'I want to create a legacy' - Price eyes bigger and better fights after title defence

LAUREN Price victory against Bexcy Mateus on Saturday is a stepping stone to ‘bigger and better’ – and a showdown with rival world champion Natasha Jonas.

The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach will make the first defence of her WBA welterweight title in Liverpool this weekend against unbeaten Colombian Mateus.

Olympic gold medallist Price will look to complete the job and then watch headliner Jonas in her IBF and WBC welterweight world championship unification fight against Ivana Habazin.

The Welsh fighter believes a huge clash with the winner - ideally Jonas for an all-British bout - is on the cards in the coming months.

"Big fights are coming in 2025, definitely," Price said to Sky Sports, who are televising Saturday’s event.

“I'm not looking past this girl. I've had a great camp. I've been in camp for a long time and all I do is look to put on a show, then move on to bigger and better.”

SHOWDOWN: Lauren Price (left) and Bexcy Mateus clash in Liverpool (Image: Peter Byrne)

Price made history in Cardiff in May when she became Wales’ first professional female world champion by beating Jessica McCaskill.

That was just her seventh pro fight and the 2021 Olympic gold winner believes it was a statement victory.

"People doubted me on that, they said it was too soon but I dealt with that against one of the best in the division,” said Price.

"I'm not big headed at all, I just want the big fights. I say I'll fight anyone and I genuinely mean that.

“If it was up to me, me and Jonas wouldn't have other opponents, we'd be fighting each other in December. It is what it is. I get it. I get the pro game, it takes time.”

Price is also taking nothing for granted against “raw, wild, tough” Mateus but is confident that this weekend will be another step forward.

"I haven't stopped learning. I'm adding stuff to my game all the time. You've got to be able to box, you've got to be able to fight. You've got to be able to do a bit of both. It's coming together," she said.

"I'm not fully finished yet, I'm still learning, but at welterweight I believe I can beat them all. I believe who I am now as a fighter, I've got the skill, I've got the speed, I've got the strength to win those fights.

“I believe in myself, my team believe in me. If you call yourself a world champion, you're a world champion, then you should fight anyone.”

And after lifting the WBA belt in Cardiff, Price is hopeful of more big fight nights on home soil to follow in the footsteps of icons such as Joe Calzaghe.

“I've still got things I want to tick off. I want to create a legacy,” she said.

“I want to box in Wales again, I want to become undisputed champion, I want to be a multi-weight world champion. I suppose I've just got to be patient. In time those big fights will come.”