Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott | DAZN - August 15, 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Claressa Shields to Kaye Scott: I have to destroy you.

As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the current undisputed female heavyweight champion, Flint, Michigan’s five-weight, 18-time beltholder Claressa Shields has little left to prove in boxing.

So, why is 31-year-old Shields, 18-0 (3 KOs), dropping down three weight classes to challenge Australia’s unified WBC and WBA world middleweight champion Kaye Scott, 5-1-1, live on DAZN (8:30 pm ET) this Saturday, August 15, at the nearly sold-out State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia?

“What motivates me is to just keep making history,” revealed Shields.

Speaking at the final press conference for the fight this weekend, Shields says the key for her is to continuing building her already history-making legacy.

“To be the first woman to headline here at State Farm Arena in Atlanta is insane... That's what motivates me is to keep breaking barriers and keep making it possible for the girls that come after me. Like, we got Caroline Dubois who's coming up, she's younger. Tamm Thibeault, who just won some belts, she's younger. These girls will be able to headline at stadiums one day and be able to do something they said we couldn't do. That's what motivates me right now.”

Taller, longer and impressively covered in muscles, “Glamour” Scott, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, has had just seven pro fights, but the 42-year-old had an extensive amateur career spanning over 120 international bouts, and winning multiple world championship and Commonwealth Games medals across three weight divisions.

Scott has held the unified WBC and WBA female middleweight titles since a December 2025 majority decision rematch victory over Canada’s Olivia Curry.

“All I can do is control the controllables,” said Scott on her chances of defeating superstar Shields. “My sparring's been on point, my conditioning's been on point, my diet's been on point, and my mindset is on point. So, this opportunity has arisen and I'm just taking it with full force… I think I can create history and go out there and make it a really challenging fight and bring those belts back home to Australia.”

With a reportedly near sold-out and likely hostile crowd against her, Shields’ celebrity associates turning up in droves to support her and one of the greatest female fighters in history standing in the corner opposite hers when the bell rings, Scott says her long amateur career will prevent her being affected by the pressure of such a huge platform.

“I think it's helped,” said Scott, “because although this will be the biggest stage I've fought on, in the amateurs, you go to the world championships and the Commonwealth Games and you go through all the nerves... So, I am very much used to having to talk to media and do this kind of stuff. I feel like I am probably in a better position than some of her other opponents. It's not new to me. I've been around a lot of international high-level boxing.”

While Scott says she thinks Shields may be underestimating her, Shields, who could be the first boxer in history to drop from heavyweight to middleweight and win a world title, was quick to set the record straight.

“I'm not I'm not underestimating you at all,” said Shields. “I think you're underestimating me, thinking that I haven’t been in the gym, training three or four times a day. Usually, I'll do a six-week camp. I did 12 weeks for you and not because of the weight. I made weight last week… I know you were in the amateurs. I know you are more experienced and that the majority (of high-level amateur females) make better boxers in the pros, so, I don't take your record of being 5-1-1 as a joke. I sparred so many rounds, and we watched so much film. I didn't underestimate you.

“But I want you to understand that when God gives me an opportunity to perform on a big stage in Atlanta, it's really nothing against you. I just have to perform at a very high level to destroy you… I am not gonna predict the round, but I know there's going to be a moment in the ring where she’s gonna say, ‘I am not supposed to be here.’"

With the show reportedly aiming to bridge the parallels between hip-hop and boxing, several fighters will make their ring entrances accompanied by some of today’s most popular music artists including, Latto, YG, Sauce Walka and Diamond The Body (DTB). The Zeus Network coverage of the event will feature a mix of professional boxing and celebrity influencer bouts beginning at 4 pm ET.

[gilgamesh]

Damn Claressa really sounds like she means business on this one. She's totally gonna win every round, and almost stun this woman a few times.

Might even draw a trickle of blood on her if she's not careful.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oberlton out to stop durable vet Angulo on Shields-Scott card

Atif Oberlton expects Roamer Alexis Angulo to give a spirited effort in their 10-round light heavyweight bout on Saturday night.

Oberlton will face Angulo on the undercard of Claressa Shields versus Kaye Scott for Scott’s WBA and WBC middleweight titles at State Farm Arena in Atlanta (DAZN; 8:30 p.m. ET; 1:30 a.m. BST). Oberlton (16-0, 14 KOs) is ranked No. 5 by the WBA and No. 11 by the IBF at light heavyweight.

“I think he’s a great opponent, and that’s just that,” Oberlton told The Ring. “I think he’s gonna come and be tough, and then try to do what he can to stop me and make my night not easy. I’m gonna do the complete opposite of what he wants to do.”

Oberlton, 28, is coming off a fifth-round stoppage of Carlos Gongora on May 9 in Atlanta. The 6-foot-3 southpaw from Philadelphia soundly outboxed and broke down Gongora before his corner stopped the fight between the fifth and sixth rounds.

While Oberlton was pleased with the stoppage, he believes he could have turned in a better performance. Ecuador’s Gongora (22-4, 17 KOs) previously suffered decision defeats to WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli, Lester Martinez and Lerrone Richards.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 3-ranked super middleweight, while Martinez (20-0-1, 16 KOs) is No. 4. Richards (19-2, 4 KOs) is No. 8 in The Ring’s light heavyweight rankings.

“I give it a B-minus,” Oberlton said of his performance against Gongora. “I wanted to let my hands go more, but [Gongora] was holding. I got the stoppage, and nobody stopped him [before].”

Angulo (29-4, 24 KOs), of Patia, Colombia, will fight for the second time in a calendar year for the first time since 2020. He scored a third-round stoppage victory over Carlos Eduardo Jimenez in his last fight March 22.

Angulo, 42, had two world title shots at super middleweight, but was outpointed by Gilberto Ramirez in 2018 and stopped after 10 rounds against David Benavidez in 2020. His other defeat at super middleweight came against Edgar Berlanga by unanimous decision in 2022.

“At the end of the day, those guys are them, and I’m me,” Oberlton said of trying to win more impressively than Benavidez, Berlanga and Ramirez. “I just want to showcase what I can do on my own, and how I do it in my style and fashion.”

Oberlton’s focus is solely on Angulo, though he hopes to continue his ascension at 175 pounds. The opportunities he seeks could mean traveling across the pond, where many of the top light heavyweights reside.

That challenge is one that Oberlton is more than willing to take if he can get past Angulo. Of The Ring's 10 ranked light heavyweights, six are from the UK.

“I actually love the UK, so I wouldn’t mind going,” Oberlton said. “I’ve been to the UK before, and I understand that being a champion, being who you say you are, sometimes you’ve got to make that trip to go to the other side and prove how great you are. I believe I can do it.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shields Details Difficulties Squeezing Back Down To 160

Claressa Shields wouldn’t have subjected herself to the torturous process of squeezing her body back down to 160 pounds if she didn’t deem it absolutely necessary.

There weren’t any meaningful fights left for her at 175 pounds, the heavyweight limit for women boxers. And a rematch with former IBF super middleweight champ Savannah Marshall, the only opponent to truly push Shields in any of her 18 professional fights, became less appealing when Shadasia Green upset Marshall by split decision 13 months ago.

Green was subsequently upset by Lani Daniels, an opponent Shields dominated, which eliminated another option for her in the 168-pound division.

Shields seeks legitimate challenges while she remains in her physical prime, so she targeted middleweight matches against 154-pound champ Mikaela Mayer and Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC 147-pound champ Lauren Price. At 31, Shields determined the middleweight limit of 160 is as low as she can go at this point in her career without compromising her ability to perform at an elite level.

The undefeated five-division champion nonetheless has found it “extremely difficult” to get down to 160 pounds for the first time in three years. That’s the contracted weight limit for Shields’ 10-round fight against WBA/WBC middleweight champ Kaye Scott on Saturday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta (DAZN; 8:30 p.m. ET).

If Shields regains two of her middleweight crowns from Scott, she is expected to square off with Wales’ Price (10-0, 2 KOs), who would move up two weight classes to face Shields sometime early in 2027.

“I’m very focused, but it’s not easy,” Shields told The Ring regarding her weight cut. “It’s not easy, and that’s why I went to 175. I didn’t go to 175 because I couldn’t hold 160. One, I just couldn’t get the fights I wanted when I was at 160. But it was also a [tough] weight for me to hold anyway. So, the fact that I had to keep being put on the bench for six, seven, eight, 10 months to get these girls to agree to fights, and then you go to 175 and you have four or five girls lined up who are like, ‘Yeah, I’ll fight you,’ it was a no-brainer.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist from Flint, Michigan, went 4-0 in heavyweight bouts and became undisputed champ in a third division. She most recently shut out Franchon Crews Dezurn on all three scorecards in their 10-round rematch February 22 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Shields (18-0, 3 KOs), ranked No. 2 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, grew completely comfortable competing at 175 pounds. She is a 20-1 favorite to beat the 42-year-old Scott (5-1-1), who will defend her WBA and WBC belts for the first time, yet Shields won’t know for sure how she’ll feel fighting at middleweight again until Saturday night.

“I had some of my toughest fights at 175,” Shields said. “But going to 175, I gained so much muscle and strength, and my body is just accustomed to being at 175 pounds. So now, having to go down to 160, it has been difficult. I’ve just been making sure I do everything right, making sure I do my cardio, making sure I spar, making sure I do my strength and conditioning, making sure I drink my water, take my supplements.

“I’ve been on it very, very extra for this fight because I think anybody can lose weight. But there’s a difference between losing weight and then how do you feel once the weight is made. I still have to fight. Like, somebody can fast for 10 days and they’ll lose 16 pounds. They don’t have to fight after that. I have to make sure that while I’m losing weight I keep my strength, keep my speed, keep my stamina and my endurance, and don’t hurt myself. So, it’s been a journey for sure.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Scott Sure Shields, ‘Whole World’ Are Underestimating Her

For most of Claressa Shields’ career, opponents haven’t been given much of a chance at pulling off the upset.

Unified middleweight champion Kaye Scott finds herself in the same situation, as the steep underdog heading into her bout against Shields. Beyond the public perception that Scott is facing an uphill climb against the five-division titleholder and three-time undisputed champion, the Australian underdog believes Shields is overlooking her as well.

Scott (5-1-1) will defend her WBA and WBC titles against Shields (18-0, 3 KOs) on Saturday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta (DAZN; 8:30 p.m. ET).

“I know I’m going to be in for a battle, but I’m ready for it,” Scott said at their final press conference Thursday. “I think she’s been underestimating me a little bit, but we’ll see. I’m ready for everything that she comes at me with. I feel like the whole world has underestimated me, mostly because they just see that pro record of only being seven fights.”

Shields, 31, vehemently denied Scott’s claims that she’s looking past her. The Flint, Michigan, native will fight at 160 pounds for the first time since June 2023, when she won a dominant unanimous decision over Maricela Conejo to defend her Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles.

Shields has fought her last four bouts at heavyweight since beating Cornejo. She is coming off a dominant decision victory over Franchon Crews Dezurn to defend her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts February 22 in Detroit.

“I have been in the gym training three, four times a day,” Shields said. “I’ve been dieting. Usually I do a six-week camp – I did 12 for [Scott]. Not because of the weight – I’ve been made weight last week. That was simple, making weight. No, I trained for you. I watched you.

“I know you were good in the amateurs. I know you are more experienced. The girls in the amateurs, majority of them may box better than the girls in the pros. I don’t take your record of being 5-1-1 as a joke. I sparred so many rounds, and we watched so much film. I didn’t underestimate you.”

Scott, 42, won the then-vacant WBA and WBC titles in her last fight, by way of a majority decision over Olivia Curry on December 20. Scott and Curry fought to a majority draw three months earlier in their first 10-round fight for the WBA and WBC belts.

Scott spent most of her career in the amateur ranks before turning pro in November 2023, including fighting in the Commonwealth Games and World Championships. Her extensive experience as an amateur is something she believes has helped prepare her for Shields.

“All I can do is control the controllables,” Scott said. “My sparring’s been on point. My conditioning’s been on point. My diet’s been on point, and my mindset’s on point. This opportunity has arisen, and I’m just taking it with full force.

“She wouldn’t want to be against an opponent who doesn’t believe that she can do it, and I think I can create history and go out there and bring everything and make it a really challenging fight and bring those belts back home to Australia.”

[handsofstone]

I do long for the day Shields gets humbled but I don't think it's happening anytime soon, she's far superior to anyone

[gilgamesh]

Do you people realize that Claressa Shields is about to become the 1st person in the history of Boxing to ever win the Middleweight title, win the Heavyweight title and then regain the Middleweight title?

Her GWOATishness cannot be denied

[Ruthless-RKO]

Because she’s above middleweight. I think it’s way less stacked above there.

There’s a lot of good women boxers below that weight. But she’ll never fight them.

I know Mayer is calling her out. She’ll probably be too small to compete with her tbh.

[Evander]

See the weigh in
I don't know who dresses that girl

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!

[Sendo Takeshi]

Because she’s above middleweight. I think it’s way less stacked above there.

That's a really nice way of putting it
She basically got gifted titles in divisions that barely exist.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Date: August 15, 2026
Location: State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GA
TV/Stream: DAZN
Time: 8 pm ET | 5 pm PT | 1 am BST

Promoted by: Salita Promotions

Main Card

Unified WBA & WBC Middleweight Championship
Claressa Shields (18-0, 3 KOs) vs. Kaye Scott (5-1-1)

10 round Super Lightweight Bout
Ernesto Mercado (19-0, 18 KOs) vs. Roger Hilley (14-1, 9 KOs)

10 Round Middleweight Bout
Troy Isley (16-0, 6 KOs) vs. Joseph Hicks (12-1, 7 KOs)

10 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Ashleyann Lozada (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Paulette Valenzuela Cuesta (19-5-1, 4 KOs)

WBC Super Featherweight Championship
Caroline Veyre (11-1) vs. Bernice Ferreira (10-0, 4 KOs)

Preliminary Card

10 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Atif Oberlton (16-0, 14 KOs) vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo (29-4, 24 KOs)

WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Danielle Perkins (6-1, 3 KOs) vs. Olivia Curry (7-3-2, 2 KOs)

8 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Hakim Lopez (16-1, 9 KOs) vs. Da’Velle Smith (14-0, 9 KOs)

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Shannel Butler (8-0, 3 KOs) vs. Marianela Soledad Ramirez (14-11-2, 7 KOs)

6 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Jaquan McElroy (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Alexander Thiel (5-0, 2 KOs)

Super Middleweight Bout
Casey Dixon (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. Michael Nelson (4-3-1, 2 KOs)

4 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Daniel Mercado (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Rahmel McKinley (1-4)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is the Hicks fight off?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Per source, tonight’s Tito Mercado fight on the #ShieldsScott card is canceled. The replacement opponent, Roger Hilley, missed weight this morning for fight contracted at 146, already 6 over what Mercado was contracted at before original opponent Emmanuel Tagoe was 150 yesterday. Not sure what Hilley exact weight was but he missed & fight is off. #boxing

[Ruthless-RKO]

[gilgamesh]

Per source, tonight’s Tito Mercado fight on the #ShieldsScott card is canceled. The replacement opponent, Roger Hilley, missed weight this morning for fight contracted at 146, already 6 over what Mercado was contracted at before original opponent Emmanuel Tagoe was 150 yesterday. Not sure what Hilley exact weight was but he missed & fight is off. #boxing

I guess this explains why there was a 40 minute delay or so with the broadcast starting.

[gilgamesh]

Claressa and her Feather Flurries are doing it again. Beating up the opponent. Winning every round. Doing no real damage. Heading to a decision.

The most predictable fighter in all of Boxing. Shields by Decision. Every time.

[handsofstone]

Good finishing from Shields tbf, caught Scott with a couple of huge shots before the knockdown

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Highlights

[handsofstone]

Good atmosphere BTW, place was bouncing

[gilgamesh]

Good atmosphere BTW, place was bouncing

Yeah Shields definitely has a fanbase. Anybody claiming some other girl would be a bigger draw in England is full of sh*t honestly.

[margaret thatcher]

claressa gets it especially pumping when she beats up on a white girl

[Evander]

What's that mean? Who don't have many to pick from? And many what?

Women.
They don't have to box to make a living, might account for the quality at Claressa level.