Adams's historic heroics inspires Price in Tokyo ambitions

By Will Jennings

Nicola Adams's storied pair of Olympic gold medals are propelling proud amateur Lauren Price on a double-cycle collision course with Paris 2024.

But the 2019 world champion threw a brutal right hook to the state of the women’s professional circuit and has no interest in emulating Adams’ pathway after the Games this summer.

Middleweight ace Price, the golden girl of Welsh boxing, is gearing up for a crack at the European Olympic qualifying event next week where she will face French home favourite Davina Michel in the Paris preliminary round.

The world, European and Commonwealth champion requires just two victories to book her place in Japan where she will bid to put the final seal on her glittering amateur CV.

Price has no intentions of graduating to the professional game in its current form and says memories of Adams – who turned pro in in 2017 – winning flyweight golds in 2012 and 2016 are intensifying her hunger for glory.

The 26-year-old, whose Tokyo tilt will be broadcast live on Eurosport and discovery+, said: “The professional circuit is getting bigger and bigger, but for me, there’s not enough girls out there for me to turn over.

“My only focus is Tokyo – and I might do another cycle yet.

“Nicola Adams did two cycles. I just think at the minute, for pros, it’s not that big. You could have a world title within three fights, five fights or something like that. Where do you go from there?

“If I’m medalling at a Worlds, an Olympics, I’m on funding, I’m making an alright wage for myself in the amateurs, then I just look at it that way. I love travelling the world, going to different countries and picking up experience.

“I always thought the level of the amateurs, when you go to the worlds and Europeans, is so much higher than the pros.

“I’ve had a few people Instagram me and on social media asking me what my plans are after Tokyo, and I’ve just said the same – that my only focus is on Tokyo and how well I do there.

“I haven’t really thought about it myself – for me, it’s just getting the qualifier out of the way, going to Tokyo and seeing where I am after that.”

Price, who hails from Newport, will face either Ukraine’s Anastasia Chernokolenko or Lithuanian Gabriele Stonkute in the quarter-finals if she topples Michel in Paris.

Win that second fight and her place on the plane will be secure, where she is hellbent on adding to her two Commonwealth, two world and three European medals since 2011.

Price also soared to European Games nirvana in 2019 but insists reaching the summit in Tokyo would firmly top the lot.

Price, who has previously played football for both Wales and Cardiff City, added: “Going to the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was eight years of age, so it would top everything in my career.

“As an amateur, you don’t get any higher than any Olympic Games.

“It would mean everything to me. It would mean the world. I’ve played football, I’ve been world champion and European champion, but going to the Olympics and winning a medal would top everything in my career.”

Elsewhere in Paris next week, 2018 Commonwealth bronze medallist Cheavon Clarke will face Narek Manasyan knowing a win would seal a memorable Games debut.

Heavyweight Clarke, also a European Games and European Championship medallist, was poised to secure qualification at last year’s event at the Copper Box Arena before the coronavirus pandemic scuppered his 2020 plans.

The last 12 months have been a struggle for everyone and Clarke, 30, reckons this summer’s Olympians will be Games immortals forever.

Asked if this year’s gold medallists will be even more legendary than usual, the Kent-based puncher said:“Yes, most definitely.

“It’s just not normal – this has never happened before, so to prepare yourself, adjust to it and go there and be successful, that’s legendary forever.

“You’re a legend anyway by going to an Olympics, but to go to this Olympics and do well there [makes you even more special.

“To only have one opportunity to qualify, and to then go to the Games with no crowds or anything, this has got to be the most special Olympics ever.”

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