Unified champion Lauren Price insists her immediate attention remains firmly fixed on her upcoming opponent, Tereza Kotaskova, rather than entertaining the prospect of a blockbuster showdown with Claressa Shields. Price, who transitioned to the professional ranks after an illustrious amateur career that culminated in Olympic gold, is preparing for the 11th fight of her professional journey. Her upcoming opponent enters the ring with formidable credentials, having notably taken Chantelle Cameron the distance during a hard-fought bout in London back in April.
That narrow defeat on the judges’ scorecards at light-middleweight stands as the sole blemish on Kotaskova’s otherwise unblemished 15-fight professional career. Recognizing the Czech fighter’s durability and skill, Price acknowledges that the matchup will present a stern and demanding challenge as she continues to cement her status at the top of the sport. Rather than looking past her next assignment, the Welsh star is treating the fixture with the utmost seriousness, maintaining her focus entirely on the tasks required inside the ropes.
For a period, however, it had appeared to the wider boxing public and media that all roads were leading toward an inevitable, high-profile collision between Price and multi-weight champion Claressa Shields. Speculation surrounding a potential clash intensified significantly earlier this year when the two fighters faced off directly inside the ring following Price’s impressive victory over Jessica Pineiro. The staredown instantly captured the imagination of boxing fans globally, setting off widespread discussions about a potential superfight between two of the most decorated names in women’s boxing.
The momentum behind the prospective bout continued to build when Shields, having successfully reclaimed her titles at middleweight, publicly called out Price as recently as August. The verbal back-and-forth between the camps led to intense media interest, with industry insiders and fans alike speculating about the structure of a potential two-fight deal that could define the current era of women’s boxing.
However, negotiations ultimately stalled, and when pressed by BBC Sport Wales on the exact circumstances behind the breakdown of the talks, Price provided a candid assessment of why the fight failed to materialize at this stage. According to the Welsh champion, the terms presented simply did not align with her career trajectory or her worth as an elite athlete and reigning titleholder.
"There was nothing on my side," Price told BBC Sport Wales, shedding light on the financial and logistical hurdles that kept the fight from being finalized. "The money wasn’t great, I wanted to fight in America and in Wales, but she wouldn’t come here, and there was no rematch clause."
Price emphasized that the proposal offered little in her favor, leaving her with a stark realization about the balance of the prospective agreement. "Everything basically was stacked against me and it just didn’t make sense," she added, underlining her determination not to enter a major bout under unfavorable conditions.
Reflecting on her current position within the sport, Price pointed to her extensive list of accomplishments and her unwavering self-belief as guiding factors in her decision-making process. As a unified champion and an Olympic gold medalist, she maintains that she has earned the right to dictate terms that respect her accomplishments and safeguard her career progression.
"I have to stand on my own two feet and think: ‘I’m Lauren Price, I’m unified champion, Olympic gold medallist,’" she explained. Far from feeling pressured to chase the biggest name available regardless of circumstance, Price remains measured and strategic about her next steps. "If I was towards the end of my career or if I had a few losses, absolutely you jump on it. But there’s no rush and there’s equally exciting fights out there."
While the Shields matchup has been put on hold for the foreseeable future, Price remains entirely open to the idea happening later down the line, provided the conditions are right for all parties involved. For now, her priority is continuing her upward trajectory, defending her status, and overcoming the immediate hurdles standing in her path. "That fight will definitely happen, but only when it’s the right time and it makes sense," Price concluded.
