A victory with a taste for the future
Lauren Price not only defended her three world belts this Saturday in Cardiff. He won a physical battle that left its mark and, in the process, received the invitation to the fight that could define his legacy.
It was an intense night against the undefeated Stephanie Piñeiro. Price dominated with her speed and control, but the Puerto Rican did not make it easy for her. He opened a cut on her mouth in the fifth round that stained the Welsh champion’s uniform red for the rest of the fight.
“Merit for Stephanie; Lauren was in the fight of her life today,” recognized a key figure from ringside: Claressa Shields.
And there is the real headline of the evening. Shields, the undisputed heavyweight champion, was watching. And he didn’t bite his tongue.
“You did very well tonight, I’ll tell you face to face: we can fight at the end of the year,” Shields told Price via the BBC.
The message is on the table. Both teams were already in talks, and now it seems a matter of time. Price, a former Olympic champion who improves her record to 10-0, responded with the mentality of a true competitor.
“This is why I am in this sport, I want to fight with the best. We all need a dance partner, but I trust myself.”
So write this down: Price passed a tough test against Piñeiro (now 10-1) by unanimous decision. But the most important thing is what is coming. The road now appears to be heading straight towards an epic clash against Claressa Shields. Women’s boxing could soon have its next big role.
