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Lauren Price (centre) celebrates with her partner Carlie Jones (right) and her nephew Regan after winning her welterweight title bout against Stephanie Pineiro at the Utilita Arena Cardiff. Credit: Nick Potts\/PA Wire.<\/p>\n Lauren Price (centre) celebrates with her partner Carlie Jones (right) and her nephew Regan after winning her welterweight title bout against Stephanie Pineiro at the Utilita Arena Cardiff. Credit: Nick Potts\/PA Wire.<\/p>\n
Phil Blanche, Press Association<\/p>\n
Lauren Price hopes to still hear wedding bells and walk down the aisle next month after her victorious bloody battle against Stephanie Pineiro in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Price was a clear winner on the scorecards \u2013 two judges scoring it 98-92 and the other 99-91 \u2013 over a pulsating 10-rounder that saw the WBA, WBC and IBF world welterweight belts remain in Wales.<\/p>\n
But Price ended the contest covered in blood after a cut mouth prompted nervous glances among her fans from the fifth round onwards \u2013 and hopes her partner Carlie Jones will still marry her on May 30.<\/p>\n
Price attended a brief press post-fight conference before heading to a nearby hospital for a check up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it looks a lot worse than it is if I\u2019m honest,\u201d said Price, 31, after taking her unblemished professional record to double figures.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little cut in my mouth, but (trainer) Rob McCracken kept me calm and collected.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully my partner\u2019s still going to marry me in May.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the cuts and bruises might not have disappeared before her hen night next Saturday, Price will venture out in Cardiff still on top of the world after producing another measured display in difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
Pineiro was emboldened by Price\u2019s blood-splattered face and vest, but the Puerto Rican was unable to bridge the gap in class as her own unbeaten record fell.<\/p>\n
Price said: \u201cI knew it was going to be tough, I\u2019ve been out of the ring for a year and it was a mandatory defence as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s probably second best in the division well and a tough girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I showed another level in there in toughness in front of the home fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother level of maturity. Stay calm, stick to my boxing, and get through.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four-weight world champion Claressa Shields was ringside in Cardiff, and Price is targeting a two-fight deal with the American with talks already under way between the respective camps.<\/p>\n
The pair faced off in the ring after and a match could be made at middleweight \u2013 the division at which Price won Olympic gold in Tokyo five years ago.<\/p>\n
Price said: \u201cI fully respect Shields. I think she\u2019s the best in the game and to be the best you have to beat the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cFull credit to her for what she\u2019s done her in her career, but I honestly believe in myself. I\u2019m just getting better and better.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in this game for the biggest fights and I want to be a multi-weight world champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a great honour it would be to share the ring with Shields, and not just for one fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to her \u2018I\u2019ll go to America and you come to Wales\u2019 and she shook on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Price\u2019s Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom said: \u201cLauren\u2019s that good a fighter that a lot of fighters don\u2019t fancy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cShields is the biggest name in the sport. She recognises that Lauren is coming into her prime at 31 and wants legacy fights.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully one in the stadium here in Cardiff because she\u2019s probably too big for this arena now.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE\u2026<\/p>\n
Lauren Price comes through toughest battle yet to retain world titles in Cardiff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n