World champion Price cruises past Jonas to unify division

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Price dominates Jonas to become unified world champion

Welterweight Lauren Price easily outpointed Natasha Jonas to settle their domestic rivalry and become a unified world champion in a changing of the guards moment for womens boxing at the Royal Albert Hall.

The 30-year-olds speed, sharpness and youthfulness was too much for veteran Jonas, who struggled with her timing over 10 rounds in the main event of an all-female card in London.

Liverpools Jonas, 40, cut a deflated figure at the final bell, in contrast to the exuberant celebrations of Wales Price.

The judges scored it 98-93, 100-90 and 98-92 to the Welshwoman.

Any doubts about Prices elite-level credentials and ability to handle the occasion were expelled by a virtuoso performance which suggested the Newport-born fighter may well dominate the sport for years to come.

In just her ninth pro fight, the Olympic gold medallist retains her WBA title and captures Jonas WBC and IBF belts.

She called for an undisputed title shot against the winner of WBO champion Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan, who fight later this month.

"Tash is one of the best in the division, I honestly believe I can become undisputed. I want to go on and create a great legacy," said Price.

There is uncertainty surrounding Jonas career, though, as the fine run in the twilight of the Liverpudlians career is halted.

Jonas - a two-weight world champion - loses for the third time in 19 pro bouts and suggested she could call time.

"Its something Ill look at when I go home," she said. "Right now Im going to go home and spend some time with my daughter."

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Lauren Price improved her pro record to 9-0, with her last defeat in the amateurs in 2018

The raucous atmosphere was at odds with the regal 5,272-capacity auditorium, which has hosted British boxing since 1918 and was about 80% full.

The crowd, split quite equally between men and women, sat in plush, cushioned seats to enjoy the theatre of boxing.

Price, in all black, made her ring walk first to a huge chorus of boos drowned out by Welsh folk song Yma o Hyd, which blared out of the sound system.

The trailblazing Jonas - the first ever British female to box at an Olympics - rather fittingly entered to Extraordinary Being by Emeli Sandé and Beyonces Run the World (Girls).

In the dressing room before the fight, trainer Joe Gallagher drilled into Jonas how to deal with Prices burst of punches, but Miss GB struggled with her opponents speed from the outset.

Jonas was backed on to the ropes in the second, felt the power of a counter left, then stumbled when caught by a right.

Price bounced confidently on her toes and continued to assert dominance as Jonas missed wildly.

As her sister, footballer Nikita Parris, watching on with some of her England team-mates, plus TV celebrities including presenters Romesh Ranganathan and Stacey Dooley, Jonas began to let her hands go in the fifth.

The success was short lived. A sensational right hand sent Jonas head spinning in the seventh.

"Youve got to throw some punches, love," trainer Gallagher told Jonas. It all felt a little too late as the result became increasingly inevitable.

Those sitting in the second tier and gallery had a breathtaking birds-eye view of the action as Jonas hit the canvas in the ninth after a slip.

Price continued to pick Jonas apart until the final seconds.

Price became Wales first ever female world champion when she beat Jessica McCaskill last year.

Less than a year later, she is one win away from unifying the division. A win over American Mayer would introduce Price to a global audience, while an all-British showdown with Derbys Ryan could headline a UK show.

"I want to follow in the footsteps of Katie Taylor - Im Welsh, Im an Olympic champion, Ive got a nation behind me," she said.

Jonas, meanwhile, has achieved so much in the sport, but after a long, arduous career now could be the time to hang up the gloves.

She is a fantastic and articulate pundit, manages young fighters and has also helped trainer Gallagher in the corner.

With all her experience and knowledge of the sport, she will be an integral part of British boxing - in whatever capacity - for years to come.

Jonas had not tasted defeat since 2021 before losing to Price

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When Lauren Price met The Prince of Wales