The Utilita Arena in Cardiff is set to host a riveting encounter as Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price MBE steps into the ring against the tough Jessica McCaskill. This high-stakes bout, slated for May 11th, will see the combatants vie for the WBA, IBO, and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles. UK and Irish fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports, while American audiences can tune in via Peacock.
Lauren Price, a name synonymous with amateur boxing excellence, has navigated through a sea of titles, from Commonwealth to World, before clinching Olympic gold, a feat unmatched by any Welsh pugilist before her. At 29, boasting an unblemished 6-0 record with a solitary knockout to her name, Price is itching to etch her name into the annals of history yet again, this time as Wales’ first female world champion. But, let’s not roll out the red carpet just yet.
Standing in her way is Jessica McCaskill, the reigning welterweight queen with a record that reads 12-3-1 and fists that have sent five opponents to dreamland. McCaskill, a Chicago native, isn’t just a title-holder; she’s a division conqueror, having unified titles at super lightweight before ascending to welterweight glory by dethroning Cecilia Brækhus, effectively ending her decade-long supremacy.
Price, no stranger to the limelight, having swapped football jerseys for boxing gloves after 52 appearances for the Welsh national team, is ready to rumble in her backyard. The clash with McCaskill isn’t just another fight; it’s a homecoming, a chance to showcase her mettle in front of her kin, in the very city that’s yet to see her box professionally since her initial gloves-up.
McCaskill, on the other hand, is all geared up to crash the Welsh party, armed with her two-weight world champion badge and a trail of victories, including those over Brækhus that crowned her the undisputed welterweight champion. Her past tussles include a dance with Katie Taylor and a recent draw against Britain’s Sandy Ryan, proving she’s no stranger to tough battles.
In her typical no-nonsense style, Price expressed her excitement, tipping her hat to her team for setting up the showdown and promising an electrifying display of boxing prowess. McCaskill, never one to mince words, hinted at a show-stealing performance, aiming to not just win but win over the Welsh crowd.
Ben Shalom, the mastermind behind BOXXER, couldn’t help but heap praise on Price, painting her as the next big thing in boxing, a beacon of Welsh sporting excellence. As D-day approaches, Cardiff braces itself for an epic showdown, where history beckons Price, while McCaskill eyes a spoil-sport role, all set to ferry the belts back across the Atlantic. As for the fans, strap in; this isn’t just another fight night, it’s a saga in the making.
Date, Time, Streaming Details, and Venue:
- Date: May 11th, 2024
- Start Time (USA): 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
- Start Time (UK): 8:00 PM BST
- Streaming Details (USA): Peacock
- Streaming Details (UK): Sky Sports
- Venue: Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Updated Fight Card:
- Jessica McCaskill vs. Lauren Price, 10 rounds, for McCaskill’s WBA women’s welterweight title
- Rhys Edwards vs. Thomas Patrick Ward, 10 rounds, featherweights
- Mark Jeffers vs. Darren Johnstone, 10 rounds, super middleweights
- Kane Shepherd vs. Ishmael Ellis, 6 rounds, junior lightweights
- Kyran Jones vs. Lewis Howells, 6 rounds, super middleweights
- Hughie Fury vs. Patrick Korte, 6 or 8 rounds, heavyweights
- Moses Jolly vs. TBA, 6 rounds, heavyweights
- Lewis Edmondson vs. Joel McIntyre, 6 rounds, light heavyweights