Lauren Price vs Bexcy Mateus clash in unified world welterweight title fight
Lauren Price (7-0, 1KO) defends her WBA, Ring and IBO World welterweight titles to challenger Bexcy Mateus (7-0, 6KO) on December 14 in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.
A victory for Price can set up an all-British unification clash with domestic welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, who will attempt to unify the IBF and WBC World titles against Ivana Habazin in the main event of the card.
Lauren Price MBE made history with a punch perfect performance to defeat former undisputed world welterweight ruler Jessica McCaskill in nine rounds in front of her home fans in Cardiff, last May.The first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, Price wrote her name in the record books again by becoming the country’s first female world champion in just her seventh professional fight.
She also made history in May 2023 when she became the first female ever to win a British title.
The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who is yet to lose a round as a professional. The southpaw is an out-boxer, who is masterful at measuring distance and a good lateral mover. She boxes at range and is very good at upsetting her opponents’ rhythm by throwing combinations just as they are readying to open up.
Wales’ first female world champion, Price, is unbeaten in seven bouts, but then so is her Colombian challenger.
The 29-year-old from Bogota has stopped six from seven. She turned pro in 2022 and KO’d winning fighter Yenifer Rodriguez in the third round in her home city.
She KO’d her next four foes, three of them in the first round, until she met Katerin Tobon in July this year, who took her the distance in her first eight-rounder.
However, six weeks later, she got back to her destructive ways with a fifth-round knockout in her second eight-round contest.
The No.1 Colombian welterweight has only completed 24 rounds of a scheduled 44, which is a testament to her power, and boasts an 85% KO ratio.
Bexcy likes to fight at mid-range to throw plenty of left and right hooks to body and head. She is very good at targeting the body, but her opposition, so far, hasn’t been world class. Some have been very stationary targets, almost like punchbags for Mateus to practise on.
Managed by Belgian promoter Yassine Maatala, ranked IBO #7 and WBA #5, Mateus has never fought outside of her native country before.
Price praised her forthcoming foe, “I know she’s a game opponent, she’s got six knockouts in seven fights, so she can bang, she’s raw, she’s wild, but I’ve got to focus on me and what I’m good at. I’ve been in the ring with all different styles throughout my whole career and I believe I will win this fight and put on a good performance.
“That’s my main focus because I can’t look too far ahead, but it is in the back of my mind what’s at stake and why I’m in Liverpool. If a certain fight was on the horizon for next year, then it could be different, but I’m coming to Liverpool to prove a point that I want that fight next year.”
DID YOU KNOW? The IBO World welterweight title has only had four champions in its 12-year history, including Jennifer Retzke; Cecilia Braekhus; Jessica McCaskill; and Lauren Price.
Betting Odds
1/20 Price
16/1 Mateus
28/1 Draw
Prediction
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “Lauren Price hasn’t put a single step wrong so far in her pro career, helped by the education she received in the amateurs. She won gold in Olympics, World, European and Commonwealth Games. She is already a British boxing legend.
“Her skillset is so high, I don’t believe she can be troubled by Mateus, even though the Colombian is clearly heavy-handed, but she has to get close enough to do her work, which I don’t believe she will be allowed to do.
“I expect Price to just pick her off from range for the full 10-rounds, where she will throw a volley of three, four, five-punch combinations then disappear from sight again. I expect her to do this for the full fight, with Bexcy unable to get anywhere near her.
“Price to win via unanimous decision.”
Undercard
Ireland’s undefeated Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KOs) in a mouth-watering super welterweight showdown for the WBC International Silver Title.
English Cruiserweight Champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KOs) returns to action having recovered from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career best win over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be aiming to shake off the ring rust as he targets big name opponents in the new year.
Unbeaten Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KOs) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout win over Darren Johnstone in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre as he goes in search of his nineteenth professional win.
Cheshire super welterweight Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KOs), a former two-time British Title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he gets back on the title trail.
Having signed a promotional deal with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can claim his third victory of 2024 when he returns in front of his home fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight is a product of the City’s renowned Rotunda ABC and is managed by former world champion Liam Smith.