Latest news with #Welshwoman
The National
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Todd: My career has been stop-start, but now I'm building momentum
Despite having turned professional four years ago, the Glaswegian has racked up only four pro fights. Postponements, cancellations and withdrawals have ensured that Todd's competitive appearances have been considerably more sparse than she'd have liked but finally, she's optimistic she's going to be able to start building momentum within the sport which will, in the not too distant future, lead to titles. This evening, Todd will step into the ring for the fifth time as a professional fighter when she faces Welshwoman Ashleigh Johnson on the undercard of the Commonwealth Super Flyweight title fight between Matty McHale and Sean Bruce at East Kilbride's Playsport Arena. And she admits that this fight, and the prospect of moving onto bigger and better things in the near future, is a welcome reward for the hundreds, if not thousands of hours she's put in at the gym over recent months and years. 'In the past couple of years, when I was training so hard in the gym and then having to face these setbacks with fights not happening, it was really demoralising,' the 27-year-old says. 'But I love training so that helped me keep plugging away, even when there were tough times. 'I've always been obsessed with training but it was when I turned pro that I became really locked-in at the gym. I don't do anything other than train, so I'm in really good shape despite the fact I've only had a few fights.' Cassidy Tod won her most recent fight in February (Image: .) Todd, who was Glasgow's first-ever female pro boxer, boasts a flawless 4-0 record while her opponent, Johnson, is 3-2, with this bout, which is a Commonwealth super bantamweight title eliminator, Todd's first ten-rounder. But rather than be daunted by the extended bout, the Scot is supremely confident that the longer outing will suit her perfectly and a victory will serve as a springboard to the title fights that she's craved for so long. 'I'm buzzing - this is the most excited I've ever been ahead of a fight,' she says of tonight's bout. 'The longer fights suit me, and allow me to get into my groove. I'm confident that I'll get the win and can then move on to a title fight, which will put me right in the mix and things will start to happen for me. It feels such a relief that my hard work is now paying off.' To date, Scotland's most successful female boxer is two-belt world super welterweight champion, Hannah Rankin. But with Rankin having moved into bare knuckle fighting in recent months, there's an opening for another female fighter to become the new standard-bearer for women's boxing in this country. There's every chance that woman will be Todd, and the Glaswegian is confident she has the ability to emulate the success of Rankin and continue to grow the sport in this country. She certainly knows how important it is for female fighters to be recognised and respected. Todd first walked into a boxing gym as a 14-year-old when female fighters were an endangered species but in the years since, she's seen a significant shift in the attitudes of most towards female fighters. There is, she acknowledges, much work still to do to close the gap between women's boxing and men's but she's hopeful of continuing the progress, and is optimistic she can play a significant role in continuing the growth of women's boxing in this country. 'I would like to hope I could be the next big Scottish female fighter. I'm not all that comfortable being in the spotlight but my fighting style is really exciting and so to get recognition would be great,' she says. 'Female fighters do get more respect now than in the past, but it's still harder for female fighters to catch people's attention. But actually, there's so many people within boxing who think the female fighters produce more exciting fights. All I can do is hope that my hard work pays off and if I keep winning then people will take notice. 'There's never been a female British champion from Scotland so I'd love to get that belt and then move on to world titles after that.'
The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Todd: My career has been stop-start, but now I'm building momentum
This evening, Todd will step into the ring for the fifth time as a professional fighter when she faces Welshwoman Ashleigh Johnson on the undercard of the Commonwealth Super Flyweight title fight between Matty McHale and Sean Bruce at East Kilbride's Playsport Arena. And she admits that this fight, and the prospect of moving onto bigger and better things in the near future, is a welcome reward for the hundreds, if not thousands of hours she's put in at the gym over recent months and years. 'In the past couple of years, when I was training so hard in the gym and then having to face these setbacks with fights not happening, it was really demoralising,' the 27-year-old says. 'But I love training so that helped me keep plugging away, even when there were tough times. 'I've always been obsessed with training but it was when I turned pro that I became really locked-in at the gym. I don't do anything other than train, so I'm in really good shape despite the fact I've only had a few fights.' Cassidy Tod won her most recent fight in February (Image: .) Todd, who was Glasgow's first-ever female pro boxer, boasts a flawless 4-0 record while her opponent, Johnson, is 3-2, with this bout, which is a Commonwealth super bantamweight title eliminator, Todd's first ten-rounder. But rather than be daunted by the extended bout, the Scot is supremely confident that the longer outing will suit her perfectly and a victory will serve as a springboard to the title fights that she's craved for so long. 'I'm buzzing - this is the most excited I've ever been ahead of a fight,' she says of tonight's bout. 'The longer fights suit me, and allow me to get into my groove. I'm confident that I'll get the win and can then move on to a title fight, which will put me right in the mix and things will start to happen for me. It feels such a relief that my hard work is now paying off.' To date, Scotland's most successful female boxer is two-belt world super welterweight champion, Hannah Rankin. But with Rankin having moved into bare knuckle fighting in recent months, there's an opening for another female fighter to become the new standard-bearer for women's boxing in this country. There's every chance that woman will be Todd, and the Glaswegian is confident she has the ability to emulate the success of Rankin and continue to grow the sport in this country. She certainly knows how important it is for female fighters to be recognised and respected. Todd first walked into a boxing gym as a 14-year-old when female fighters were an endangered species but in the years since, she's seen a significant shift in the attitudes of most towards female fighters. There is, she acknowledges, much work still to do to close the gap between women's boxing and men's but she's hopeful of continuing the progress, and is optimistic she can play a significant role in continuing the growth of women's boxing in this country. 'I would like to hope I could be the next big Scottish female fighter. I'm not all that comfortable being in the spotlight but my fighting style is really exciting and so to get recognition would be great,' she says. 'Female fighters do get more respect now than in the past, but it's still harder for female fighters to catch people's attention. But actually, there's so many people within boxing who think the female fighters produce more exciting fights. All I can do is hope that my hard work pays off and if I keep winning then people will take notice. 'There's never been a female British champion from Scotland so I'd love to get that belt and then move on to world titles after that.'
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Mayer retains title with points win over Briton Ryan
World champion Mikaela Mayer outpointed Briton Sandy Ryan for the second time to defend her WBO welterweight title in Las Mayer, 34, was the deserved winner in an entertaining rematch between the two bitter some close early rounds, she dominated the middle of the fight with her higher punch output, shot selection and body 31, came back strong towards the end, landing some hurtful punches as blood streamed down Mayer's face following a clash of heads at the with scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 98-92, the Californian won by a unanimous decision over 10 rounds."I thought it was close. I thought I was doing well into the start and then I got into a fight," she said. Mayer dethroned Ryan on points in September, a result which was marred by the Englishwoman being hit by a can of red paint before leaving for the venue in New York."The women are getting better and better - me and Sandy just set the new bar on what competitive fights should look like," said Mayer, who extends her record to 21 wins from 23 called for an undisputed fight against Welshwoman Lauren Price, who holds the three other welterweight world titles, next. Mayer settles bitter feud Derby fighter Ryan - who said she fought with too much emotion and anger following the "hit and run" paint attack in the first encounter – cut a relaxed figure for the rematch as she casually strutted to the ring to One Love by Bob Marley and the defending champion was equally composed as both boxers made a quick start. Mayer doubled up on her jab and controlled the distance but was countered by Ryan's efficient timing and connected with a right and left in the fourth, before landed flashy combinations and hurtful uppercuts to dominate the fifth and sixth as world champions Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson watched from ringside. Her former trainer Kay Koroma was in Ryan's corner. "Come on, wake up," he told his fighter.A dispute over the training team, with Mayer claiming her opponent "stole" her coach, is what first sparked a feud between the two Mayer in complete control, it appeared Ryan - who had just three stoppage wins to her name - needed a knockout heading towards the end of the bout. Ryan landed a thudding right and uppercut on Mayer's injured eye, but she replied with some clean power punches, in a terrific, all-action ninth. As expected, there was no easing of animosity or embrace at the final bell. Ryan shrugged at the result as an exuberant Mayer celebrated the victory. 'It's time for undisputed' Mayer made her intentions clear in the post-fight interview. "Now it's time for me to move on and go for undisputed," she WBC and IBF champion Price staked her claim as the world's best welterweight by beating Natasha Jonas to unify the division earlier this is well known in the UK, having competed in Britain in four consecutive bouts between October 2022 and January undisputed bout against Price could take place either Stateside or at a UK arena, potentially in Ryan was left licking her wounds once more, there are still big fights in prospect for a fighter who has proven she belongs at boxing's top her past four fights, Ryan has drawn a unification bout against Jessica McCaskill, beaten three-weight champion Terri Harper and lost two close encounters against Mayer."I'm going to sit down with my team and we'll have a talk," she said.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Price targets Mayer or Ryan - and a fight in Wales
Lauren Price defeated China's Li Qian by unanimous decision to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics [Getty Images] Lauren Price is targeting a return to Wales against either Mikaela Mayer or Sandy Ryan after becoming unified world champion. The 30-year-old 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 last this month. Advertisement "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 wrote on social media after the all-female card in London that she expects to fight 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! Advertisement "I got a job to do March 29 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. That is a 7lb increase on the limit for 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. When asked if she would consider fighting Price, Shields added: "She's too green, my skills are too much for her. But hey 154, I think we can see it." Advertisement Price was mesmerising in her victory over Jonas, winning emphatically 98-93, 100-90 and 98-92 on the judges' scorecards. 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. "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 and I'll remember it for the rest of my life." Advertisement 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 showed and proved that she might just be the face of women's boxing going forward."
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
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 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 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 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' 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."
