Lauren Price celebrated winning her first world title with her girlfriend Karriss Artingstall on Saturday night.
Price is Wales’ first-ever world champion in women’s boxing, taking the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight titles in only her seventh professional bout.
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The 29-year-old, who had won Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago, was roared to victory on a convincing points decision by a passionate Cardiff crowd.
Her opponent, the experienced American Jessica McCaskill, was unable to continue past the early stages of the ninth round due to a swollen eye caused by a clash of heads.
Price is a hugely popular athlete in the UK who has ambitions to create the kind of legacy in her homeland that Katie Taylor has achieved in Ireland.
She beat McCaskill in a 5,000-capacity arena, with her promoter Ben Shalom of BOXXER revealing in the build-up that Price has sold more tickets at this stage of her career than any of the men he currently promotes who are now competing in stadium fights.
“I’d love to sell out the Principality Stadium, that’s the dream,” she told Sky Sports after beating McCaskill. That’s Wales’ national stadium, which seats around 78,000.
Ambitious? Certainly. But Taylor and Amanda Serrano headlined at Madison Square Garden in 2022 in front of nearly 20,000 and there was serious consideration given to a rematch at Dublin’s Croke Park, which holds over 80,000.
So don’t rule out Price getting what she wants one day.
For now, she can just enjoy the moment, and firmly in her corner is her girlfriend, Karriss Artingstall, who is also an Olympic medalist for Great Britain. The couple went public about their relationship after the Tokyo Games.
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Artingstall, who won her sixth pro bout back in January at featherweight, was at Price’s side as she lifted the belts in the ring, and in the post-fight interviews.
They planted congratulatory kisses on each other, sharing moments of pride that will have particularly resonated with LGBTQ sports fans.
In an interview with Wales Online that ran before the fight, Price revealed that having already been close pals through boxing, it was Tinder that helped to turn their friendship into a romance.
“We were really good friends, best friends and we were on Tinder, the pair of us,” said Price.
“We’d been in camp all week but one day I swiped for her and she swiped for me! We got together after the World Championships in 2019, but it was on the down-low at the Olympics as we wanted to keep focused on ourselves and our own journeys.
“We’ve been together about four and a half years now and we’re still going strong, touch wood! It’s funny, but they do say the best relationships start off as best friendships.
“She’s been a massive support for me, all throughout my career. Any professional sport can be hard, but boxing is the toughest for me, for the things we go through physically and mentally. She understands it and we just get each other, it just works out great.
“We’ve both been in relationships previously and people don’t always understand quite what you’ve got to go through to reach those top levels, the diets, the training regimes, all of that.
“When I’m having a bad day, she’ll pick me up and she understands what I’m going through, particularly during fight weeks.”
Price also revealed that it was Artingstall who had been looking after tickets for friends and family for Saturday’s fight, which had left the latter — a former Army officer — “a bit stressed”.
“We’re a team and I listen to her,” added Price. “I’m not a big-headed person but she helps me keep my feet on the ground.”
After her victory, at least, there was no attempt from Artingstall to play down her girlfriend’s ability.
In the media conference, a reporter asked Price: “What was the assessment from Karriss?”
“She was happy!” Price tells him, before looking across the room to get confirmation from the woman she loves.
“What did you say?” Artingstall’s voice can be heard off camera. The reporter repeats the question.
“She’s phenomenal, isn’t she?” says Artingstall. “She’s just a little superstar. What do you think?”
“I agree!” the reporter responds, a little too quickly. Cue laughter, and mutterings of “I’m glad you do!” from those sat alongside Price.
Verdict delivered. The only way is up for boxing’s newest world champion.
