The glowering Claressa Shields has been missing in action this week.
Instead, as her next fight approached, she has beamed and preened.
Shields (18-0) will have a chance to add to her vast collection of championship belts when she fights Kaye Scott (5-1-1) for the WBC and WBA middleweight titles. She’s clearly relished the physical transformation it has required.
Not only has the glowering disappeared, but Shields has also lost about 15 pounds while dropping from the heavyweight ranks back down to the 160-pound middleweight division.
“I know from my own experience, once you go up in weight, it's very difficult to come down,’’ said Dmitriy Salita, Shields’ promoter and a former pro boxer. “And she's half the woman that she used to be.
“She’s fit. She looks great.’’
The goal wasn’t just to wow ‘em at the weigh-in.
This new phase is expected to include compelling bouts against Mikaela Mayer, Lauren Price and possibly Tamm Thibeault.
“(Shields) really dares to be great and push the limit to what could be done to initiate some of those biggest fights,’’ Salita said. “The (slimmed down) look is a bonus.”
How to watch Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott
- Date: Saturday, August 15
- Time: Main card: 8 p.m. ET; Main event to start approximately 11:26 p.m. ET
- Where: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Stream: DAZN
Watch Shields vs Scott with DAZN
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott live updates: How to watch, fight time, price