Lauren Price sees a fight that will be “huge for world boxing” if she can beat Michaela Kotaskova next month – but she’s now ruled out against Claressa the Virgin.
The Olympic gold medalist has the WBA, WBC and IBF welterweight titles on the line when he fights at the Utilita Cardiff Arena on November 20.
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The fight, which will be shown live on the BBC, will be the first tour with a grueling title defense against Stephanie Pineiro in April, as they watch the undisputed heavyweight champion keep her hand.
It was supposed to be a middleweight matchup, but Price says he broke down the talks.
That pushed her to change the focus to 34-year-old Kotaskova – with the potential for major concern early in 2027.
“I had been going back and forth in conversations with some great fighters, but I wanted to get out before the end of the year,” Price said.
“I know he’s talking about big fights later. I know I’ve got a bit of a quick turnaround after this.
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“I can’t think any further, I’ve had it through the twenties, but I’ll be back early next year in a big fight.
“I can’t say much, but I can say publicly that Claressa is not going to be a maid.”
“I can only say that any boxer wants to hold all the belts and it will be massive for Wales, massive for Britain and massive for world boxing.”
Price before Mikaela Mayer was joined against Mikaela Mayer to become a definite better brand.
Three-weight champion Mayer lost the light middleweight title to Chantelle Cameron in August but still takes the WBO welterweight belt from Derby’s Sandy Ryan in 2024.
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Fighting the targets ‘doesn’t make sense’
Price says his focus is simply on Kotaskova, who took Cameron’s space in London in April.
His loss on the scorecards at light-middleweight is the only defeat in his 15-fight career and will present a tough challenge to Price in his 11th fight as he retires from amateur status.
At one stage, all roads seemed to lead to a showdown with targets, with two looking back after the tour won by Pineiro earlier this year.
Targets screamed at Price in late August when he took back the middleweight title.
There had been speculation about the two fights but, when pressed about what had happened, Price told BBC Sport Wales: “It was nothing for me. The money wasn’t great, I wanted to fight in America and in Wales, but he didn’t want to come here, and there was no rematch clause.
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“Everything is basically stacked against me and it just doesn’t fit.
“I have to stand on my feet and I think: ‘I’m Lawrence, I’m a champion, I’m an Olympic gold medalist.’
‘If I were towards the end of my life, or if I had had a few losses, I would jump at you at all.
“But there is no competition and he is fighting just as hard there.
“Of course that fight will happen, but only when it’s time and it makes sense.”
Taylor’s inspired stadium of dreams
Ireland’s Katie Taylor ended her career as a three-time World Cup champion by beating Flora Pili in front of 80,000 at Dublin’s Croke Park in September [Getty Images]
Price says business frustrations are part of the game when it comes to professional wrestling, and instead she’s focused on continuing her rise and growing stature as one of Britain’s leading female athletes.
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After his return to the ring after suffering a cut lip in a points win over Pineiro – and married – Price’s focus on underlining his headline status was inspired by Katie Taylor’s recent emotional farewell in a sold-out Croke Park.
“I always believed I was good enough, but this is not,” Price said of whether he could dream of a similar scene at the Cardiff City Stadium.
“It doesn’t matter how good you are, the people have got behind you – that’s why I feel lucky to be Welsh because the nation we are is ours.
“I like having Nestios because it’s about putting the fire in the seats and building the journey, so it’s exciting to be in BBC boxing because people can see me and I’m known. It’s all about the legacy.
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“Now, though, we have Friday nights in the Utility Arena which will give people time to come down after work is done, so we can rock the roof!”
Price says he is also excited about giving young Welsh talent such as Rhys Edwards and Kyran Jones a chance on the undercard of their fight, which will begin in the Wales-Britain head of sport, which includes the Welsh rugby union men taking on Australia in the Nations Championship side the following evening.
She added: “It’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m confident in my skill level and boxing IQ and I’m going to take it easy with my hand.
“Everybody at this level is an honest opposition, and I want to add those belts, but at the end of the night I want to put on the fans and I will give everything to do.”
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