The Olympic hero has a busy few weeks ahead, starting with a fight in Cardiff on Saturday and finishing with her wedding in Abergavenny
Lauren Price and Carlie Jones(Image: Lauren Price/ Instagram)
Welsh boxing superstar Lauren Price will defend her world titles on front of a raucous home crowd in Cardiff on Saturday, just weeks before getting married.
Price faces challenger Stephanie Pineiro at the Utilita Arena this weekend, with her WBA, IBF and WBC belts on the line. The 31-year-old from Bargoed has won all 10 of her professional fights after winning Olympic gold at the 2020 Olympics.
Her remarkable story shows no sign of slowing up, with her management now in talks for a fight against the biggest name in women’s boxing, Claressa Shields, who has held 15 world titles across five weight divisions.
That is for another day, though, with Price’s focus firmly on Saturday night and the biggest day of her life. She will marry partner Carlie Jones in Abergavenny on May 30 following the couple’s engagement in April last year.
She told the Guardian: “She’s been in my life a really long time because I’ve known her since we were in the same school. She’s two years younger but she’s a good girl. Carlie’s got her own business, caring for old people in terms of going to their homes, and she’s very driven. She’s thriving and it’s nice to be with someone who is not part of boxing – so when I come home it’s not just boxing, boxing, boxing.”
Price admits Carlie will be a nervous observer on Saturday night but revealed her support and understanding means everything to her as she switches into fight mode.
“She’ll get nervous on fight night. That’s normal,” Price said. But even when I’m making weight and I can be a bit grouchy and tired, she understands. She also knows that I have to be really focused because it’s a short career so we won’t have a honeymoon until the end of the year.
“But I fight on April 4 and then we’re getting married on May 30 in Abergavenny, half an hour from our house. So I’ve got time to get over the fight and I’m really looking forward to the wedding. We’ll have around 110 people in the day and a few more at night. It’s not massive – just nice.”
Boxer Lauren Price and her fiance Carlie Jones looking at wedding dresses at Eva Ashley, Cardiff city centre(Image: Richard Swingler)
Price has been out of action since comfortably outpointing Natasha Jonas just over a year ago and extending her unblemished professional record to 9-0.
But she insists inactivity is not an issue as she returns to Cardiff for the first time since defeating Jessica McCaskill in May 2024 to win her first world title.
“This is the part of the game but I’m a full-time athlete and I’m more than prepared,” said Price.
“I’m under Rob (McCracken) up in Sheffield and I’m an experienced fighter, who just wants to go out and put on a good show.
“The way I look at it is that I’m in boxing to bring the biggest fights to Wales and create that legacy.”
“Obviously I can’t look past Saturday because she’s a good opponent and that’s what I want,” 31-year-old added.
“I don’t just want to be knocking people over, and this is her opportunity to come and try and take my belts.
“But I’m in my prime now and I want to make the most of it. I don’t want to wait until the end of my career.
“I want those big fights right now. You look at Shields and she’s a fantastic boxer, one of the best.
“I want to be in there with the best and that would be a great fight, hopefully one there (United States) and one here (Wales).”
Boxer Lauren Price MBE poses for a photograph in front of a fight poster ahead of her fight with Stephanie Pineiro (Image: 2026 Huw Fairclough)
Southpaw Pineiro, 35, known as ‘The Medicine’ and Price’s mandatory challenger, is unbeaten over 10 contests.
There has been no bad blood between the two boxers in the build-up to the fight and Pineiro says she has been made to feel at home in Wales.
She said: “I love it here and I want to come back already. The people have been treating me so well.
“Even if they do boo me on Saturday that’s energy for me, I like the noise.
“I know Wales is known as the lands of the dragon. So I’m happy to be the dragon slayer.”