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Claressa Shields eyes Lauren Price fight on dominant middleweight return

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Claressa Shields made a powerful return to middleweight on Sunday, stopping Kaye Scott in the sixth round to reclaim the WBA and WBC titles in Atlanta.

Fighting at middleweight for the first time since 2023, the five-division world champion dropped three classes to face 42-year-old Scott of Australia.

Dominant from the start, Shields shifted through the gears to seal a fourth career stoppage win and take her professional record to 19-0 – with Wales’ Lauren Price in her sights.

“It was a hard camp,” said Shields, an Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016. “I always tell myself that everything is easy work, but it was a really hard camp.

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“I cut 38 pounds. I started 14 weeks ago at 198 and then I got down to 160.

“It was the most disciplined I’ve been since the Olympics.”

In just her eighth professional bout, Scott was outclassed by the challenger’s hand speed and accuracy before being weakened by a flurry of body shots in the fifth.

In the following round, Shields put Scott on the ropes with a vicious left hook and, sensing opportunity, the American threw a barrage of shots as the fight resumed.

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As a dazed Scott failed to defend herself, her corner threw towels into the ring to end the bout.

“I was actually just trying to figure [Scott] out,” said Shields, who holds all four heavyweight titles. “She was stronger than I thought.

“She was very strong, and I knew that with me cutting the weight that I cut, that I didn’t want to exert too much early.”

Following her statement win, Shields suggested welterweight champion Lauren Price should be her next opponent in December or January.

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Failing this, the 31-year-old hopes for a meeting with compatriot Mikaela Mayer, or Canada’s Tamm Thiebault, who holds the IBF, WBO and Ring middleweight belts.

“She’s only had five fights as a professional, but she’s got belts,” Shields said of Thiebault.

“It’s not my fault these girls don’t have the experience that I have. She’s got a belt that I know belongs to me – and that’s the Ring belt.”

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Pro wrestler LaBron Kozone reacts to ‘generational’ talent superlative

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Pro wrestler LaBron Kozone signed a multi-year deal with Major League Wrestling (MLW) in March and was immediately described as a blue-chip and “generational” prospect.

Kozone won a few matches and is heading into Saturday’s “Fusion” looking to enact some revenge against Joe Coffey after the Scottish superstar took out legendary authority figure Teddy Long on a previous show.

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LaBron Kozone before a match

LaBron Kozone waves to the crowd on MLW “Fusion.” (MLW)

Kozone talked to Fox News Digital about his decision to sign with MLW in a recent interview.

“It was just a great opportunity just with how things are going today in the wrestling world. You want to put yourself in a predicament where you become most effective, you know?” he said. 

“You just look at the states where you have so many different promotions out there, what’s going on in their universe. And I know a lot of people in different universes, and I’m looking at MLW and it’s just like, ‘OK, for me, it’s probably the best situation with everything that I have going on in my obligation in pro wrestling.’

“It goes deeper than just inside the ring and wrestling, but it’s how can I help people out outside the ring because I run Firestar Pro Wrestling Training School. So, it’s not only an opportunity for me, but it’s an opportunity for a lot of my students who are already getting a lot of opportunity. 

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“And, plus, MLW is the fastest rising pro wrestling promotion out there right now. It’s the most accessible, and it’s the fastest rising. Every show that I’ve attended — even before I got signed — it’s been sold out. I feel like they’re definitely pressing on something game changing.”

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Close-up look at LaBron Kozone

LaBron Kozone looks around the arena before MLW’s “Fusion.” (MLW)

MLW owner Court Bauer called Kozone a “blue-chipper and a generational prospect” earlier this year when the company announced Kozone’s signing.

Kozone said he wasn’t quite sure what being a “blue-chipper” was but agreed with the notion that he was a “generational” talent.

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“Honestly, just to be quite frank, I don’t know what blue chip means. But generational talent, I can understand that,” he said. “I appreciate (it). That means once in a lifetime, which I do agree with. 

“I feel like I am a once-in-a-lifetime, not just talent but once-in-a-lifetime person. To (have) done what I done, have as much impact as I’ve had if only been in it for a little bit over a decade.”

LaBron Kozone hits Okumura

LaBron Kozone clotheslines Okumura during a match on MLW’s “Fusion.” (MLW)

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He previously told Fox News Digital that if he’s able to dispatch Coffey, he’s looking to go after some gold next.

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Islam Makhachev names “most deserving” challenger for welterweight belt after UFC 330 success 

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Islam Makhachev had barely finished fighting at UFC 330 before questions about his next opponent started coming up.

The Russian defended his welterweight title by getting the better of Ian Machado Garry. The Irishman put up a good fight, and if Garry had been a little more aggressive, he could have won.

Makhachev’s face was a bit of a mess, and during a segment with Paramount+, he was asked about who could be his next opponent.

The champion didn’t dodge the question, and instead named three welterweights who could have been next. Makhachev believed that Carlos Prates is the best option for his next bout:

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“Honestly, if you ask me today, Shavkat is not fighting. Prates is still fighting, still active, and maybe Prates.”

Makhachev also brought up the undefeated Michael Morales, but didn’t think he deserved the next title shot:

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“Morales is also good, but Morales fight I don’t last time, I don’t remember when he fight.”

The champion concluded by bringing up Prates’ name again:

“If you ask like who is most deserving guy, I think Carlos Prates.”

Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:

Makhachev’s thoughts on his next opponent do make sense. Shavkat Rakhmonov is undefeated in his career, but the 19-0 Uzbek has had some terrible luck with injuries and even was involved in a serious accident which has kept him out of action since 2024.

Morales last fought at UFC 322, but hasn’t fought since. However, Morales is the next big thing in the division and isn’t that far off from a title shot.

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Prates has been on a tear and has won seven of his eight fights with a Performance of the Night bonus in each of the wins.

His only loss in that time was against Garry, and Prates has already beaten former champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena.