Claressa Shields Returns to Middleweight for Atlanta Showdown Against Kaye Scott

Long before the Olympic Committee voted to include women’s boxing in the 2012 London Olympics, I was covering female pro boxing as early as 1993.

Very few sports reporters bothered to write about women’s boxing. So, I stood out. Other reporters, editors, boxing managers and promoters noticed and would flat out ask me why I bothered to cover women’s boxing?

Depending on who asked, I would tell them why. If they were buffoons, I would tell them to eff off.

Today, I can tell you why and most of you will agree. Women’s boxing brings a whole different energy and, when the bell rings, the fans are riveted to the action. From Christy Martin to Laila Ali to Claressa Shields, female boxers continue to bring amazement with their natural fighting abilities.

I’ve seen the determination of Martin fighting with a broken hand. I’ve seen Ali quickly learn professional fighting and blaze her way to the top. And now I see Shields unfurl incredible speed, athleticism and skill from super welterweight to heavyweight opposition.

Shields (18-0, 3 KOs) returns to the middleweight division and faces Kaye Scott (5-1-1), who holds the WBC and WBA titles, on Saturday Aug. 15, at State Farm Arena, in Atlanta, Ga. DAZN will stream the Salitas Promotion and Wynn Records fight card.

“They’re my belts and I am the world champion right now.  She’s the challenger,” said Scott, who hails from Australia. “I’m not looking to hand them over, she’s going to have to come get them off me.”

Dropping 15 pounds may not seem like a big thing, but it can change the outcome of a fight at the professional level. It is a dangerous undertaking, kind of like lighting up a cigarette at a gas station. Sure, nothing can happen, but one wrong move and kaboom.

“Kaye just said she thinks me coming down is her advantage and that’s how she’s supposed to think. But know this, skill overrides everything. I could be tired and have skill. I can be weak and have skill. People think that it’s all about strength. But I just know how to win,” said Shields, who formerly was undisputed middleweight champion in June 2023.

Still, if Shields can withstand the sacrifice of dropping down to 159 pounds after fighting at 174, then a win opens up showdowns with other middleweights such as newly crowned Tamm Thibeault of Canada.

Shields is fighting for the first time in Atlanta after conquering Detroit. She and Salita Promotions and Wynn Records are bringing along other female champions such as super featherweight champion Caroline Veyre, light heavyweight champion Danielle Perkins and prospect Asheleyann Lozada.

One significant male signing by Salitas Promotion is also performing, as Pomona’s Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (19-0, 18 KOs) makes his promotional debut and fights Emmanuel Tagoe (34-2, 16 KOs) in a lightweight showdown.

Mercado is a super talented fighter who is good enough to fight and defeat any of the current lightweights and super lightweights including Keyshawn Davis, Tank Davis, William Zepeda, or Shakur Stevenson.

“It’s a huge opportunity to fight on Claressa’s event on DAZN,” Mercado said.  “Claressa brings excitement, she brings fans, and she always puts on a big event.  I’m looking forward to being part of that and doing my job in the co-main event.”

So far, Mercado has not fought any A-listers like those mentioned above. But its not because he hasn’t asked for them. He is tall for the weight class and packs power, speed and power from both hands. It all begins on Saturday against Tagoe.

“He (Tagoe) went the distance with Ryan Garcia, so this is an opportunity for me to make a statement. I want to go in there, get him out of there and continue climbing the rankings,” Mercado said.

The only question is can he take a blow from an A-lister like Tank or Keyshawn Davis?

It all begins on Saturday for Mercado.

 

R.I.P. Prichard Colon

Former boxer Prichard Colon passed away on Thursday Aug. 13, 2026, announced his father Richard Colon on social media.

Colon, 33, suffered a “brain bleed” immediately following a prize fight against Terrell Williams back in 2015. He was immediately sent to a hospital and underwent surgery and was in a coma for more than 200 days. When he awoke, Colon was unable to speak or walk.

The Puerto Rican welterweight was undefeated at 16 wins, 13 knockouts and a rising prospect when felled by the injury.

His family cared for him after his accident until he passed.

 

Amanda Serrano in Temecula Next Week

Seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) fights Argentina’s Lucrecia Manzur (14-4, 7 KOs) in defense of the WBO featherweight title on Friday Aug. 21, at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.

TikTok will stream the Most Valuable Promotions event live.

It’s the first time the social media app has ever been involved in boxing and it will also be the first time Puerto Rico’s Serrano has ever boxed in California. Fans will get an opportunity to finally see the female great in person.

Serrano currently is tied for the record of 32 knockouts by a female fighter with Christy Martin who is rumored to be expected at the fight event.

Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A0064ED80953851

 

Fights to Watch (all times Pacific Time)

Sat. Zeus 1 p.m. Danielle Perkins (6-1) vs Olivia Curry (7-3-2).

Sat. DAZN 5:30 p.m. Claressa Shields (18-0) vs Kaye Scott (7-1-1); Ernesto Mercado (19-0) vs Emmanuel Tagoe (34-2).

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