Natasha Jonas is determined to defeat Lauren Price and then pursue a fight for the undisputed world championship.
Jonas, who currently holds the WBC and IBF welterweight titles, is open to an undisputed title fight at either welterweight or super-lightweight, potentially against established rivals in both divisions.
Jonas from Liverpool, the unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion, will face WBA world champion Price this Friday, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The WBO welterweight title, the fourth major belt in the division, is currently held by Mikaela Mayer, who Jonas narrowly defeated in a close decision last year.
Mayer is scheduled to fight Sandy Ryan later this month, and the winner of that match is expected to be a strong contender to face the winner of the Jonas-Price fight.
However, Katie Taylor, the undisputed world champion at super-lightweight, remains a significant figure for Jonas. They have a history dating back to the 2012 Olympic Games and a previous professional world title fight.
Jonas has indicated she would be willing to move down in weight for a fight against Taylor. Speaking to Sky Sports’ Off Limits, she stated that the fight with Taylor is personal. She emphasized the immediate goal is to overcome Lauren Price, after which she sees two potential paths: facing the winner of Mayer versus Ryan for undisputed welterweight honors, or challenging Taylor for the undisputed super-lightweight title.
Jonas’ trainer, Joe Gallagher, believes she will successfully overcome Price, despite Price’s credentials as an Olympic gold medalist.
Gallagher highlighted Price’s boxing background, skills, and punch variety, but also expressed confidence in Jonas’s experience and strategic shot selection. He dismissed any notion of this fight being a transition for Jonas, asserting their continued ambition and drawing parallels to past challenges they have overcome, such as with Terri Harper.
Gallagher emphasized that the pressure is on Price, not Jonas. He believes that facing Price will push Jonas to perform at her best and that they have identified vulnerabilities in Price’s style that they can exploit.
He concluded with a warning to Price, underscoring the seriousness of the upcoming fight.
Despite Jonas’s achievements at super-welterweight and welterweight, Gallagher noted that her optimal fighting weight is actually in the 135 to 140lbs range, highlighting the magnitude of her accomplishments.
Watch Natasha Jonas versus Lauren Price live on Sky Sports this Friday, March 7th, from the Royal Albert Hall.
