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- Lauren Price Laughs Off Natasha Jones’ Claims And Is Ready For Title Showdown
Lauren Price has laughed off Natasha Jonas’ criticism of her Olympic success as they prepare to battle for the IBF, WBC, and WBA welterweight world titles at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday.
Welsh hero Price, who claimed gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, remains unimpressed by Jonas’ skepticism regarding her achievement.
"When all the good people had left," Jonas remarked about Price’s Olympic victory.
That’s a mis-reading of Price’s accomplishment, however, as she had to overcome formidable opponents en route to her triumph, including world champion Atheyna Bylon, Olympic silver medallist Nouchka Fontijn, and Qian Li, who later secured gold at Paris 2024.
Price was quick to respond to Jonas’ comments.
"She doesn't know what she's talking about," Price told Sky Sports.
With an illustrious amateur career that includes World, European, and Commonwealth Games gold medals, Price remains steadfast.
"At the end of the day, she's only saying that to try and get under my skin. It's not going to work. It's all she's got really.
"To get to the Olympics and stand on top of the podium, there's no easy way, there's no easy route. Even to qualification, even to get there. So she's chatting a bit of rubbish there."
Despite the verbal exchange, Price holds Jonas in high regard.
"I respect her. She's an Olympian," Price acknowledged.
"I respect anyone who gets in the ring. But you look at my amateur background, most decorated amateur to come out of GB, I am going to have people who envy me a little bit.
"I don't take any notice of that. I focus on what I'm good at, at what I can achieve. And she can think what she wants."
Price, who thrives under pressure, is confident about delivering a strong performance.
"I enjoy being under the lights. Some people don't like it. I love it. Don't get me wrong, the training's hard but nights like that, under the lights, when you win and you get your hand raised, it's special," she said.
"I feel like I haven't really been tested tested yet. I feel like Tasha brings another level out of me, if I'm honest.
"But I believe there's so much more to come from me."
She considers Friday's bout a pivotal moment in her professional journey.
"We talk about the night - it's going to be historic. But the opponent Jonas is, the name that she is, I believe it makes me bigger in and outside of the ring," Price stated.
"So I'm excited for that. I feel like it's a turning point in my career as well. But it's a fight that I know I'm going to win well. I'm just too good.
"I talk about my legacy, greatness, and it's a stepping stone to getting there with this fight. It's a massive fight. A massive British fight and it starts March 7."
Recognising Jonas’ role as a pioneer for women’s boxing, Price acknowledges the significance of their clash.
Taking place on the eve of International Women’s Day, their contest headlines an all-female event featuring WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois against Bo Mi Re Shin and the pro debut of Cindy Ngamba, a bronze medallist for the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024.
Price, now 30, has reflected on the path paved by fighters like Jonas.
“I had a dream to go to the Olympics, from the age of eight, and the likes of herself, Nicola Adams – that crop – Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Savannah Marshall… they were the ones who were the first to compete at London 2012 for female boxing,
“I didn’t know what sport I was gonna do; I was playing football; I was kickboxing. I’ve always admired her in that way. She’s 11 years older than me, but I respect her and she’s a great role model.
"She’s a good fighter. I tip me hat off to her; I respect her and what she’s done. Not just for women’s boxing, but boxing in general. But I just believe that where I am right now, in my career in general, it’s a fight that I win.
“I look at it as they were the first – even doing it on International Women’s Day, how far boxing’s come. I’m proud to be part of that, and they are too. Generations, when you look back years ago, even to get women to lace up gloves and get in the ring, you’ve got to respect them. Where it is now, it’s come on massive.”
READ MORE: Lauren Price Aims For Next Step Towards Undisputed Domination
While Price’s recent victory over Bexcy Mateus in December signaled her growing momentum, Jonas secured a win over Ivana Habazin on the same night.
Some have speculated that their promoter, Boxxer, is setting the stage for Price to become the division’s dominant force.
However, Jonas remains a major figure in the sport, frequently appearing as a Sky Sports pundit, with her name and image featured prominently in promotional material for the event.
Price, however, is unconcerned about such details.
“I’m not one for this – whether you walk first, walk second – it don’t matter,” she said.
“The best will come out on the night when that bell goes, regardless of who’s at the top of the poster; the bottom of the poster.
“There’s nothing personal there. It’s a fight I’ve wanted for a while because I won world titles in May [when defeating Jessica McCaskill], and it’s been hard to get fights. When I turned over as a champion I wanted to move fast.
“I believe how good I am; Rob [McCracken, my trainer] believes how good I am. But to the public and to certain people, ‘It’s too soon; it’s too early’, but I’ve proved that already with the [Jessica] McCaskill fight – one of the best in the division. I come through, not losing a round, and I just think it’s the right timing.
“Do I think I’m the finished article? No. You never stop learning in this game. But, one thing that I do believe is in myself, and this fight – Natasha is my toughest test.
“She brings another level up to me, but one that I believe I come through with flying colours. I also believe, right now, I’m the best at 147.
“We’ve been respectful. But I don’t know her to the extreme of ins and outs. I played football against her sister, Nikita Parris, Wales v England, when I was 17, 18, with the under-19s.
“Are you at your peak at 41? Am I at my peak? Potentially. I think so.”
