Lauren Price crowned welterweight world champion in Cardiff

Lauren Price claimed the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight world titles with a comprehensive victory over Jessica McCaskill in Cardiff.

The fight was called off two seconds in to the ninth round, with McCaskill unable to continue because of a swollen eye.

Because of a head clash, the decision went to the judges’ scorecards and Price was a clear winner on all three following a boxing masterclass from the Welsh fighter.




“I want to come back here and create a legacy.

“She came at me from round one and it took me a while to get my distance, but I enjoyed myself and I’m only going to get better.

“I want to fight at the Principality Stadium, that’s the dream.”

Price was competing in only her seventh professional fight after a stellar amateur career that brought Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago.

The former international footballer’s target was to become Wales’ 14th world champion – and the first female – on a night when home fans turned out in force to fill Cardiff’s Utilita Arena.

Challenger Price, almost 10 years younger than her American opponent, entered the ring to Dafydd Iwan’s anthem ‘Yma O Hyd’ before the playing of the Welsh national anthem rose the atmosphere to fever pitch.