Lauren Price cruised through her first world title defence in style as she floored Bexcy Mateus three times on the way to a devastating third-round knockout win in Liverpool on Saturday.
A ruthless Price showcased not only her slick boxing skillset, no secret by now, but also vicious power as she dominated her Colombian opponent to move to 8-0 as a professional.
Price was back in the ring for the first time since beating Jessica McCaskill to clinch her maiden world title in Cardiff back in May.
If that was her first crowning moment, then this was her first champion’s performance as she yet again proved herself a level above in the latest step on a swift-moving journey trending towards greatness for the Olympic gold medallist.
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Lauren Price wants to face Natasha Jonas next after a big knockout win over Bexcy Mateus
“With speed comes power, I enjoyed myself in there, I wanted to make a bit of a statement, I want big fights next year,” said Price.
“Credit to my opponent, I knew she had a good record. I had a great camp and I’m over the moon.
“I think it’s just fight by fight I keep learning and keep developing, there’s so much more to come but I’ve got a great team behind me and you’ve seen tonight I’m not all about speed, I can bang as well.
“It’s my eighth professional fight tonight, I’m still learning but believe I’m the best at 147. I want the winner of the main event tonight, I have more belts I want to collect, I want to bring big-time boxing back to Wales.”
Price didn’t waste time in making an early breakthrough when she caught Mateus with a beautifully timed left hook to send her counterpart to the canvas.
Mateus, who had looked a willing trader of shots early on while even squeezing in a left hook of her own, valiantly got back to her feet as she managed to survive the opening round.
Price launched another assault in the second to down Mateus with another crashing hook, the Colombian’s legs never quite recovering from the impact as she was then brutally dispatched by a thumping right hand to bring things to a conclusion.
Next up could be a mouth-watering all-British clash with Natasha Jonas in 2025, a contest that had been the talk of the week in Liverpool.
“I respect Tasha, it will be a great British fight. When I turned over as Olympic champion I wanted to be involved in massive fights and it’s one hell of a fight for not just women’s boxing but boxing in general.”
Cutler and McKenna put on thriller
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Lee Cutler floored Stephen McKenna twice and celebrated victory with a worm breakdance move after getting a majority decision in Liverpool.
Lee Cutler floored Stephen McKenna twice as he prevailed in an exhaustive epic to win by majority decision in a fight that lived up to expectations.
The pair had been embroiled in a fiery war of words for the duration of the build-up as McKenna vowed to knock his opponent out.
Instead, it was the cleaner work and two knockdowns of Cutler that would earn him the victory and the WBC International Super Welterweight championship.
For all of McKenna’s industry, it was the slick and accurate Cutler who took it 94-94, 95-93, 96-92 on the scorecards in a well-deserved win.
“Chaos tonight, I loved it. I bullied the bully, there was no point running away from him because he’s a fit lad but I knew he couldn’t deal with the strength,” said Cutler.
“My team thought I would stop him, it’s something I have to work with, carrying the shot throughout the fight.
“I’m ready for those big nights now.”
Lee Cutler floors Stephen McKenna for a second time
Cutler enjoyed the perfect start when he sent McKenna to one knee after a flurry of clean shots in the opening round, building on his early advantage by targeting the body of his younger opponent.
McKenna came back firing in response in the second as he peppered the head of Cutler, who appeared happy to bite down and work on the inside in view of more openings to the torso.
Cutler’s gameplan paid off once more when he caught McKenna with a well-timed overhand right in the third round, his confidence evidenced by a persistent smile in the face of the head shots coming his way. With McKenna’s busy approach came examples of smart evasive moments and discipline from Cutler while picking his shots and trusting his late-round stamina.
The Cutler of corner continued to plead with their man to attack the body of McKenna, who appeared to swing the fight in his favour with the superior output while forcing Cutler to work off the back foot.
By the fifth round you wondered whether Cutler had been throwing enough in reply despite his early knockdown as McKenna continued to come forward.
The response would be emphatic two rounds later, a beautiful right hand wobbling McKenna as the Irishman found himself on his knees for a second time.
Momentum had transferred back to Cutler, and he sensed it, setting up a booming right hook as McKenna threw wild swing after wild swing in a bid to get himself back in the contest.
There was no let-up in the final rounds, both continued to trade hands while scrambling between the ropes until the final bell in what will go down as a fight-of-the-year contender.
Jeffers eyes Simpson fight
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Mark Jeffers put in a dominant display in Liverpool, beating Joshua Quartey in three rounds
Mark Jeffers dispatched Joshua Quartey with ease in a third-round TKO victory to retain his Commonwealth silver super middleweight title and continue on his path towards bigger days in 2025.
Jeffers improved his perfect record to 19-0 (six KOs) having called for more respect and more notable fights throughout the build-up. For Jeffers, bigger days means a collision with Callum Simpson, who is due to fight Steed Woodhall on January 11.
“I know what level I can fight at. I need somebody who will get the best out of me, and that is Callum Simpson. It’s not just Callum Simpson I want, I want anybody who is a top fighter.”
“I’ve nothing but respect for Callum Simpson, he’s the biggest name in Britain (in his division), it’s to better my career.
“Callum I’m 100 per cent (sure) he is up for it, it’s clear I am.”
It was the Chorley man who was the chief aggressor from the opening bell, wearing down Quartey with superior speed, movement, power and shot variation before eventually breaking through with a knockdown in the third.
Quartey never quite recovered as another onslaught arrived, a second knockdown all but spelling the end as referee Kieran McCann finally waved off the contest after yet another wave of punishment moments later.
Riley tees up Chamberlain test
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Viddal Riley delivered an explosive knockout in Liverpool as he demolished heavyweight Dan Garber in the second round
Viddal Riley set up a domestic clash with Isaac Chamberlain as he delivered another emphatic performance with a second-round stoppage win over last-minute opponent Dan Garber.
Riley lifted his unbeaten professional record to 12-0 with a TKO win that now tees up a fascinating domestic clash with Isaac Chamberlain.
“It was perfect, I thought it might be earlier, but it was good to open up the lungs, it was a six-rounder so no point fighting it like 10 rounds, I wanted to push it and get the most out of it, because the man staring at me (Isaac Chamberlain) is going to require more than that.”
Chamberlain joined Riley in the ring post-fight as the latter confirmed that the pair will meet in London on February 1.
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s huge heavyweight rematch will be live on Saturday December 21 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Usyk v Fury 2 now!
