Lauren Price to Undertake First World Title Defense Versus Mateus

Lauren Price, the current holder of the IBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine welterweight world titles, is scheduled to make her inaugural defense of these championships against Bexcy Mateus on December 14. The 30-year-old Welsh boxer, Price, is set to compete against the undefeated 29-year-old Colombian challenger at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre, with the IBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine belts on the line. Mateus boasts a record of six knockouts among her seven professional victories, while Olympic champion Price has recorded one stoppage during her undefeated seven-fight professional career. Price commented, stating, “I’m excited to be out defending my belts to finish what has been a big year for me.” She added, “I have full respect for Mateus. I’ll prove I’m the best in the division and I won’t let anything, or anyone stand in my way of becoming undisputed.” The fight card will also feature 40-year-old Liverpudlian Natasha Jonas, another prominent athlete in the competitive division, who will aim to unify the IBF and WBC titles in a bout against 35-year-old Croat Ivana Habazin. An all-British unification bout is anticipated if both Jones and Price secure victories. Price made history in May by becoming Wales’ first professional female boxing world champion and the 14th world title holder overall, achieving this feat in only her seventh professional fight after defeating welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill. This accomplishment propelled Price, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medal winner, into the sport’s upper echelons, setting the stage for major events and substantial financial rewards. Jonas successfully defended her IBF welterweight title against Mikaela Mayer in January, subsequently stating that 2024 would be her final year competing as a fighter. Ben Shalom, chief executive of promotional company Boxxer, commented, “The battle for undisputed is on.” He further added, “If Natasha and Lauren both win on December 14th, it will set the stage for a massive ‘Battle of Britain’ world title unification match-up next year.”