Lauren Price shares Mikaela Mayer’s enthusiasm and insistence to fully unify the welterweight division. 

The lineal and recently unified welterweight champion from Wales made a point to tune in for Mayer’s repeat win over Sandy Ryan. The March 29 ESPN headliner, which aired live on Sky Sports in the U.K., saw the American earn a 10-round, unanimous decision win to defend her WBO welterweight title—the last chip that Price hopes to add to her collection. 

“Mikaela is the next fight for me, no doubt,” Price confirmed to BoxingScene. “There’s nothing else for me.”

Mayer, 21-2 (5 KOs), delivered her win just three weeks after Price, 9-0 (2 KOs), outpointed Liverpool’s Natasha Jonas over 10 rounds to unify the WBA, WBC and IBF welterweight titles. Price won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 98-93 to remain unbeaten and among the sport’s very best pound-for-pound fighters. 

The 30-year-old southpaw spent her downtime in full decompression mode on holiday in Mexico. Her vacation ended just in time to size up Mayer’s latest victory. 

“I just thought Mikaela’s game plan was to a tee,” noted Price, a 2020 Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain. “She boxed really well, did what she needed to do.” 

Mayer did not mince her words in calling out Price. Equally—if not more—lucrative catchweight opportunities were floated, such as a rematch with Alycia Baumgardner or a superfight with 2016 Olympic teammate and close friend Claressa Shields. 

Both are on the backburner as far as Mayer is concerned. That stance was music to her rival’s ears. 

“I think it’s great,” Price said of Mayer’s desire to fully unify. “I respect her and think she’s a great role model, not just inside but outside the ring as well. It’s a great fight. 

“People are already jumping on it. Me coming out and saying I want the fight. She’s already said she wants the fight. It’s a great fight to make. That’s it, really. It’s just a great fight for boxing.” 

A potential—but resolvable—sticking point is where the fight would take place.

Mayer spent four straight fights in jolly old England before enjoying back-to-back ESPN headliners in the U.S. Ironically, her last two outings came against a British fighter in Ryan, 7-3-1 (3 KOs).

Price has fought almost exclusively in the U.K. (just one fight in France) and for good reason. She was well received in headline title fights against both Jessica McCaskill and Jonas both. Price’s lineal/WBA title win over McCaskill took place at the 5,000-seat Cardiff International Arena, barely 30-minutes from her Ystrad Mynach hometown. 

Her abovementioned WBA, WBC and IBF unifying victory over Jonas topped an all-female card at Royal Albert Hall in London. Included among the capacity crowd were 1,500 fans from Wales with tickets personally sold by Price. 

Hence, the pitch to have Mayer travel abroad, at least for their first fight. 

“I just look at it as, when I fought McCaskill, I was the biggest ticket seller,” noted Price. “Then when I fought Jonas, I was the biggest ticket seller on the show. I sold 1,500 tickets, Wales fans coming to the show. 

“To do that in Cardiff, it could potentially be a stadium fight for the way people have jumped on it. I’ve been growing and growing my fan base over here and it’s a massive fight.”
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.