Lauren Price believes victory over Jessica McCaskill will take her to the next level as she targets major domestic fights with Natasha Jonas and Sandy Ryan on the road to a glittering legacy as one of the most dominant figures in the boxing.
The Olympic champion will fight for a world title for the first time in her career on May 11 when she challenges McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight world titles in Cardiff.
This will be just the seventh fight of her rapidly evolving professional career, with Price set to bring ‘big boxing’ back to Wales by emulating the influence of Katie Taylor in Ireland.
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Lauren Price is determined to bring back the glory days of Welsh boxing when she challenges Jessica McCaskill for her WBA and WBC welterweight titles at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on May 11.
“I think this fight is going to sort of pave the way for me to create a legacy boxing in Wales in a good fight,” Price told Sky Sports. “You know, I want to go from there and I think this fight is an exciting fight for the fans as well.
“I’m fighting someone who has been a legitimate champion, and I believe I win the fight and from there I continue to progress to bigger and bigger fights.
“I think it’s just about taking the fights at the right time. And the main thing is obviously creating our legacy for Wales.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, trainer Joe Gallagher recently explained that Natasha Jonas and her team were targeting a fight against McCaskill before it was announced that the American would defend her belts against Price.
Unified light-middleweight champion Jonas has long been touted as a potential future opponent for Price, who is looking forward to a meeting with the 39-year-old.
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Jessica McCaskill believes her superior experience in the professional ranks will see her emerge victorious from her fight against Lauren Price, who is fighting for a world title in just her seventh fight.
“Definitely,” Price said. “Everyone. Everyone who has a belt at 147 is on my calendar and those are the big fights I want.
“I think so far it has been quite difficult because I became Olympic champion and I had high risks, little rewards and no belts. I so hope that with my world titles I can now have more big fights.
“I’m happy to fight anyone with the world title at 147 and that’s it really.”
Live fight night
Saturday May 11 at 7 p.m.
If everything goes as planned against McCaskill, Price says she would be ready to face Jonas next.
Jonas is currently awaiting news on her next fight, with Gallagher noting that she plans to enter the ring two more times in 2024 following January’s victory over Mikaela Mayer.
“100 percent (she would confront him next),” Price said. “Obviously Rob (McCracken) is the guy who makes all the decisions, but we talked about it briefly and I believe in my abilities.
“My team believes in me and I believe I beat them all and that’s just the mindset I have. I’ve done great things in the amateurs and I believe I’m going to do great things among the pros.”
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Lauren Price’s promoter Ben Shalom believes it is the right time for her to fight for a first world title against Jessica McCaskill in just her seventh professional fight.
One matchup with perhaps less time pressure is a fight against WBO welterweight champion Ryan, who is 7-1-1 as a professional after being Terri Harper in March.
“Definitely,” Price said. “You know, Sandy and I, we were obviously friends on Team GB, we go through GB together and I have respect for her and stuff like that.
“At the end of the day, you know, boxing is boxing and it’s definitely a great fight, and something I’m 100 percent open to.
“I said if someone was 147 with the world title, I would happily fight. And I’m sure that fight will happen in the future.”
Watch Lauren Price in her first world title fight against Jessica McCaskill on her return to Wales from the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on Saturday May 11, live on Sky Sports.
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