Lauren Price Wants Future Stadium Fight, Hopes to Inspire as Welsh Answer to Katie Taylor

Welsh star Lauren Price hopes that following her Olympic gold with a world title could have a Katie Taylor-like effect on her home country.

Price was too good for Jessica McCaskill in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday night, as the 7-0 (1 KO) southpaw was a convincing winner on the scorecards after a clash of heads meant the American could not continue because of the swelling she had suffered around her left eye. Heads came together in the fifth, and the damage got worse until the fight was halted at the start of the ninth.

Price was dominant, and the atmosphere at the Cardiff International Arena was electric.

“You’ve seen what Katie Taylor has done for Ireland,” said Price. “I want to do the same for Wales. The dream is, in a few years, I’d love to be selling out the Principality Stadium. That’s the dream.”

Formerly the Millennium Stadium, it hosted Joe Calzaghe’s fights with Peter Manfredo and Mikkel Kessler in 2007.

“This is just the start,” added Price. “This is where I want my big nights. I want to create a legacy. I want to go on and create great nights. I’m only going to get better. This is my seventh professional fight, and I’m still learning.”

Price, the newly crowned WBA welterweight champion, was boxing in front of an audience that included IBF champion Natasha Jonas – commentating for Sky Sports – and WBC champion Ivana Habazin. Sandy Ryan was also said to be in the building, and she holds the WBO title following a dominant recent win over Terri Harper.

Promoter Ben Shalom was delighted with Price, the performance and the crowd making the International Arena come alive – to the extent that McCaskill paid tribute to the fans afterwards, too.

“Boxing has a new superstar,” said Shalom. “To do this in your seventh professional fight is unprecedented. She’s still to lose a round of professional boxing. Huge nights back in Cardiff. I can’t wait to create a legacy with her. … And I do believe one day we will get to the stadium.”