The winner at the Royal Albert Hall last night was Lauren Price with a near shutout victory over Natasha Jonas but the triumphant queen was women’s boxing.

The contests – all five going the distance – delivered, the audience was different and entertained, and it will live long in the memory on the eve of International Women’s Day.

Price is now installed in my view as among the greatest female boxers Britain has produced in the modern times, matching the groundbreakers in Jane Couch “The Fleetwood Assassin” and Barbara Buttrick “The Might Atom”, who were so far ahead of their time. Couch, who had to share hotel rooms, and travel the world to fight, had an even bigger battle with the British Boxing Board, taking them to the High Court to procure a professional boxing licence.

Modern female boxers would feel deeply insulted by what Couch went through. I covered her British debut after her high High Court case was won. It was at Caesar’s nightclub – not the one in Las Vegas, but in Streatham, South London – with a low ceiling with only a few feet above the boxer’s heads. Yorkshire lass Buttrick, standing 4ft 11ins tall, fought on the carnival circuit, and mostly in America. She had to. She even fought exhibition bouts against men. I met her at the 2012 Olympics when she was 82, and she had an extraordinary energy about her.

Tiny and glowing. Buttrick was there to celebrate the inauguration of women into the Olympic Games. Jonas fought there, and since then, almost 13 years ago, women’s boxing has grown into a spectacle, and notably, grew exponentially from the pandemic lockdown onwards.

Last night’s event, in the majestic acoustic setting of one of the most vaunted venues in London, or indeed anywhere in the world, Price took the throne and the baton for women’s boxing, one which Jonas has held the torch for in the wake of Couch and Buttrick.

“Miss GB”, as trainer Joe Gallagher has aptly called Jonas, and in Price, the sport here has a veritable champion to grow the sport. There were two stars of the future on the card, moreover, with Caroline Dubois, the world lightweight champion, and Francesca Hennessy, daughter of longstanding promoter Mick Hennessy, who discovered and promoted world champions Carl Froch and Tyson Fury. Mark my words, we will hear much about Dubois, the younger sister of world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, and Hennessy, in the coming months and years.

Both have talent, personality, verve and vigour, in abundance. They already have the great qualities to make them formidable role models and stand-outs in the women’s movement in sport. I wouldn’t mind seeing Price and Dubois matched, by the way, something promoter Ben Shalom admitted to me last night that he has considered.

Good timing too, this all women card, given that the trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano was announced 48 hours ago, pitching the two future Hall of Famers in another contest after their two brutal battles. There is little doubt that the Irish star and the Puerto Rican heroine are two of the greatest female fighters of all time. Their third rumble, with Taylor 2-0 in the series, will take place on another all-women card on July 11 – again on Netflix after they garnered 65 million viewers last time just before Jake Paul fought Mike Tyson at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Texas – back at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where they made history three years ago in a contest watched by over a million viewers.

But back to our British raging belles last night. It brought together two generations in the sport: Jonas, who made history as one of the first female boxing competitors to compete at the inaugural event at the London 2012 Olympics. Witnessing Jonas fighting Katie Taylor in a semi-final of a torrent of punches, was breathtaking. The noise, by the packed audience at the EXCEL Arena, reached the decibels of a jumbo jet taking off. Jonas, now 40, has become a role model as boxer, spokesperson, boxing analyst on multiple channels, and mother. Jonas has also been a three-weight world champion.

In Price, Jonas faced a Welsh multi-sport standout who won the Olympic gold in the delayed Tokyo Olympics, and switched to the sport as a world champion in kickboxing, who has also represented her country at Association Football, but whose inspiration in part has come from the lightning rod that Jonas has become over the last 15 years.

I favoured Price, and was on record indeed, that the Welsh fighter would win last night. Yet Jonas refused to buckle, admitting afterwards however that Price’s speed, youth and power were tough to combat and counter. Three of the world welterweight titles were on the line, and an undisputed title is out there potentially in the next match-up, with the American Michaela Mayer and Britain’s Sandy Ryan re-matching for the last world title belt out there in the 10st 7lbs (welterweight) division.

I was there early yesterday, and the Albert Hall audience seemed to be made up of many women enjoying the spectacle. The all-women card was not the first ever – BOXXER and its CEO Shalom put on an all-female card two years ago at the O2 Arena that was equally well-attended – and became a thrilling night, but this was special last night. The setting, the majesty and verve of the powerful Price, agile and dangerous, now leading the charge into a new phase for women’s boxing.

Welsh fighter’s hands too fast for the veteran in victory by unanimous decision

On a historic night at the Royal Albert Hall, women’s boxing took centre stage with an all-female card and an all-British headliner.

Lauren Price looked every bit like the figurehead of the next generation of British women boxers as she beat Natasha Jonas, 10 years her senior, to remain undefeated and become the holder of the WBA, IBF and WBC welterweight belts with an unanimous victory in the headline bout.

Price was electric, moving with an incredible speed that Jonas was unable to match, dominating the opening three rounds, and not letting up throughout the contest.

Jonas broke down barriers for women’s boxing and paved the way for the likes of Price to come through the ranks without facing the same battles.

Jonas was the first British woman to box at the Olympics in 2012, but 13 years later, Britain, and Wales, have a new figurehead, Price.

Atmosphere building

The historic venue, more used to hosting the likes of Bob Dylan and orchestral concerts, has also been a home to boxing nights going as far back as 1918, although there has never been a women’s headliner until Friday night.

The atmosphere all evening was building to the main event. The pyrotechnics and smoke machines were set, and aided by the £2 million improvements to the sound system, nominally to make it sound the same for every member of the audience from the stalls to the top of the auditorium, Jonas and Price’s bout was greeted with a wall of noise.

In the week building up to the bout, there was just the right amount of needle. Questions over weighing scales calibration added to the occasion and tense press conferences only increased the anticipation.

In the penultimate fight of the evening, Caroline Dubois triumphed in a thrilling contest against South Korean Bo Mi Re Shin to retain her WBC lightweight title. Shin came out firing in the final round as the two exchanged punches to exhaustion, drawing a standing ovation from large swathes of the audience.

On a night to celebrate British women’s boxing, the main event lived up to the expectation, even taking in the wider context of Miss GB vs Wales, and the sport can only go in one direction. Upwards.

11:26 PM GMT

Price declared champion

The verdict’s announcement:

11:25 PM GMT

Jonas admits Price was too quick

Jonas was gracious in defeat. She said: “She was just too fast. She just beat me to the punch every time. She does pack a lot of power as well which I didn’t expect.

“To all my family and friends – my daughter is here tonight – I apologise for the performance.”

She declined to be drawn on the prospect of retiring. “Emotions are running high,” she said when asked about it. “Joe [Gallagher, her trainer] has been telling me to retire for a very long time. Right now I’m going to go home and spend some time with my daughter.”

11:17 PM GMT

Superb Price signals changing of the guard

Shutout victory for Lauren Price. Changing of the guard. Very fine performance over Natasha Jonas.

Speed, skills and youth over the former three-weight world champion.

Price will go on to fight for the undisputed 147lb world crown versus the winner of Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan, contesting the fourth belt.

Price 100-90 on my card. Special talent, and still much developing to come.

Capped a one-sided fight but a great night at the hallowed Royal Albert Hall.

11:15 PM GMT

Price wins!

The judges are unanimous, scoring the fight 98-93, 100-90, 98-92.

11:14 PM GMT

Round 10: Jonas finishes with a flurry

Jonas finally lands with a heavy left shortly before the final bell, stunning Price, but the Welshwoman takes another round to seal what is almost certainly a hugely impressive victory.

She may have unified the world titles whilst maintaining her remarkable record of not having lost a round in the professional ranks.

If this is to be Jonas’ final showing in the ring, she can take a lot of credit in her last round. She goes for it and shocks Price with a few big shots as she goes for broke. 10-9 Jonas.

11:12 PM GMT

Round nine: Price shows no signs of tiring

Jonas is showing that grit that she has built her career on but Price still looks slick as she did in the first round. Jonas attempts another big right hand, but Price seems to be moving away to be before she even throws before capitalising on it. 10-9 Price.

11:08 PM GMT

Round eight: Jonas takes two heavy hits

Price makes Jonas eat two big shots as she slides out of the way from a big overhand right. The WBC and WBO champion is going to need something big in these final two rounds to salvage something. 10-9 Price

11:07 PM GMT

Price’s physicality superior

Jonas got herself back into the contest in the fifth round but still shipped the heavier shots. Six rounds straight to Price, who looks very powerful and agile

In Olympic terms Price was middleweight, Jonas lightweight. Long time ago... at least for Jonas. But in physical structure, it is showing...

11:06 PM GMT

Round seven: Price movement too quick for Jonas

Price is sticking to straightforward tactics, firing off her jab and then moving inside to land follow-up shots. Gallagher, spotting this trend, tries to reassure Jonas that it is only the difference between them.

She needs, he says, to relax and fire off straighter shots, which, in theory, will make up for the speed deficit and prevent Price from getting inside her defence.

Jonas always seems a step or two behind Price, which is more to do with Price’s constant movement rather than Jonas being sluggish. Price knows she is up and looking comfortable. 10-9 Price.

11:02 PM GMT

Round six: Jonas getting to grip with Price tactics

Price’s trainer Rob McCracken tells his charge not to over-exert herself, telling her that she can effectively win the fight with her jab, such is the speed of movement and rapidity of her shots.

Jonas’ experience is beginning to show. She has noticed Price builds on her jab and pounces. Sliding out the way has eased the pressure but the 30-year-old still did enough to win that round. 10-9 Price.

10:59 PM GMT

Round five: Jonas enjoys some success, at last

Jonas finally edges a round, moving well behind her jab. She will need to build on it to reverse the momentum of the fight, though.

The hook Jonas finally landed on Price gave her a lot of confidence and allowed her to land a few jabs. Price knew she was down at the end and chased. 10-9 Jonas.

10:56 PM GMT

Round four: Price punching with precision

Jonas picks off Price with a couple of shots but she continues to look medium-paced against her opponent. Price both initiates more attacks and then finishes off exchanges having enjoyed the better of them.

Jonas is swinging but missing. Every punch Price is throwing is landing. It is still early but it does not look good for the Liverpudlian. 10-9 Price.

10:53 PM GMT

Price three rounds up

Price dominant for three rounds. 30-27

Too young, too fast, too powerful.

For now...

10:52 PM GMT

Round three: Jonas struggling with speed

Jonas keeps up the pressure. Johnny Nelson, the former cruiserweight world champion, offers his analysis: “Lauren Price is far too sharp. She’s got far too much movement. Natasha is trying to wait for her but she’s losing the rounds as it it goes on.

A more manageable round for Jonas who managed to land a few shots. Progress, but Price is still the dictator and doing more damage. 10-9 Price.

10:50 PM GMT

Round two: Price steps up pace

Price continues to display her blistering hand speed, drawing a warning from Gallagher in her corner to be wary of leaving her exposed to it. Jonas lands several shots of her own, but Price again is looking busier and edges the round.

Price has found her range very early and is hitting Jonas with brilliant counter punches, one which makes her stumble. The 40-year-old needs to get something going and fast. 10-9 Price.

10:47 PM GMT

Round one: Price on attack

A tight opening round. Price is marginally the more active of the two boxers and is trying to nip inside Jonas’s jab. She succeeds the first time, landing a right hand on Jonas, but the latter is quick to retreat on the second occasion.

Price’s speed is phenomenal. Blink and you can miss a boatload of punches and that is exactly what Jonas did as she was rocked by a right hand and then caught a combo. 10-9 Price.

10:40 PM GMT

Jonas fans turn feverish

Jonas, nicknamed Miss GB by Joe Gallagher – because she first turned up to his gym in British colours – enters the ring draped in a Union Jack, having been afforded possibly an even louder welcome from the crowd.

10:36 PM GMT

Price given rousing reception

Price, wearing a black robe with glittering lapel, embarks on her ring walk to the Welsh folk song Yma o Hyd. It is a rousing entrance, bringing Welsh fans to their feet, singing loudly and proudly waving their flags with the heraldic dragon.

10:25 PM GMT

Dubois trades blows in thrilling climax

Here is that spectacular final round:

10:23 PM GMT

Dubois needs to work on championship rounds

With heavyweight champion Daniel being her older brother, Dubois has always had a brighter spotlight on her.

Every time Shin applied pressure in the early rounds, Dubois just ducked and weaved her way out of trouble while landing a few shots on the way. But once the South Korean became riled up after Dubois landed a couple of cheap shots while she was complaining to the referee with her guard down, it became a scrap.

Despite being the crowd favourite, it was Shin’s strong ending which drew the most noise from the crowd. I had Dubois up by six rounds after the early dominance but if she wants to unify this division, which she has the potential to do, she will need to sharpen up in the championship rounds.

10:21 PM GMT

Dubois prevails despite virus

Dubois on her victory: “Bo was very rough and tough. Watching her fights with the team, she charges in, head down and swings for the rafters. And that’s what she did.

Did she make a mistake by letting Shin back into the fight in the final two rounds? “Maybe. I think I need to learn how to fight on the inside. It’s one thing to do it in sparring but it’s another to do it in the ring, with the crowd, the lights, the judges, you guys [the media].”

Her trainer Shane McGuigan: “Caroline was fighting a bit of a virus for the last 10 days and ... maybe for the last four minutes, that was telling.”

10:15 PM GMT

Dubois wins!

The Briton triumphs by a unanimous decision with one judge, inexplicably, scoring the bout a draw.

10:15 PM GMT

Dubois almost pays at end

Dubois tried to go for broke in the last round – as did Shin – and the champion almost paid for it.

Despite this, Dubois 8-2 in rounds on my card. 98-92 winner.

10:12 PM GMT

Dubois fights to a thrilling conclusion

Dubois quite possibly did not lose a round until the final one, with Shin throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of an unlikely, last-gasp victory.

The Briton, finally, shows distinct symptoms of tiredness and contributes to a windmill torrent of punches. She survives the several that land on her, almost certainly ensuring victory, as well as a thrilling finish.

10:08 PM GMT

Dubois pitiless

Dubois showed her ruthless streak when Shin dared to drop her guard and complain to the referee about a supposed rabbit punch:

10:03 PM GMT

Dubois attacks body

Dubois, whilst showing no signs of tiring, is working particularly well to the body. Shin has done well to absorb the shots.

09:59 PM GMT

Dubois four rounds ahead

Shin is the strongest physical specimen Dubois has faced. Clever attacks mainly to the body by the Briton is the way to go... this is an excellent world lightweight fight. Dubois four rounds up.

09:55 PM GMT

Dubois takes upper hand

Shin has switched up her tactics, raising her guard and stepping towards Dubois. The changed approach offers Dubois an easier target and she has begun to land her shots more frequently, sinking into her punches.

Shin clearly begins to feel the effect of the successful shots but it makes her is no less courageous and she continues to stalk down Dubois. Though brave, it is only playing into the hands of her opponent, who has now found her range and rhythm.

09:48 PM GMT

Dubois fills arena

By the time Dubois started her ring walk to Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust – to the delight of both the old-school boxing fans and the new generation alike – the arena was mostly full and the noise levels had risen.

This feels like a big fight, and it is clear which side the crowd is on, with the cheers for Dubois significantly louder than those for the South Korean.

09:46 PM GMT

Dubois seeks control

Dubois has completed her first round against Shin. The Briton took command of the centre of the ring and stalked her opponent in search of her range, landing with a solid left to the stomach and with a right hook.

Shin, twitching her upper body, bouncing on the balls of her feet, uses her lead left to try to keep Dubois at distance. The South Korean appears to have found her rhythm more quickly than Dubois.

09:38 PM GMT

The verdict

Artingstall’s victory is confirmed:

09:26 PM GMT

‘Gunner’ Artingstall trains sights on world title

Being a former artillery gunner for the British Army, it is no surprise that Artingstall oozes discipline in the ring. Chapman provided a challenge but became a jittery target for Artingstall, who never really looked in trouble.

The knockdown right at the end of the second round set out the narrative for the remaining eight. The 30-year-old moved swiftly and delivered some neat combinations to show her Olympic pedigree. She must now have Australian Skye Nicolson, who holds the WBC belt and also beat Raven last year, in her sights.

09:24 PM GMT

Artingstall wins!

Artingstall triumphs by a unanimous decision. The scorecard: 97-92, 98-91, 96-93.

09:23 PM GMT

Artingstall awaits decision

The decision on Artingstall’s bout is with the judges. The Macclesfield fighter must be considered clear favourite, though Chapman did well to recover from this second-round knockdown, making the final bell:

09:18 PM GMT

Where are the ‘ring guys’?

No ring-card girls tonight, in keeping with the event. Although a couple of ladies sitting above me just suggested ring-card guys...

Rounds, by the way, are being displayed on a large screen by the walk-out platform. I think Boxxer, the promoters, and Sky Sports missed a trick not to have the rounds displayed – and the timer for rounds – on the four ring corner cushions. Riyadh Season does that and it’s a great invention.

Ninety per cent of the night we are focused on the ring...

09:16 PM GMT

Artingstall leads

Artingstall well ahead on my card against Chapman as eighth round starts.

09:15 PM GMT

Price: I’m too quick, too good, too young

When Price did eventually speak to the media in London, she was dismissive of her opponent’s prospects: “I’m too quick, too good, too young. I believe in myself and I’ll be getting my hand raised on Friday night.”

Jonas, however, said: “I think I have experience, accuracy, timing, but I think she’ll bring the best version of her and I’m prepared for that. I’ll bring the best version of me – I’m the best woman.”

09:13 PM GMT

Watson’s shock

The 25-year-old was crestfallen when the split decision went against her:

09:09 PM GMT

Gallagher takes aim at Price

Gallagher has been vocal in the build-up to the fight. As well as criticising Price’s perceived hubris, he took exception to her not attending an agreed media event involving the fighters during the week.

Price blamed a miscommunication with broadcaster Sky Sports, but Gallagher derided the excuse. “You’ve been assigned to be somewhere for 11am for a head-to-head – whether it’s Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, it’s just standard for fight week,” Gallagher said.

“To come downstairs and do a check weight at 10.30am and to be told Lauren’s not here for the photoshoot, It showed a bit of disrespect. Everyone got the schedule this week and it’s bang out of order and disrespectful from Lauren and the team.”

09:06 PM GMT

Fireworks add to excitement

With each fight, anticipation builds to the main event.

For the fight between Lauren Price’s partner Artingstall and Chapman, the pyrotechnics were brought on for the ring walks, with smoke machines and indoor fireworks, while the music in the iconic venue was just turned up a notch.

The sound system itself, which cost a reported £2 million to ensure sound quality for the entire audience, whether ringside or up at the top, has only added to the drama.

09:03 PM GMT

A royal spectacle

Take a look at this awesome scene from Royal Albert Hall. Can I say Queen Victoria might have approved?

09:00 PM GMT

Chapman on the canvas

Raven Chapman has been knocked down in the second round, having left herself open to a straight left from Karriss Artingstall. Chapman recovers quickly, but she is struggling to find her range against the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist.

08:55 PM GMT

Gallagher fighting his own battle

Joe Gallagher, Jonas’s trainer, is due to be ringside this evening whilst undergoing his own battle with cancer. The 56-year-old, who has coached a host of British world champions including Anthony Crolla and Liam Smith, revealed last month that he has been undergoing chemotherapy for stage-four cancer of the liver and bowel.

“It’s been a lot to take in over these past few months,” he said. “I just wanted to carry on as normal as possible, while I tried to process things. I’ve only just begun my fight back against this disease. There’s still so much I am processing, which is very hard to talk about right now; it’s also a very difficult time for my family and friends.”

08:53 PM GMT

Dubois hoping to stretch unbeaten run

Dubois is unbeaten in 11 bouts, having fought as recently as January, against the Canadian Jessica Camara. The bout in Sheffield was ruled a draw after a clash of head left Camara with a cut eye and unable to continue, which meant Dubois retained her title.

Her South Korean opponent Bo Mi Re Shin has lost three of her 18 bouts, having drawn three of her first six, but she heads into tonight’s fight on a three-fight winning streak. Here she is refuelling on her arrival to the venue:

08:50 PM GMT

Dubois interview: Make the sport tougher

Gareth was referring to comments that Dubois made in an interview published in The Telegraph today. The Londoner had argued that the format of women’s boxing needed to be more demanding, with major bouts increased from 10 rounds of two minutes to 12 rounds of three – to match the men’s rules.

She also revealed her karaoke go-to track, a frustrated artistic streak and the book that had the biggest impact on her. 

08:47 PM GMT

Defeat harsh on Watson

Watson had to find her distance in the early rounds but really started to find her rhythm from the fourth round. Zapotoczna’s reach was the deciding factor. Despite Watson piling on the pressure, the 30-year-old was able to keep her distance and dictate the tempo of the bout. Really could have gone either way, but I had Watson edging it as she seemed to land the most shots. The crowd agreed, having reacted to her every swing. I was almost as shocked as her trainer Hatton when the final scorecard was read out.

08:40 PM GMT

Dubois wrong on three-minute rounds – for now

I’m inclined to disagree with Caroline Dubois on three-minute rounds. Two-minute rounds allows for more sustained action and excitement. Right now is not the time to change it, in my humble opinion.

But it will come. For context, I have covered women’s boxing and have been delighted to do so since Jane Couch in the ’90s and Laila Ali in the late ’90s, when they fought three-minute rounds

Right now, enticing more male and female spectators will be easier with 120-second rounds...

08:36 PM GMT

Watson loses!

Zapotoczna has sneaked it on a split decision, winning the European flyweight title. The judges scored it 93-97, 96-95, 96-95 in her favour.

08:34 PM GMT

Watson awaits verdict

Watson’s bout has gone to the judges. She found a second wind which might be enough to earn her victory.

08:25 PM GMT

Watson enters final stretch

Hatton is warning Watson that she needs to win the final three rounds to ensure victory. He also tells her that she is winning the fight though that assessment is not clear-cut.

08:20 PM GMT

Our expert’s predictions

Six tiers of fans here in this extraordinary palace of sound. It is nearly full now as we go into the second contest ... women’s fights pass very quickly due to the two-minute rounds.

There are many here tonight reporting who are not ordinarily at ringside. Good to see. My predictions for the upcoming fights:

A tight affair between Raven Chapman and Karriss Artingstall (the life partner of Lauren Price) and I find it hard to pick a winner, though Karriss is an Olympic bronze medallist and very experienced. She also served with the Army abroad.

Chapman is a battler though. Could be the fight of the night.

I expect Caroline Dubois to retain her world lightweight title; and I’m picking Price to defeat Tasha Jonas on points.

Youth and vim. Yet we shall see...

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the dominant cries from the crowd are female. It is a terrific atmosphere.

08:17 PM GMT

A winning shot

Hennessy’s impressive victory was the sixth of her unblemished professional career. This shot of her throwing a right should illustrate the grandeur of the setting.

Her delighted trainer is Bradley Skeete, the former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion:

08:09 PM GMT

Watson eyes on glory

Watson, who boasts former world champion Ricky Hatton as her trainer, is into the third round of her title defence title against Zapotoczna. The Birkenhead-born Watson, 24, is hoping to use the bout as a staging post towards a world title bout. Zapotoczna however, a Pole fighting out of Wakefield, has only one defeat from her nine bouts and has started well.

08:03 PM GMT

Price focused

So too Price:

08:02 PM GMT

Jonas looking relaxed

Jonas has made her way down to the dressing room:

07:58 PM GMT

Celebrities descend on Royal Albert Hall

The arena that hosted Bob Dylan last year and an all-women jazz group on Thursday has once again transformed into a boxing arena to host an all-women boxing card.

The gender split of the fans is significantly closer than might be expected for a traditional boxing match and there are cheers for all the fighters as it gears up to the headliner.

Celebrities have descended on the Royal Albert Hall, including GK Barry from the 2024 edition of I’m A Celebrity... and Nikita Parris, Jonas’s sister, who won the Euros in 2022 with the Lionesses.

07:56 PM GMT

Hennessy display points to bright future

That was as one-sided a boxing match as you will see. Hennessy danced around the ring and picked her shots off perfectly, it was almost like a sparring match for her. Some rounds she decided to go low, others she went high and leaned on her jab. Twenty years younger than her opponent Ruegg, the age gap began to show in the later rounds. If this performance is anything to go by, the 20-year-old from Sevenoaks has a long future in the sport. One to watch for sure.

07:53 PM GMT

Hennessy coasts to victory

Hennessy has won her bout against Gemma Ruegg by unanimous decision.

07:51 PM GMT

Venue boasts rich history of boxing

There has been boxing at the Royal Albert Hall since 1918, including the great Jimmy Wilde. I’ve followed boxing since Prince Naseem fought Juan Polo Pérez, in 1995, and the days of Frank Bruno, who fought here 15 times. Marco Antonio Barrera and Paul Lloyd fought for a world title here in April 1999. Also on the bill that night was a British heavyweight title fight between Julius Francis and Danny Williams as well as a young Ricky Hatton. I was here that night.

Since then, I’ve covered Anthony Yarde, Billy Joe Saunders and Lyndon Arthur here. It’s an amazing venue and I’m expecting fireworks tonight. Great atmosphere already – half full – for young Fran Hennessy, who could yet be a great star in the sport. She is the daughter of promoter Mick Hennessy, who oversaw the early career of Tyson Fury, and who took Carl Froch to the super-middleweight world title. Great to be here. Special ambience tonight.

07:44 PM GMT

The view from ringside

The Telegraph’s Gareth A Davies is looking forward to the event:

07:41 PM GMT

Jonas out to quell Price hype

Welcome to our coverage of the all-British welterweight world-title bout between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price at Royal Albert Hall in London.

The Telegraph’s crack team of reporters is providing live commentary on the exciting all-female card organised to coincide with International Women’s Day, with Gareth A Davies, Sonia Twigg and Frankie Christou all filing from the venue.

Caroline Dubois, brother of the world heavyweight champion Daniel, places her WBC lightweight world title on the line in the fight second on the bill against South Korea’s top-ranked contender Bo Mi Re Shin.

The card also features Karriss Artingstall, the world bronze medallist, fighting Raven Chapman for the British featherweight title and Chloe Watson defending her European flyweight title against Jasmina Zapotoczna.

The principal fight promises to be fascinating. Jonas, is the superbly durable 40-year-old who unified the WBC and WBO belts in 2022, 10 years after she rose to prominence as the first British woman to fight at the Olympics, winning bronze at London 2012.

Ten years Jonas’s junior, Price, meanwhile, has cut a swathe through the amateur and professional ranks of the sport, winning world, Commonwealth and European gold before landing the Olympic title at Tokyo 2020.

Having turned professional in 2022, the Welshwoman is yet to lose a round in her eight paid fights and claimed the division’s WBA title with victory over the Jessica McCaskill in March last year. She followed it up with a brutal third-round stoppage of the Colombian Bexcy Mateus in December, making her clear favourite with the bookmakers to beat Jonas.

“The agenda and narrative is she’s this unbelievable fighter, Ivan Drago-type character, that’s just not the case,” Joe Gallagher, Price’s trainer, said, citing Rocky Balboa’s formidable fictional opponent.

“Lauren keeps saying she’s younger and faster. David Haye thought he was until Carl Thompson, aged 40, knocked him out [in a 2004 cruiserweight bout]. You can’t beat experience in the ring.

“All the sound bites: ‘I’ve not lost a minute, I’ve not lost a round, not lost this,’ but you will lose a round [on Friday].”