Lauren Price: Going For Gold. Again.

Lauren Price: Going For Gold. Again.

By Dan D’Alessio

Lauren Price is one fight away from becoming a world champion.

On May 11th, Price will challenge the American Jessica McCaskill for the IBO and WBA welterweight championships in her home city of Cardiff. 

The Newport native has the chance to make history and be the first Welsh female boxing world champion ever. Not to mention, the opportunity to join Welsh royalty along with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli, and current IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina.

After capturing a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Price has wasted little time in moving swiftly through the pro ranks.

Since making her debut in 2022 against Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir at Wembley Arena, Price has comfortably beaten every opponent she has faced. Currently 6-0 with one knockout, Price fought four times in 2023, notably defeating Kirstie Bavington to become the first-ever British female champion and then outpointing Silvia Bortot on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak last December.

‘The Lucky One’ scored her only knockout win in her second fight against Timea Belik, forcing the referee to intervene following a four-round beatdown.

A southpaw with a wicked left hand, counter-punching ability on the back foot, and sharp body punches, Price is a slight betting favourite to overcome the challenge of McCaskill. However, on paper, McCaskill is set to be her toughest opponent to date.

McCaskill has reached the pinnacle of the sport on more than one occasion – famously becoming a unified super lightweight world champion in 2019 and then becoming undisputed at 147 lbs with back-to-back wins over Cecilia Braekhus.

Furthermore, when you look at the American’s record, two out of three of her official defeats have come against two of the best pound-for-pound female boxers in the world, such as Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron.

But many would argue McCaskill was fortunate to come away with a draw in her most recent bout last year against Sandy Ryan, and at the age of 39, she might be on the decline.

Regardless, Price has a chance to make a statement by overcoming McCaskill in a more dominant fashion than Ryan, especially if she can become the first boxer to stop the ‘CasKilla.’ And a win for Price could set up a variety of lucrative matchups with the likes of Ryan, Natasha Jonas, and Mikaela Mayer.

As we have seen in women’s boxing, unification contests and floating up and down the weight classes for the best possible opportunity is the norm.

Meanwhile, after failing to get a victory in two out of her last three fights, McCaskill can’t afford a loss if she wants to remain competing at the highest level.

The Boxxer card at Cardiff International Arena next Saturday will also feature Rhys Edwards vs. Thomas Patrick Ward, Kane Shepherd vs. Ishmael Ellis, and the continued return of Hughie Fury live on Sky Sports.