Boxing star Lauren Price’s bid to “become a Welsh legend” will continue with a world title fight in just two months’ time.
The British champion will take on Jessica McCaskill for the WBA and Ring welterweight belts in Cardiff on May 11.
It is the first attempt at a world title for Price, who won Olympic gold at middleweight at Tokyo 2020. She also has a Commonwealth Games title to her name, and has won all six of her professional bouts to date since turning pro two years ago.
The 29-year-old is a former Wales international footballer and is fast becoming one of the U.K.’s best-loved athletes.
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At the Olympics, she was also able to celebrate the success of her girlfriend, fellow Team GB fighter Karriss Artingstall, who took bronze in featherweight.
The couple were open on social media in and around the Games and spoke publicly about their relationship after competing, with Price mentioning they had bought a house together near the gym in Sheffield where they both train.
Price was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours and on turning pro, she said her ultimate aim was to become a multi-weight world champion.
Now comes the challenge of facing McCaskill, with the prize of a first major belt awaiting Price if she can claim victory.
However, McCaskill, 39, has considerable experience and is herself a former undisputed world welterweight champion.
“I’ve got complete respect for Jess McCaskill, she’s a legit champion,” Price told Sky Sports.
“It’s not as if I’m going in there boxing for a vacant title. She’s been there, worn the T-shirt and I’ve got complete respect for that. I know it’s my toughest test to date but I believe in myself.”
Price and Artingstall signed to the same promoter, BOXXER, in April 2022 and have embraced their “power couple” tag since going public after the Olympics.
“Boxing is a lonely sport, but when you’re doing it alongside your partner and your best friend, it’s special,” said Artingstall at the time.
“We both just want to reach the top together. I want to be by her side while she’s pursuing her dreams and vice versa.”
In November, Price was the subject of a Sky short documentary film titled “The Lucky One” in which she spoke about coming to terms with her sexuality.
“I was quite lucky,” she explains. “I came out as being gay when I was 13 years of age.
“I was in the football setup – even though I was young, I played in an older age group – and a lot of my friends were already out, so I felt like I had that support.
“But I know not everyone’s experience is obviously like that.”
She is always out there supporting Artingstall, who has also had six pro fights to date, winning her most recent bout in January when she beat Brazil’s Lila Furtado on points in Liverpool.
For now, however, the focus is firmly back on Price ahead of fight night against McCaskill in eight weeks’ time.“I haven’t boxed at home in about 10 years so it’s going to mean the world to me,” she said.
