Lauren Price is set to make her first world title defence against unbeaten Colombian as she eyes all-British unification fight with Natasha Jonas
- Lauren Price will defend her titles against Colombian contender Bexcy Mateus
- Her fight will take place on the undercard of Natasha Jonas’ unification fight
- The Welsh champion wants to set up an all-British unification fight with Jonas
Lauren Price will make the first defense of her world titles at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool on Saturday, December 14.
Price will defend her WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine world welterweight titles against undefeated Colombian contender Bexcy Mateus.
Price enters the fight on the back of her perfect performance against former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in May.
Meanwhile, Mateus – who is ranked fifth in the WBA – is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout.
The fight with Mateus will take place on the same night that Natasha Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC world titles against Ivana Habazin.
The Welsh champion hopes a win over Mateus could leave her well-placed for an all-British unification fight with Jonas.
Lauren Price (pictured above) will make the first defense of her world titles at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool on Saturday, December 14
Price (pictured right) defends her WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight world titles against undefeated Colombian contender Bexcy Mateus
Regarding her upcoming clash with Mateus, Price said: “I’m excited to defend my titles to end what has been a big year for me.”
She added: “I have complete respect for Mateus. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a great night for the women’s welterweight division, with three world champions in action on December 14 in Liverpool.
‘Natasha Jonas is back in her hometown for a must-win unification bout against Ivana Habazin and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated contender Bexcy Mateus. The battle for undisputed has begun.”
Shalom ended by saying: “If Natasha and Lauren both win on December 14, it will pave the way for a huge ‘Battle Of Britain’ match for the unification of the world title next year.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s undefeated Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KOs) will take on English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KOs) in a super welterweight showdown for the WBC International Silver Title.
McKenna stunned fans with a three-round war against Joe Laws, most recently in August at the Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. Both men hit the canvas in the first round before McKenna turned up the pressure and dropped Laws three more times to maintain his undefeated record via a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KOs) returns to action after recovering from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since his career-best win over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will look to shake off ring rust as he targets big opponents in the new year.
Undefeated 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 for more drama at the Liverpool Exhibition Center as he searches for his nineteenth professional victory.
Cheshire super welterweight Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KOs), a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be able to rely on local support as he gets back on the title path.
After signing a promotional deal with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can claim his third win 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 famous Rotunda ABC and is managed by former world champion Liam Smith.