Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Lauren Price (5-0) edged closer to a world title opportunity this past weekend after defeating Lolita Muzeya (18-1) in a shortened contest due to a cut sustained by Muzeya following a clash of heads. The contest was set for ten rounds but was ultimately brought to a close by referee Steve Gray after six completed rounds.
The contest formed part of the supporting cast to Chris Eubank Jr’s successful rematch against Liam Smith at the Manchester Arena.
The win against Muzeya, who held a record of 18-1 before facing Price, served as a barometer for the Olympic champion, who, even at this stage of her career, has so far been under-matched by promoter Ben Shalom.
Price, post-fight, turned her attention towards Natasha Jonas, the current IBF world female welterweight champion. In Price’s post-fight comments, she targeted Jonas by name and insisted that she wants to be kept active in the near future.
“It was good to get back in there. I want to be busy. It was my fifth professional fight against someone with an 18-1 record with ten knockouts. She headlined against Savannah Marshall two fights ago.
“Natasha Jonas, she’s got the belt. I respect her 100%, but I want to be chasing world titles. We’re both British, and it’d be an honour to share the ring with her.”
A fight between Price and Jonas, who are both Olympians, would create and build more momentum behind the female code of the sport, which has undertaken a huge upsurge in the UK compared to other territories.
Price, when speaking to BBC Radio Wales, agreed that Jonas has played her part in improving the outreach of female pro boxing while also exciting Price to go head-to-head against Jonas.
“That’s a fight that excites me [against Jonas],” Price told BBC Radio Wales Sport. “It’ll be a good fight for myself, a good fight for Natasha, a great fight for the fans, a British fight, I’d love that fight.
“I respect Natasha, what she’s done for women’s boxing, but I believe in myself, and I believe I’m up there with the best, and I look forward to putting on big nights like that. I hope it happens.”
