LAUREN PRICE produced a scintillating performance to unify the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles against domestic rival Natasha Jonas last night.
But while there is plenty to unpack from their main event, it is also worth taking a closer look at several more talking points from Boxxer’s all-women’s card.
Royal Albert Hall is a top-notch boxing venue
Boxing events at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall have become far less common in recent years – and you only need to attend any other show, at pretty much any other venue, to understand why.
Just last Saturday, for example, there were a series of crowd fights at the Bournemouth International Centre.
And while each drunken altercation was swiftly suppressed ahead of Ryan Garner’s European title fight, it did not create the image that a prestigious building, like the Royal Albert Hall, would wish to associate itself with.
That said, last night’s card hopefully showed that boxing at the Kensington concert hall can deliver a pulsating atmosphere when the fans don’t, well, get too carried away.
Jae Bong Kim should never score another fight
The unapologetic bias that judge Jae Bong Kim displayed last night was truly farcical, so much so that it was hard not to give a small chuckle when his scorecard was revealed.
How anyone could arrive at a 95-95 conclusion after watching Caroline Dubois’ dominant performance against Bo Mi Re Shin is perhaps a mystery.
And yet, the one South Korean official made no attempt to hide his favouritism, desperately trying to award Shin, 18-3-3 (10 KOs), with what would have been an egregious decision on away soil.
Still, it was weirdly refreshing to see that, for once, there were zero complaints after the home fighter edged a majority decision.
Caroline Dubois’ next fight must be a unification
With a richly deserved victory, thankfully, swinging in her favour, Dubois, 11-0-1 (5 KOs), now has few options but to unify at 135lbs.
The WBC world lightweight champion, after all, proved to be levels above her number one-ranked opponent last night, even after emptying her tank in the final round.
So now, with Terri Harper defending her WBO strap on May 23, it would appear that Dubois must choose between IBF champion Beatriz Ferreira and WBA titlist Stephanie Han.
With neither unbeaten fighter representing an easy assignment, Dubois’ next outing should, at this stage in her development, present her with a stern challenge, enough to hopefully bring the best out of her.
Natasha Jonas has a bright future outside the ropes
While she is yet to make a decision on her immediate future, Natasha Jonas teased a potential transition into the world of punditry after losing to Lauren Price.
‘Miss GB’ has been an exemplary figure in women’s boxing, both in and out the ring, and must now choose whether or not to extend her decorated career.
Judging by her post-fight interview, though, it appears that the 40-year-old is leaning towards a possible retirement, wishing to spend more time with her daughter.
But of course, there is little doubt that Jonas, 16-3-1 (9 KOs), will become a leading voice on the Sky Sports broadcast team, always looking to provide her expertise.
Lauren Price will become the undisputed welterweight queen
Not only is it the speed of Price, 9-0 (2 KOs), but it is also her flawless range control that makes her a bona fide nightmare for any fighter at 147lbs.
Having just outpointed Jonas in more comprehensive fashion than Katie Taylor did in 2021, it is now almost impossible to back against the 30-year-old if she were to face the winner of Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan.
Both Mayer and Ryan are, of course, exceptionally talented operators in their own right. But at the same time, whoever comes away with the WBO strap on March 29 will need to go through fire should they wish to become the undisputed welterweight queen.
