Not Shields, So Who? Lauren Price Teases a 'Massive' Early-2027 Fight

REPORTED · Rumor-Meter: see each item below

Ringcard reads CARDIFF, NOV 20, and Wales' golden girl just crossed one big name off her dance card. 💃

Fight first: Kotaskova, Nov 20

REPORTED · HOT 🔴 Lauren Price puts her unified WBA, WBC and IBF welterweight titles on the line against Czech Michaela Kotaskova at Cardiff's Utilita Arena on Nov 20, live on the BBC. (BBC Sport; BOXXER) BBC Sport notes Kotaskova's only defeat in 15 fights was a points loss to Chantelle Cameron.

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The tease

Price told BBC Sport Wales: "I can't think too far ahead, I've got to get through the 20th, but I'll be back out early next year in a massive fight." She added: "I can't say much but I can officially say that it's not going to be Claressa Shields." And then the big hint: "I can just say every boxer wants to hold all the belts and it'll be massive for Wales, massive for Britain and massive for world boxing." (BBC Sport)

Is it Mikaela Mayer for undisputed?

RUMOR · WARM 🟠 "All the belts" at 147 means one woman: WBO champ Mikaela Mayer. BBC Sport notes Price "has previously been linked" with Mayer. Price didn't name her, so this is our read, not her words. 💅 The history is spicy, too. Earlier this year Price said "Mayer doesn't want to fight me," and Mayer shot back: "So I've been sitting here waiting. I'm still ready. I'm still waiting." (BBC Sport) Later Mayer told The Ring: "I think the bigger fight is undisputed at 147 against Lauren Price." (The Ring) Mayer lost her 154-lb titles to Cameron in August but still holds the WBO belt at 147. (BBC Sport) No response from Mayer to today's tease that we could find.

Are the Shields talks really dead?

REPORTED · COLD 🔵 (for now) Price's version, to BBC Sport Wales: "There was nothing on my side. The money wasn't great, I wanted to fight in America and in Wales, but she wouldn't come here, and there was no rematch clause." But she left the door open: "That fight will definitely happen, but only when it's the right time and it makes sense." (BBC Sport)

Here's the plot twist, sweethearts. The same day, Sky Sports ran Shields' promoter Dmitriy Salita saying she's in talks to fight Price in early 2027: "It's a fight Claressa is seriously interested in. She flew out to Lauren's fight earlier this year with that goal in mind." And: "We would love to see it come together." (Sky Sports, Oct 12) It's not clear whether that interview came before or after Price's. Either way, the two camps aren't reading off the same ringcard. Shields herself hasn't posted a response on X that we could find.

Whisperer's take: Price says "not Shields" and Salita says "early 2027." Somebody's going to have to update their calendar. 📆 Until then, Mayer is the logical "all the belts" fight, but nobody has confirmed talks.

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🗳️ Fight Predictions poll

Who should Lauren Price fight in early 2027?

• Mikaela Mayer, undisputed at 147
• Claressa Shields at 160, whatever Price says
• Someone else (tell us!)

Bonus: Price vs Kotaskova on Nov 20: Price by decision / Price by stoppage / Kotaskova upset

You didn't hear it from me… 🤫

Sources

• BBC Sport (Chris Wathan, Oct 12, 2026)
• Sky Sports (Oct 12, 2026), Salita on Shields-Price
• BOXXER press release (Oct 12, 2026)
• BBC Sport (earlier 2026), Price/Mayer exchange
• The Ring, Mayer on Price