Price targets Wales return - and Mayer v Ryan winner
Lauren Price is targeting a return to Wales against either Mikaela Mayer or Sandy Ryan after becoming unified world champion.Price, 30, outclassed Natasha Jonas at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night to capture the 40-year-old's WBC and IBF belts in just her ninth professional fight.The Olympic gold medallist - who also retained her WBA title - now hopes to fight the winner of the rematch between Mayer and Ryan in Las Vegas on 30 March."I've been told I could possibly be boxing in August," Price told BBC Sport Wales."I want to come back to Wales, if it's not the winner of Mayer or Sandy next, I want that by the end of the year."I want to be active, I'm motivated and driven and I believe I can go all the way."
WBO welterweight champion Mayer took to social media, external after the all-female card in London and stated she expects to lock horns with Price this year.Mayer congratulated both Price and Jonas "for the rumble", adding: "All the fights on the card were highly entertaining and it was a total WIN for women's boxing!"I got a job to do March 29th but I fully expect to be sharing the ring with Price later this year."Double Olympic champion Claressa Shields also congratulated Price on her victory over Liverpool's Jonas and hinted she could share the ring with the Welshwoman at the higher weight of 154lb - 7lb higher than Price's bout with Jonas."I thought every judge should've had it 90-100! Price was super dominant! Congrats girl," Shields wrote on X., externalWhen asked if she would consider fighting Price, Shields added: "She too green, my skills too much for her. But hey 154, I think we can see it."Price was mesmerising in her victory over Jonas, winning emphatically 98-93, 100-90 and 98-92 on the judges' scorecards.And the 2020 Olympic champion feels her attributes will take her to the top of the professional ranks."I'll remember this night for the rest of my life," she said."Tasha's a great fighter, but I knew my speed and my feet, that's what won me the Olympic gold medal and I feel it's going to get me to the top in the pros."It started with [Jessica] McCaskill in May and I just feel like I'm getting better and better."She added: "I'll speak to (promoter) Ben [Shalom] and I want to go back to Wales, there's nothing quite like boxing at home, but this was very special tonight and I'll remember it for the rest of my life."Her display against Jonas earned widespread praise, with former super featherweight world champion Barry Jones stating Price was "punch perfect".Boxing pundit Steve Bunce told the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast: "Lauren Price, she showed and proved that she might just be the face of women's boxing going forward."
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