LAUREN PRICE is the new unified welterweight world champion having dominated Natasha Jonas over 10 rounds.
Price walked in as the WBA champion but now holds the WBC and IBF and will no doubt target the winner of this month’s Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan rematch where the WBO strap is on the line.
At The Royal Albert Hall tonight, however, it was the speed of Price which allowed the 30-year-old to do her best work and to deny Jonas any chance of success.
From the get-go Price put Jonas on the back foot and made a statement early on by getting the better of the first real exchange. Jonas did reply with two body shots but that tactic was wiped out by Price who put enough distance between them to prevent it from happening again.
Chants of “Pricey” from rang out from Price’s fans inside the venue and they had plenty to shout and cheer about. While Jonas kept looking for a fight-changing punch Price continued to rack up the rounds with thumping jabs and right hands which occasionally forced Jonas off balance.
By the halfway stage there could be no argument that Price had won every round. Bouncing on her toes, her arms relaxed, ‘The Lucky One’ looked every inch a future superstar at the expense of Jonas who has been an inspiration and achieved so much in her own career.
Jonas had fleeting moments of success but the difference in how fast the punches were travelling was eye catching. Price’s confidence grew and grew and while Jonas caught her opponent with a hefty left in the final seconds it was Price who fired back ready to engage and outgun her.
Price won a wide unanimous decision (98-93, 100-90, 98-92) and takes her unbeaten record to 9-0 (2 KOs). Jonas, meanwhile, with a third loss now sits at 16-3-1 (9 KOs).
