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Claressa Shields To Face Unified Middleweight Champion
Kaye Scott Aug. 15 At State Farm Arena
Claressa "T-Rex" Shields (18-0, 3 KOs), the undisputed
heavyweight champion of the world and the most decorated
woman in boxing history, will make her highly-anticipated
Atlanta debut on Saturday, August 15 at State Farm Arena
live on DAZN, returning to the middleweight division for a
high-stakes showdown against unified WBC and WBA champion
Kaye Scott (5-1-1). The exclusive live worldwide
presentation of Shields vs. Scott will begin at 9 p.m. ET on
DAZN, the global home of boxing.
Presented by Salita Promotions in partnership with Wynn
Records, Claressa Shields Promotions and Route 30
Promotions, and sponsored by The Zeus Network, the event
marks the first women’s headliner and the first championship
boxing event at State Farm Arena since Gervonta Davis
headlined the venue in 2019.
Already recognized as the most accomplished woman in boxing
history, Shields enters the bout as a two-time Olympic gold
medalist, five-division world champion, undisputed
heavyweight champion, and the first boxer in the four-belt
era—male or female—to become undisputed champion in three
weight classes. Her return to middleweight brings Shields
back to the division where she authored one of the defining
moments of her career. In October 2022, she defeated
longtime rival Savannah Marshall before a sold-out crowd at
London's O2 Arena to become the undisputed middleweight
champion of the world, settling one of boxing's most
celebrated rivalries in a landmark event widely credited
with accelerating women's boxing onto the global stage.
After helping establish Detroit as a destination city for
championship boxing through consecutive sold-out events at
Little Caesars Arena, Shields now takes her brand to one of
the nation's most culturally influential markets, testing
the continued growth and commercial viability of women's
boxing on a national scale.
"At this point in my career, every fight is about legacy,"
said Claressa Shields. Every fight now is about pushing the
boundaries of what's possible—for myself, for women's
boxing, and for the next generation coming behind me through
Claressa Shields Promotions.
“Kaye Scott is a champion, and I respect what she's
accomplished. But becoming undisputed at 160 pounds again
starts with beating the best. That's always been my mindset.
I don't chase easy fights, I choose meaningful ones.”
“Atlanta represents a huge opportunity. We've shown what
women's boxing can do in Detroit. We've sold out arenas and
created moments people remember. Now it's time to bring that
same energy to Atlanta. This isn't just about a championship
fight. It's about building an event, growing the sport, and
giving fans an experience they'll never forget.”
Australia's Scott, a highly decorated
amateur-turned-world-champion, ascended to the middleweight
throne through one of women's boxing's most compelling
rivalries. Her first meeting with Olivia Curry earned WBC
Women's Fight of the Year honors; the rematch, on December
20, 2025, ended with Scott capturing the unified WBC and WBA
middleweight titles. The victory transformed Scott from
contender to champion and established her as one of the
division's most formidable forces.
Now firmly entrenched amongst the middleweight elite, Scott
enters the biggest fight of her career carrying not only
championship credentials, but with something to prove.
“I’ve dedicated my life to the sport of boxing, achieving
success with the Australian National Team and as a
professional, " said Scott. I’m extremely proud to defend my
WBC and WBA world title belts against Claressa Shields.
“I believe the bigger the challenge, the bigger the
opportunity, and on August 15 I have the chance to show the
world exactly what I’m capable of. I’m in the best shape of
my life and ready to test myself against the very best. I’m
excited, motivated and prepared to step into that ring and
prove that I am the best middleweight in the world.”
The matchup arrives at a pivotal moment for women's boxing.
Over the past decade, the sport has experienced
unprecedented growth through sold-out arenas, increased
broadcast visibility, record-setting purses, and a
generation of athletes capable of reaching audiences well
beyond traditional boxing demographics. Few fighters have
been more central to that evolution than Shields, whose
influence now extends into entertainment, business, media,
and culture.
For promoters, broadcasters, sponsors, and industry
stakeholders alike, August 15 represents more than another
championship event. It is a test case for the continued
expansion of women's boxing as a premium live-event property
capable of succeeding in major markets across the country.
“Every Claressa Shields event marks a milestone in her
career, but this one is different, this one is special,”
said Dmitriy Salita, President Salita Promotions. “Not only
does Claressa have another opportunity to further cement
herself as the greatest female fighter of all time, she has
a chance to prove that she’s a major box office attraction
in one of the world’s cultural epicenters.
“The only heavyweight champion in the last 120-plus years to
successfully win a title in a lower weight class was
pound-for-pound great Roy Jones Jr. – that alone shows the
boxing significance of this event. But when you add in the
cultural impact of a woman headlining for the first time at
a world-class arena in Atlanta it becomes a night that
transcends not just boxing, but sports.”
“We’re proud to welcome Claressa Shields and Kaye Scott to
State Farm Arena for one of the most anticipated matches of
the year,” said Trey Feazell, Executive Vice President,
Programming for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.
“They are two of the sport’s most respected and decorated
fighters; it is going to be an epic main event.”
For Wynn Records, the event represents an opportunity to
build upon a blueprint that has helped transform Shields'
fights into cultural moments. By combining
championship-level boxing with music, entertainment, and
celebrity engagement, the August 15 event aims to deliver an
experience that extends beyond the traditional fight
audience and reflects the evolving landscape of the sport.
“Atlanta represents a natural next chapter for Shields,
whose appeal has increasingly transcended boxing, " said
Ruben Branson, CEO of Wynn Records. Throughout her career,
she has bridged sport, culture, and entertainment, turning
her championship fights into destination events that attract
athletes, entertainers, executives, and influencers alike.
From electrifying ring walks featuring hip-hop stars such as
Lil Boosie and Grammy Award-nominated artist Rick Ross to
red-carpet arrivals and celebrity-packed fight nights,
Shields has consistently demonstrated an ability to create
moments that extend far beyond the ropes.”
“The August 15 event is expected to bring together
championship boxing and entertainment on one stage, creating
an experience reflective of both the city's cultural
influence and Shields' growing stature as one of the sport's
most recognizable stars.”
Additional bouts, ticket information, and broadcast details
will be announced in the coming weeks.
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