky Sports reported following the stoppage, she is once again sitting at the top of the middleweight division.