THE RESULT: After eight completed rounds, Lauren Price outclassed Jessica McCaskill to win the WBA Welterweight title by technical decision at the Cardiff International Arena, Wales. Having sustained a cut earlier in the fight due to an accidental clash of heads, the injury worsened. On the advice of the ringside physician, the contest was waved off by the man in the middle, Michael Alexander. All three judges scored the bout 90-82.
KEY MOMENTS: In the final seconds of the opening rounds Price finished stronger and produced the cleaner work. This snowballed in her favour and improved her accuracy as the rounds wore on enabling her to find the target more often than not.
RECORDS: Price is yet to reach 10 fights but for the time being the new world champion sits at 7-0 (1 KO). Veteran McCaskill leaves Wales with a record of 12-4-1 (5 KOs).
TALKING POINT: The maturity and composure from Price. On such a big night in front of her own supporters, you would have forgiven her for a few moments of crisis, but her pedigree and ability allowed her to settle into the fight. And the new champion would not be intimidated by McCaskill, who didn’t have the tricks up her sleeve to get close to winning.
QUOTABLE: “I’m speechless,” a slightly emotional Price told Sky Sports. “The atmosphere in here tonight… it gotta be up there with winning that [Olympic] Gold Medal. I can’t thank everyone enough who came out and supported me.
“I know I had a tough fight tonight. Credit to my opponent, Jessica, I respect her and the way she’s been with me as well. She’s a credit to women’s boxing and boxing in general.
“I believe this is just the start. I want to create a legacy. I want to go on and create greatness.”
Discussing the fight, Price said: “I know Jessica’s game. She loves a war, a dog fight. She come at me from round one. I enjoyed myself in there. I’m only going to get better.”
Price, who wants to do for Wales what Katie Taylor has done for Ireland, revealed her ultimate dream. “I’d love to, in a few years, be selling out the Principality Stadium [in Cardiff].
McCaskill paid tribute to the Welsh supporters but wanted the opportunity to continue. “I feel like you should let the champion go out on her shield. You give me my four minutes, you let me go all the way not just because of me but that’s what boxing deserves. Let me go 10 rounds and if it’s Lauren, it’s Lauren, if it’s not, it’s not.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Price will want to win more titles and will likely look for unification bouts in her bid to become undisputed at 147lbs.
SUPPORTING CAST: In another stern test of his ambitions, featherweight Rhys Edwards, 16-0 (4 KOs), backed up his win against Brad Foster in November to beat the vastly more experienced operator, Thomas Patrick Ward, 34-2-1 (5 KOs), on points over 10 rounds with scorecards of 98-92 (twice) and 91-99 all in the Welshman’s favour.
Heavyweight Hughie Fury, 28-3 (16 KOs), continued his career rebuild by stopping 40-year-old German Patrick Korte, 21-4-1 (18 KOs) in two rounds.
Unbeaten super-middleweight Mark Jeffers, 18-0 (5 KOs), continued to look the goods with a brutal fifth-round knockout of Darren Johnstone, 8-1 (2 KOs), who thankfully got back to his feet.
Newport middleweight Kyran Jones, 10-1 (1), went the distance for the ninth time in 10 fights, beating Lewis Howells, 3-1, in a six-round contest. Howells, who lost his opening record, touched down in the opening session.
Another Welsh hopeful, Kane Shepherd, 5-0 (2 KOs), picked up a third round over Ishmael Ellis, 14-9, who was forced to retire.
“The Native” Moses Jolly, 9-0 (6 KOs), continued his heavyweight education, outpointing Amine Boucetta, 8-13, to score a 60-54 shutout on referee Jones’ card.
Lewis Edmondson kept up his hopes of facing Ben Whittaker by overcoming Joel McIntyre in an eight-round card opener. Referee Chris Jones awarded a verdict of 80-72 to Edmondson.