Lauren Price hopes a victory over Jessica McCaskill on Saturday can trigger a new golden era for Welsh boxing.
In her seventh professional fight, she challenges the WBA welterweight champion at Wales’ Cardiff International Arena, aware that she can join her compatriot Joe Cordina in reigning among the elite.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Price became the first Welsh fighter to win an Olympic gold medal. She has spoken of the inspiration she takes from the success of the great Joe Calzaghe, who led a fine era for Welsh fighters. Calzaghe trained in his father Enzo’s gym alongside countrymen like the respected Gary Lockett, and fellow world champions Enzo Maccarinelli and Gavin Rees.
Since Calzaghe’s retirement in 2008, Nathan Cleverly and Lee Selby have won world titles without coming close to comparing with the generation that came before them, but with Cordina also preparing to defend his IBF super featherweight title against Anthony Cacace on May 18 on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk, Price said: “This is the start – I want to bring big nights back to Wales.
“I want for [other Welsh fighters] to have their opportunity as well. I don’t just want this to be a one-off thing. I want to build, and get a legacy, and have a new era and have these big nights in Wales.
“You’ve got Cordina at the minute – he’s flying the flag. I’ve trained alongside Joe; obviously went to the [2018] Commonwealth Games with him.
“It’s never really kind of took off since then [the Calzaghe era], has it? The biggest thing is the fans come out and support us. We’re a small nation, and a very proud nation when it comes to our sport, but to have the fans there, come out and watch us – that’s what we need. Joe Cordina, for me, should be boxing at the Cardiff City Stadium and selling big nights, because he’s a two-time world champion. It don’t get any bigger than that, and he doesn’t get enough recognition for how good he is.”
America’s McCaskill, at 39, is 10 years Price’s senior, and is hoping to book an overdue honeymoon with her husband-trainer-manager Rick Ramos off the back of successfully defending her title.
“I respect her, you know,” Price said. “It’s a hard one – last year I was calling out the champions, and in a way, I get it. Why would they fight me? I haven’t really got anything to offer them. It’s high-risk, low-reward. So fair play to her for taking the fight. From a money point of view it probably helped massively, having the backing of Sky, and BOXXER. I’ve got full respect for her – she’s a legend and a champion. I’m not going in there fighting for a vacant title – I know I’m going in there for a tough fight. But I’m prepared 100 per cent to make sure I keep that belt in Wales.
“She’s 10 years older than me. I’m in my prime; she’s probably at the back end of her career. So I don’t really look too much into that – money’s probably come into it as well. She’s going in game, and 100 percent up for it, but [if] I get the win, I’m sure there’ll be options for her. These days, if you have a loss, it doesn’t mean the game’s over.”
Price, 6-0 with one knockout, hasn’t yet lost her undefeated record. McCaskill is 12-3 with five knockouts, more weathered but more experienced.
“It must be a good team [with Ramos]. They get on, and it works, so why not? In the amateurs there’s a lot like that. I suppose it has its pros and its cons.
“It’s a fight, isn’t it? Even though they’re in it together, they’ve got their separate life outside as well.”