OLYMPIC gold medallist and unified welterweight queen Lauren Price looks to forge the building blocks of a ‘fair’ sport with World Boxing.
The 30-year-old told Boxing News earlier this week that she has joined World Boxing’s Executive Board as an athlete representative, offering a wealth of experience in her new role beyond the ropes.
More than anything, the reigning WBC, WBA and IBF world champion hopes to advocate for athlete rights, and promote fair competition, in the amateur ranks.
This latest development in her career follows last month’s encouraging, or perhaps relieving, news that boxing is on the Olympic programme for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
After a lengthy period of uncertainty, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since placed its trust in World Boxing, recognising the breakaway body as amateur boxing’s flagship organisation.
Before that, the International Boxing Association (IBA) had been stripped of its Olympic recognition in 2023, mostly due to concerns over bout manipulation and a lack of financial transparency.
But with the IBA still organising major competitions, including last month’s Women’s World Boxing Championships, the battle for complete integrity in amateur boxing remains fierce.
While covering the championships in Serbia, Boxing News encountered several decisions – one, a particularly egregious stoppage – which put the fairness of that tournament into question.
With World Boxing now at the helm, though, one can only hope that accusations of bout manipulation will soon become a thing of the past.
Price, 9-0 (2 KOs), for one, firmly believes that a fair roll of the dice is the least fighters should expect when entering the Olympics.
“We all want a fair sport,” she told Boxing News. “With [boxing] being kept in the Olympics, when it was so close to getting chucked out, it has to be fair.
“Otherwise it’s going to kill the sport, and kill people’s dreams. So I think a fresh organisation [World Boxing] is what [boxing] needs.”
World Boxing increased its membership to 89 countries last week, with each national federation, in turn, securing Olympic opportunities for its fighters.
This week, meanwhile, has seen the emergence of World Boxing’s first international tournament, the World Boxing Cup, which is now nearing its conclusion.
At this moment in time, four of GB Boxing’s amateur stars have made it through to the finals, while two will look to do the same in their semi-final bouts later today.
But regardless of the accolades that may follow, the experience of competing in Brazil can only benefit a selection of the most talented fighters on these shores.
“I always say: ‘Go out to every tournament, to every training camp, and pick up as much experience as possible,’” Price added.
“At the end of the day, [GB boxers are] on that cycle to go to the Olympics. So to go to a tournament in Brazil – the other side of the world – and face all different styles, and tough competition, is just great experience [for them]. That’s how you learn your apprenticeship.”
Sure enough, Price completed her apprenticeship with flying colours when she claimed gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
And now, in her capacity at World Boxing, the Welsh woman’s time outside the ring will, in part, be spent addressing any inquiries or concerns expressed by athletes.
