The desire to get better every year is the goal of every professional athlete. Very few people can actually achieve that.
Of course, there are some who appear unstoppable when they burst onto the scene with talent and panache in equal measure. But even they can succumb to pressure, injury, and a host of other factors that can stop an athlete, push them back, or force them to try again.
Setbacks, disorientation, loss of focus and motivation are all completely natural. But Lauren Price doesn’t seem to be doing anything natural.
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The Welsh boxer’s career has followed a simple trajectory so far. From winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and being made an MBE, to winning her first six matches without losing a round and making an unbeaten start to her professional career by winning the first-ever British women’s title. Prices have continued to rise rapidly. But now she faces her biggest challenge yet.
Returning to action in Wales for the first time in 10 years, the 29-year-old from Ystrad Mainach will tonight take on Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. If she wins in front of her home crowd at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, she will not only win her first professional world title but also achieve superstar status in the sport. .
Of course, McCaskill is a former undisputed world champion who has never lost a welterweight bout, so it’s possible Price’s bullet train will be temporarily suspended. Not if she can help it.
“No disrespect to Jessica,” she says. “She’s a great fighter. But I believe I’m better in many ways and I believe I’m a better and more skilled boxer. She’s right. She’s a champion, she’s been there, she’s done it against the best, and obviously she’s pretty tough, pretty rough.
“But I’ve been through it before. In fact, in every style of boxing I’ve competed in, I’ve come out on top. I completely respect Jessica, but I don’t know if I’m I have 100 percent confidence that I will be at the top.”I believe in myself, the team believes in me, and that’s all I need. ”
Speaking to WalesOnline just before Christmas, Price was confident that 2024 would be her year. Only a fool would doubt the confident demeanor she exudes during her conversations during training breaks. But as she already mentioned, she could claim any of her last three years.
Among them, and of all that will come, the year she will never forget is 2021. In what must have seemed like an eternity to arrive thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics have finally begun. Over the summer, Price had little time to reflect on the moment that changed everything.
She arrived in Japan already making history as Wales’ first female Olympic boxer. But after she won the gold medal by defeating China’s Li Qian in the women’s middle light final, Price became a star not only in Ystrad Mainach, but also in Wales, captivating the whole of Britain.
Abandoned by her parents and taken in by her grandparents when she was three days old, becoming an Olympic champion capped off a remarkable journey for the then 27-year-old. It was also the time when she became an international soccer player representing Wales, and was introduced to the world. She was a kickboxing champion before excelling in gloves.
“Winning gold at the Olympics will stay with me forever,” she said, reflecting on the fight. “This is one of the proudest moments of my career and to be honest, nothing that happens will ever top this. There’s nothing like being there and coming home with money.
“Coming into the match, I was up against the world number two and I knew he was going to be a very tricky and quite awkward opponent.To be honest, the match was a lot more difficult than it actually was. I remember going into the match and even though it was an Olympic final, I was so calm and relaxed, probably the most relaxed I’ve been throughout the competition. I think so.
“I came back to the corner 5-0 in the first round, so I was very happy,” she added. “Then in the second round, I think I won 4-1. So I felt confident that I won the fight heading into the final round, and I won that too, but I didn’t let my shots slip or dance a little bit. I remember having fun doing it,’ and just taking it all in. ”
Despite keeping quiet during the Olympics, Price had a celebratory success in Tokyo, winning his second medal, while his partner Caris Artingstall also won a bronze medal at the same Olympics. Since then, this boxing power couple has gone from strength to strength, and she credits Price with keeping her feet on the ground as her career took off.
As she admits, it’s unusual to have two Olympic medalists in one couple, but the two women understand the pressures and emotions of the job, and their shared experience is their winning formula. It has been proven that. Although they are strong in and out of the ring, Price admits there is no grand story about how they met.
“It really drove me a little crazy,” she laughs. “We’re really good friends, best friends, and we were both on Tinder. We were at camp for a week, and one day I swiped for her and she swiped for me too. “We got together after the 2019 World Championships,” but we wanted to stay focused on ourselves and our journey, so we were in the worst position at the Olympics.
“We’ve been together for about four and a half years and we’re still going strong, Touch Wood! It’s funny, but they say the best relationships start with the best friendships.
“She has been a huge support to me throughout my career,” Price continued. “Any professional sport can be difficult, but boxing for me is the most difficult because it’s a physical and mental experience. She understands that and we just work together. is”
“We’ve both been in relationships before, but people don’t necessarily fully understand what you have to go through to get to the top level, like what you eat and how you train. She’s there for me and understands what I’m going through, especially during game week. [McCaskill] She’s feeling a little stressed right now because she’s fighting. But we are a team and I listen to her. I’m not a big-headed person, but she helps me stay grounded. ”
With Charis by his side, Price is determined to keep moving forward. It appears Mr. MacAskill is just the beginning. Her anticipation of competing in front of her home crowd reminded her of a broader goal.
She doesn’t just want to win, she wants to inspire. She wants to build her legacy.
“I haven’t fought in Wales for about 10 years,” she said. “So it’s really exciting to come back home and aim for a world title. Wales is a small country but we’re a very proud country and we support our country. When I walk, I know that I’m going to hear quite a bit of noise behind me.
“We haven’t really seen a big night in Cardiff since Joe Calzaghe. For me, he’s one of the greatest people, not just in England but in the world. What he’s done for Wales is amazing. “And I don’t think he is.” That gives him plenty of credit.
“But I want to put Wales back on the map,” she added. “I want to leave something behind. You’ve seen what Katie Taylor has done for Ireland and I want to do it for Wales. I’ll be headlining Cardiff, but the boys and girls on the opening act. It’s going to be a great opportunity for them. I want to bring their fans too, I don’t want to just be a one-off, I want to bring great boxing back to Wales.”
Who will stop her? She’s not Macaskill – Price is sure of that. Of course, it’s one thing to say it with her mouth, but this fighter has a habit of backing up her claims in the ring.
Even if she is wrong, she recovers faster than others. After all, she wasn’t used to stopping, much less backing up.
“I’ve played six matches so far and won every round. I feel very comfortable and haven’t really needed to step up a gear yet, but I feel like I’ve improved with each match.” partner.
“I’m sure people will ask me about the Jessica fight, but this is where I want to be. I want these big matches and I want to be in these world title fights. This is a real step up, but Whatever happens, I’m going to be 100 percent ready.”
No matter what happens on Saturday night, one thing is clear: surprisingly, the best is yet to come from Lauren Price.
“Even though I know I can win this fight, I still feel like I have a lot of work to do as a professional boxer,” she said. “I continue to grow with each game and never stop learning so I believe I can go all the way and become a legend in this sport and a legend in Wales.
“I want to make history and be a champion.”