Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters
From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today
Ystrad Mynach’s Lauren Price has been dubbed the “Queen of Wales” after becoming the country’s first-ever female boxing world champion.
Price, 29, defeated USA’s Jessica McCaskill at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on Saturday May 11.
Enzo Maccarinelli, the former cruiserweight world champion, from Swansea, said Lauren is now the queen of Wales – and she is only going to get better.
‘Big Mac’ added: “You don’t train for ten weeks and become world champion, you have to dedicate your life to it.”
Maccarinelli, who runs a boxing gym, praised the role model, saying his gym has already seen an influx of girls wanting to be Lauren Price.
‘Levels above’
Gary Lockett, one of Wales’ best trainers, who challenged for a world title in 2008, similarly lauded Price for putting in the hard graft.
“She is SW talented,” said ‘The Rocket’.
“She has made a seasoned world champion look ordinary tonight and I don’t think we have seen the best of her yet.”
‘Superstar’
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom described Price’s performance as astonishing, saying boxing has a new superstar and suggesting a Principality Stadium fight could be on the cards one day.
He told Sky Sports: “To do this in her seventh professional fight is unprecedented, she’s still to lose a round of professional boxing.
“I can’t wait to create a legacy with Lauren Price.”
‘Masterful’
Lee Selby, the former featherweight world champion, said Price will have worked her whole life to be a world champion and now she has achieved it.
“Her life will not be the same now,” said the Barry boxer on the BBC.
Selby was taken back by the performance, saying: “That was absolutely amazing. “I am a boxing purist and that was as close to a boxing masterclass as you can get.”
‘Boxing lesson’
Price’s coach Rob McCracken, who also guided the careers of Anthony Joshua and Carl Froch, praised his charge for showing she can brawl as well as box and move.
He said Price is only going to improve from the experience and she will be even better in her next answer, “I really enjoyed it, I thought she put on a really good display.”
Ivana Habazin, the WBC welterweight champion, a potential future opponent, from Croatia, who was ringside in Cardiff, said Price gave McCaskill a boxing lesson.
‘Fantastically talented’
Commenting on the fight, Andy Clarke described Price as a fantastically talented fighter, saying she bossed the bout from start to finish.
Matthew Macklin, a former world title challenger, agreed with his Sky Sports colleague: “She won every round – every second of every round.”
Johnny Nelson, a former cruiserweight world champion, pointed out that Price has not lost a round since turning professional, stressing: “That’s some achievement.”
A champion in defeat
McCaskill, who had never lost at welterweight previously, was graceful following her defeat to Price.
Interviewed in the ring after the final bell, the American, who grew up homeless, said: “Congratulations to her, she’s got a bright future.
“I’m so proud of her and what she’s doing, I think she’s going to be great for boxing. “I said it the whole time – she’s a great example and I’m excited to be part of her journey.”
McCaskill, who felt she deserved to be allowed to see out the final four minutes of the fight, praised the atmosphere: “This Cardiff crowd, you guys are crazy – give it up for yourselves.”
Sign-up to our daily newsletter
Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters
From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.
Become a member today
Lawrence lustig/Boxxer
Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER
amie McPhilimey/Boxxer
