5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Price Check: Getting to Know Lauren Price

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

Can Lauren Price go on to become the best female boxer on the planet? Buncey heads to Sheffield to speak to the unified world champion about her journey, her ambitions and the unconventional path that got her here. Plus insight from her trainer, Rob McCracken, and coach Richie Woodhall. She fights this weekend in Cardiff against Stephanie Pineiro.

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Inheritance Samsung. Listen on BBC.com. the BBC app or wherever you get your BBC podcasts. This is Five Live Boxing. So this Saturday in Cardiff, there's a homecoming for Lauren Price. Sure, she's boxed in Cardiff before, but this feels somehow like the real homecoming. She'll be defending her well-to-weight world titles.

But what she'll really be doing is sending a message to the women out there that have talked about her, have used her name, because Lauren Price might just be the best female boxer in the world. I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing. So I'm joined by Richard Woodle to talk about Lauren Price defending her world titles against Stephanie Pinero from Puerto Rico who's unbeaten, maybe a little bit untested, but I've seen a little bit about it and I know that she is potentially a tricky opponent

over 10, 2-minute rounds. Now, I travelled up to Sheffield recently where Lauren trains in the GB Centre where, of course, she was based when she won European Amateur Tire to the World Amateur Tidal and, of course, the Olympic Gold Medal. Now, Richie would have works with her there. He takes her on the pads. He works alongside. In fact, when I was there, I saw Richie and both Robert McCracken.

But Rich, before we hear from Lauren, and that's going to be the majority of this particular show, A number one, how is she? And how has she changed if she has indeed changed since the Olympics a few years ago? That's a great question, actually. She hasn't changed much really. I think psychologically she's probably changed and she's toughened up most certainly, I would say. But in terms of her training, then she still does three minute rounds. we take

Even though she does twos when she's boxing they still the good the top women all work on three

still do three so you know I pad her probably most weeks actually so we've got a good relationship on the pads

we work really hard what I find her strengths are a strength are a speed and she's one of these fighters that

can she looks like she's out of range and then she as quick as lightning she dart in and out with fast feet fast hands especially with a double jab and left hand and then she's back out to that that thinking distance again planning the next attacks so she's um she's very very good indeed

as she changed i wouldn't say she's changed i think she's toughened up mentally most certainly um and that's come with experience and working with rob um and myself um i would say so you know but she's still in very much a G.B environment up in Sheffield. She's comfortable in that. She's comfortable there. She likes that.

Working with all the other boxers. You know, she will occasionally spa men as well. You know, she's lovely Lauren and she really is, but she's really, really tough. She's a tough girl, physically and mentally.

But yeah, obviously with Rob, you know, he's coaching her and, you know, he's tweaking the style here and there. But I don't think there's a lot of changes being made what I can see anyway. You know, we still work to the sort of

same pattern, gym patterns in the ring and in the spars and in the pad work. But I think she's, I see a change in her mentally. She's tougher now because obviously as a pro Steve, you have to train longer. Yes. You know, you have to because it's a longer contest. And so, you know,

she's adapted to that now really, really well. But I think because she's in that environment, then, you know, she's a doctor water with her. Now one thing, I'm not sure if it shows up when you've been working with her on the pads, but her last fight was in March of last year when she beat Tasha Jonas in a shutout. And it was a brilliant performance and a brilliant night, not just for British boxing, not just for women's boxing, but for British boxing. It was a sensation.

That was a last fight. When you're taking her on the pads, can you sense that she hasn't boxed for a year? No, not really, because I think Rob has started. sparring her, I think quite a bit away from the contest quite a period time away. So he's breaking her into the into the sparring. So she hasn't had

10 months out and just been back for two weeks kind of thing? He's very, very clever like that and he knows when to to spar her and give her the right training load at the right time. So no, I think quite the opposite Steve actually. I think she's

as sharp at this stage now, she's as sharp as a razor. And I think because she's still in that GB environment, she retains a speed very well, you see. So she's not in a pro gym where the rhythm of certain boxes are different or slower. She's in the gym working with boxes. And it becomes a gym rhythm. Exactly, you know what you mean.

Yeah, yeah, no, yeah. I know exactly what you mean. She's working in a gym where the boxes are really, really quick. And so she retains that speed, which I think is really, really important. Because she's not the tallest of welter weights. She was certainly not the tallest of middleweight, which is the way she won an Olympic title.

Exactly. But now she retains that speed, which I think, you know, compensates for if she fights those taller opponents. They're overreaching trying to get to her and she's in and out with defeat really, really quickly. And I think that plays to her advantage. Anyway, I went up to Sheffield, sell a load to Rich. He had a couple of team with Rob McCracken and then sat down with Lauren Price.

And I'll be honest with you. She wanted to talk. and when a fighter wants to talk, you do your best just to turn your machine on and listen. Here I am with Lauren Price. Excited to be back in Wales.

Obviously, spoke to the boxer. They offered me Royal Albert Hall again, which is... Which was great fun, by the way. Unbelievable. And like, do you know, venue wise, one of the best ever. But for me, I want to build this Welsh fan base.

And I've seen it, you know, within two weeks, I've kind of, the tickets sold out, to be fair. it's been a bit crazy and I've been overwhelmed by the support and doing meet and great seeing the kids on Saturday signing pictures with them and having pictures with my belt

giving a little bit back it means a lot to me you will become a bigger star you know that it's only it's not it's just a case of you need momentum and that's why you need to be in Wales because the first title fight there gets a bit of momentum then we go to the Royal Albaal

and now we've got a year's break it's hard to keep the yeah just you just need the momentum Well that's the thing And I'm saying to You know They're saying no The thing is with Cardiff There's no like bigger arena

Right This is like 5,000 They want to do a little bit bigger Because they want The tickets sold straight away But You go in like 5,000 And you go in Cardiff City Stadium

Which is 40,000 It's a big jump Yeah But they're on about doing that In the summer in August Um Me obviously coming back to Wales In a big fight

So I've also thrown out there I'd love to fight Katie Taylor as well. I go to Ireland for that. And for me, I think that's a great fight in terms of Wales and the Irish fans. Both Celts and I think it would be great. Both Olympic champions.

Yeah. And obviously she needs a dance partner. And I know she's said, it's your last fight in Croke Park and someone I've always admired and looked up to. I wonder if you're on the list because I've not seen your name. I've spoken when I spoke to Brian Peters

I was with Katie and Killarney in January and your name came up a few times she admired you she obviously likes what you do she likes your style but in the recent when she announced she's going to have one more fight

your name wasn't on the list all sorts of people were on the list like Rhonda Rousey was still on the list Holly Holme was still on the list so maybe she's looking for that type of fight not this type, not a real fight maybe who knows maybe who knows and like

regardless I'd love that fight but like for me in my career eye look her is and I'd love to tick her off and I'd love to the shields fight as well so imagine that like getting in the ring with Katie Taylor and getting the ring with Crystal Shields all of us

of being to the Olympics and won't a gold medal but in terms of like to her she's had a wonderful career and I wish her the best and like what she's done for not just female boxing but boxing in general and sport and women's sport in Ireland I mean I think I was I was telling you earlier on just to make sure that we let people know

that we do rehearse some of this stuff I was telling you earlier on that when I was in Kalani, recently about 3,000 people, half the people there were sort of girls under the age of 16 were their moms or their aunts. It was flipping ridiculous. I know, I think it's fantastic. And, you know, she's paved away.

I remember, like, when I first started going with Wales, I was only just turned senior. And we've gone to my first Europeans. I've gone to China. I was with Wales at the time. I wasn't even on GB. It's 2012? 2012, yeah.

I've gone out there. She's out there with her dad. I've watched a box. It was kind of the, like I was always up against Nuska, like in the final. She was always up against the Russian Sophia. Yeah. So obviously I've seen her, you know, throughout the years and what she's done. Yeah, it's been amazing. We will talk about, I want to talk about that Cloresa Schiltremer.

I'll go to ask you about Stephanie Piranero, Aquino, and the unbeaten woman you're fighting from Puerto Rico in Cardiff. Do you know much about her? Yeah, like I've seen footage of her. she's very tough, rough tries to throw the kitchen sink I do however

like the people that she's boxed if I'm honest like I haven't been no disrespect I've been great she's a South Pole she's quite tall possibly awkward

but you know I've got fully confidence in myself is nothing I haven't faced and I've boxed much bigger bigger girls bigger names as well yeah so I'm not taking anything away from I know I've got to be on my A game and I've got to perform

But I'm more than confident You know, I had a great Great camp You know, great sparring as well And I'm just looking forward to like Coming back to Wales Putting on a show and getting a, you know A clean performance

And then hopefully leading to where we thought we might have been last summer Something big in the summer And you mentioned Cloresha Shields there She's been talking a lot to Michaela Mayer, their friends But they're kind of They're talking about maybe sort of catchweight fight. Obviously you and her both won the same Olympic title,

the middleweight title. She's big in the sense now, but only two and a half years ago. She was still doing 159 pounds, which of course is 12 or so pounds above where you are. If the Cloressa Shields and Lauren Price chats were going on, what weight would you comfortably be okay going up to in theory? Or wouldn't it matter?

It wouldn't matter, but I think, Like in terms, I think, like I've spoke to Rob, and, like, I think he's saying, like, what did she fight Savannah? Was it, like, one five. One five, nine. Yeah, she weighed it, yeah, or like, um, is it like 72 kilos, something like that?

Yeah, seven, yeah, that's what it is. Yeah, so. Yeah, so. Yeah, something like that. That's where I would, um, I'd be happy to do that. Yeah, which is where, of course, you should have been when you were winning all your titles as an amateur. Yeah, it was never weighing that.

But, like, um, yeah, like, obviously we'd, yeah, I'd go up to that. But, um, obviously, she's massive at the minute. she needs to come down a bit but that's the fight I would love you know like our Katie Taylor

and the Serrano have gone I would love to do like a two free fight deal in terms of I think it's a fantastic fight it's a fight I believe I can win as well and yeah

I think it's just great I think if we start building it's a stadium fight I think we can both get like obviously for us we obviously she's not going to want to

fight me for cheap either but I think because of of the accolades I've got, the accolades she's got. Yeah, perfect. The Welsh fans behind me as well. Yeah, and she, I mean, you know, I understand what she does and I understand that she's, you know, very verbal,

but she's still looking to create a fan base. So, you know, she hasn't got a fan base as such. You know, she's got people that respect her and know her and back her, but she's not, it's not like she fights in front of 20,000 people every single time. What about, let's stick with a Katie Taylor idea, because that's a nice idea. What, if Katie Taylor, I'm assuming she doesn't want to go out of way, 147. I mean, could you do 143 as a catchweight?

Or is it just too much? Possibly. I've never gone down to it. But, you know, I'd have to... If that fight was come, then, yeah, that's a conversation I'd definitely be willing to have. And what about with Michaela Mayer? I mean, she's... That her people have been talking, they're screaming and shouting for 18 months.

That's the fight that we both want. Yeah. But you... This is a mad thing, right? So, I get her point and I get my point. we both obviously like it's for under spouted we both won we get paid for it what we should get paid and then I'm getting talks of

if I was to fight cruiser shields Alicia Baumgartner or Katie Taylor the amount of money that's there that I could fight them three four compared to mayor it'd be like me getting a payday for this next fight for mea and I don't understand that because I'm like if it's four under spouted surely she should be in that bracket with them girls I think so.

Because she sells a fight as well, mate. This is where I mean. But obviously, the money, she's asking for so much to come here. Obviously, like, I don't want to take an it either. But they asked me to go to America. It was absolutely no chance I was going there because the money was terrible.

It meant the boxer was going to take a percentage of it. I would have had to pay American tax. And also, it worked out, even though I'm the champion, about else it was less than what I was getting for McCaskill Jonas and I'm like it just don't make sense nothing that adds up so like it's not so much that like surely that fight yeah we both wanted to happen but surely like you know what pro boxing is if the money's not there then it's not going to happen yeah simple as that it's a simple rule and it's literally it's quite simple pro box

isn't it really yeah and literally that that is where we're at and like if they're talking to me and they're mentioning Kate Taylor and they mention in christia shields and the pay is four or five times the amount, then... It's obvious. That's why I'm talking about them because, like, in my head, well, I want to secure my future. Yeah. You talked to her about having five or six or seven years.

If you're fighting twice a year and the way you fight, you've got that comfortably. So the last two years of that is not you scrapping against young women trying to hold on. You've got a comfortable period there. Injury-free. You've got a good four or five years. it's still that Cardiff

extravaganza, it's still outdoors, it's still big fights in Cardiff that motivates you? Yeah, 100% I think the Welsh thing, like I'm so proud to be Welsh and like we're very passionate nation as well and I can't explain

to the feeling like I know when I come out on top of that ramp on the April 4th the noise is going to be unbelievable but even like meeting the fans at my meeting and greets like you can tell that they're fully behind me me and I can feel it and it means

so much to me as well that I got that support and I think I've added for so long in terms of they were with me for the Olympics when I had my own coming they support me and it's just getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and you know it's yeah I'm just proud

and you know every time I step into her ring I know I've got a nation on my shoulders and I'm carrying that Welsh flag and it's something that gives me that edge as well. You've done it all with a lot of dignity and you've not sold your soul and you're not pulling stunts.

But there seems to be a move to see a little bit more of Lauren Price, a little bit more of you. Because I know your life's been nine years up here in Sheffield, nine years of sacrifice. But there is another side. I've been privy to see some of the footage,

some of which could not be published. You are at fights overseas with various people from the GB squad over the years. And also your nan's such an influence but she's not been front and centre has there a move to sort of explore a little bit more of the private the other side of Lauren Price? Yeah, I think. And are you happy with that? Yeah, I am. I think so. I think like this day and age as well, people don't just want to see

like the box inside. They want to see the individual on how they live their life and what matters to them. And for me, I'm a very like, like my family mean, you know, everything to me but like in terms of it's a very personal matter in terms of people think I call myself the lucky one because of boxing but it's absolutely not that it's the case

of you know my nan and grander took me in at three days old and give me a better life and if it wasn't for them then I don't know where I'd be I'd either be in jail I'd be in care I'd be God knows where I could be dead so

for me you know, I am the lucky one because I've seen the life of my siblings which they had. I was the youngest and I got away so I'm very grateful for that and I think, you know, I appreciate that every day but obviously my nan

she's my life and I'm lucky enough now as well like you said I'm getting married I've got a partner which I'm very happy with and you know she supports me 100%. And I think that's where it's about like being in camp, you know, coming to Sheffield yeah I got a job to do

and it's the same week and week out, something that I'm used to, but it's also nice to come home and switch off and, you know, be around my loved ones and just, you know, switch off for the weekend. The private's life. Yeah, kind of. Just that you've got this private life, yeah.

Yeah, and you talk about the mad side, like off my friends, obviously. I was a football girl back in the day, still close to a lot of them now. Yeah. Then the boxing group? I've got two friends, basically. I've got a girl called Shez

and a girl called Hannah, and it's mad because when I was boxing, Jonas and Albert all the TV comes on Shez and I remember Andy coming to me oh my God like she was like people were thinking she was steaming and she was mental and she wasn't she was sober

it's just her she was jumping up and down with the Welsh flag and I was like no that's just She's just like on another level but yeah they're all like obviously been in my life for years and it's quite funny really because there's like 36 of us

there's couples going to to Ibiza on a joint 10. Before the wedding? 36? Two weeks before the wedding. 18 couples? 36 is couples, his friends. Oh, what a gag.

What a gig. Yeah, there's all sorts of ages because my uncle and I come in, my cousins. It's going to be absolutely mental. But all I've been told off my nan is, Lauren, you need to behave yourself. You make sure you don't lose that NBA. I said, no, I'm not stupid.

I'm not stupid. She thinks she might be strict to your MBA because you have a session in I-B-FA. That's what a nan does. That's a proper NAND. Strict orders. Yeah, I think, like, obviously, something I can look forward to

other than boxing, obviously, and that's a realisation I've come to as well. Boxing is my life. But I've also, you know, there's more to boxing. Life goes on as well after boxing. And I think, like, I'm very grateful in terms of I've got a supported network around me.

I'm quite grateful to my friends, my family and yeah I'm looking forward to you know obviously I'm getting married because when you're at the squad here you've got you know you're with friends who you're overseas with and you get to know depend on when you're getting in tournaments

and so do you need it do you need a network do you like having a network um I think I think so in terms of definitely now I'm a pro because like obviously up you're very different like like once obviously back in the day when I was on GB

with Sandy you know Kaz Ebb Demi all in the house. Like, we had a great crack. Like, the videos I've got on my phone and, like, they'll come out in, you know, in time. Some of them will. Some of them will. Yeah, some of them can't.

Some of them will. But, yeah, we used to have a great crack, like, and it'd be so good. But you could also be somewhere ridiculous, like Kazakhstan fighting in a five-day event where you've got to fight four times as well, remember, as well. So it's not like you're an Ibifa. Oh, absolutely not.

Yeah, and, like, you train, yeah. And I think that would be the main thing, but also, like, having a good time along the way when we can. But the main focus is obviously like, yeah, performing and training, but it's a lot different now because I find myself as a pro like I'm

on my own quite a lot. Obviously none of them not a year. Generations times I've got older, you know, the team are young. But I think that's where I enjoy going home then and having people, my family, having company.

Shoulders can come down. Yeah, kind of thing because you know, people speak about boxing. It is a long sport. But I think when she's driven and motivated, that doesn't really matter because you have a purpose and that's what keeps you motivating going, getting up every day, getting fit, you know, and focusing on as soon as I had a fight date, my mindset just changed. And that focus and, you know, what you're chasing, and that's also a bit of a privilege because you are, you know, you are looked up to. And so there is that degree of pressure because pressure is a privilege because, you know, you're a star. It's an old-fashioned world.

star but you are a star so there is that privilege there is that pressure as well which is great pressure yeah definitely and i think like i look at it and without even realizing like i've always i always got pressure on me and like i always have in terms of definitely since i turned pro but like even going into to Tokyo like i was um down to win gold you know um even when i turned pro obviously i've always had a target on my back in terms of it you know everyone wanted to you know with the action glades I got but I don't really look like that like if anything like it gives me I don't put any extra pressure on myself like I just believe you know I work hard enough I got the achievements I've got and I've just got to go out and perform the same as on the night on a box I don't add any pressure

it's just another fight there's in front of me I've done it a million times soon as that bell goes just go out and do what I do it's really weird when sometimes when you look back where you are now I'll say Olympic finals and World Title Fights in Front have big crowds. If you just take it back to when you your first bout, wherever it was in some working men's club or a hotel, and you know you're travelling in a car

with five people with your brand new boots on. Yeah. I mean, it's just, it's really weird at the difference in our sport. It is, it's mad, like, and yeah, it's definitely extremes. And like, it's mad when I actually, like, sit there and think, as a natural girl,

I had a dream to go to the Olympic. and I've got to pinch myself sometimes thinking that, you know, I was, I've actually achieved that and gone above that not just qualifying and becoming an Olympian but also winning a gold medal and I'm a big believer on like what are you putting you get out and I always say

regardless of whether it's sport or whatever you work hard enough in life, you can be wherever you want to be and achieve what you want to achieve it's just about turning up and being consistent every day and giving you all. Now this interview is probably not going to please your nan Because we can't film it Because you told me earlier

And obviously is a confidence I'm betraying So sometimes you call your nan And you can hear yourself in the background Because she's watching your interviews I love the idea of that Yeah so I give her a ring Like she got YouTube on And she's watching like all the fight week stuff

And she'll watch her over and over again Like at the other day And I was like I'm sure that's my voice in the background And she was watching me and Jonas gloves are off And like It's mad because because like she just loves it and she'll like get wound up about stuff

and I'm like, it's done now, the fight's happened, don't worry about it. Oh, something that Jonas has said to you or something. Oh yeah, or like if Johnny's gone on and going with Jonas, she'd be like, why is it, she'll get wound up about her and I'm like, yeah, but it's a year ago. It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter because like the fight has happened now, it's done. Yeah, I know, but still, in it. And she is very funny. But hopefully, like, because it's in Cardiff, she might come to this press conference and come to the way in. But she won't watch the fight, she'll wait for the phone call.

But, yeah, she's, you know, she's a correct character. And even to the point, like, I'm saying to it, like she's asking me about the wedding, obviously she's giving me away. And I'm just saying to her, like, obviously, I was like, you know, she's going, well, Lauren, you're going to have to explain to me, like, well, the day's going to look like this, that.

And I said, no, all you're going to do is just walk me down the aisle, you'll be sound. And she's just calm or calm. And I said to her, it was winding her lap. I said, you'll be fine, but she's very nervous. But, um, no. I'm grateful that she's going to give me away. Are you nervous about that, the big day?

Forget the boxing. Different kind of nerves, yeah. Forget the hen. Forget the fight. How are you doing with a winning? Well, yeah, I mean, like, I think I will be enough. As soon as them doors open and you've got to walk down the aisle, it's going to be another level. You can take a breath.

Yeah, exactly. But, yeah, I'll be okay. I'm looking forward to her. The mad thing is that I've gone to my partner. As soon as the fight was announced, I was like, right, wedding's stopped. you can deal with it all. I've got to fight the folks on, which he goes. But, yeah, it's mad, like, the little things you don't even think of.

Just, like... Oh, there's thousands of little things, trust me. Yeah, there's thousands of little things. Because I'm so laid back or... I leave it till the last minute. And then you've got, like, my bridesmaids going, oh, my God, Lauren, you haven't done this. Oh, my God, this needs to sort.

And I'm like, yeah, it's fine, don't worry about it. And they're like, yeah, well, we do worry about it. Like, even to the point where, like, I'm still looking for an hairdresser. Oh, no. That should have all been done months ago According to the way things about it. It should have been. But I think like even if I'm on BBC tour at the end of the night,

a little shout out anyone want to fancy to win. You should do it. Do it up. Hopefully it'd be me. If it's in the ring, I'll nudge you. And I'll ask you, if it's me in the ring, I'll say, listen, and by the way, have you sort of the hair out yet? Because it's only like six weeks away.

What would it be from then? Six or seven weeks? Yeah. Sorry. You know that brides around the country, right? going, she's not got, she's getting married in six weeks and she's not going ahead with her. That's one of the first things that gets done.

Listen, enjoy your fight. Enjoy the fight. Enjoy your head and enjoy the wedding. And thanks for your time today. It's been a pleasure to. No, it's always a pleasure bunchie. Any time. Their company's success helped build a nation.

The company is such a big part of Korea's economy. But who are the family behind one of the world's tech giants? The major corporate empire that we now know today. Samsung. Inheritance Samsung from the BBC World Service explores the real-life dramas of the Lee family. There's a succession style drama underneath of all this. Inheritance Samsung. Listen on BBC.com, the BBC app, or wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

So Lauren Price there covering just about every single arena, a fight with Michaela Mayo, even moving up and fighting Clareza Shields, how someone like Stephanie Pinero, who's unbeaten in 10, a few years, a couple of years older than long, how that could be potential banana skin. But one thing I did get from her was just a confidence and a calmness.

A lot of calmness and confidence going on at the moment. Yeah, she's very confident indeed. But Steve, I will say this about her. She trains very hard, and that's probably where the confidence comes from. You know, she sees Rob McCracken as like a father figure to her. And the coaches actually all, we all help Lauren.

I mean, I do a lot of Adieu. It's a family affair you've got going up there. I mean that. It's not like cliche. And she's very confident and happy in that environment, Steve. And that's why I think, you know, she's, that helps her with the success that she's having. So, yeah, she's happy where she is. And I also spoke to Robert McCracken, who of course is working with it as an arrangement between her promotional company.

and Lauren and the G.B. system, as so there should be, because there's fighters working up, their Galahia Fireworks, that Caris Harton still works there. And of course, for many, many, many years, Anthony Joshua works. Here I am with Rob McCracken. She's really fit. She stayed on it, getting some really good sparring in. She's well prepared, looking forward to the fight.

Good challenge for her again, Puerto Rican unbeaten, Southport can punch. So it's going to be a real good occasion in Cardiff. What does she need, Rob, to switch her. over, what does she need to become the star, that she's a star? But what does she need to become that big sort of star, do you think? What is it? Probably just a bit more of a spotlight on her. I think, you know, you look at what she's achieved in a career already and, you know,

amateur boxing, she won absolutely everything. She was phenomenal. World's European. And not even at her weight? The weight above. She's, you know, she's got speed and she's dynamic and she can, you know, hold people off who are bigger than her. But yeah, she's just a real talent, real skillful boxer,

really nice to watch, and has developed real physicality as a pro, heavy-handed. So, you know, she's really got all what you need to be a world champion in boxing. She's hard, isn't she? I mean, that's an old-fashioned sort of word, but she's hard.

And you know what I mean by that? You know, it's not like tough, she's hard. There's something hard about it. I think, you know, a background and obviously a background, a family, you know, she went into lots of sports when she was younger. But physically she's really well developed as a youngster. Very confident believes in herself. And much like Nicola Adams, who was a double Olympic gold medalist at GB boxing, Lauren obviously won the Olympics as well,

would go to the same tournament six or seven times. You know, you know, no bad shoulders or sorans. Freaks. Literally, it's like freaks, yeah. You know, those are the type of girls that, you know, will go to the same tournament in, you know, Hungary or Bulgaria six or seven times year in, year out and, you know, probably box some of the best in the world there

and then go back the next year and get on with it. And that's the mindset and that's what you need. So she's got a queen of. the unbeaten Puerto Rican down in Cardiff, great, and she's sold a lot of tickets. A thousand tickets she's moved herself. That's great.

But there are some bigger potential fights on the horizon. I won't talk about Michaela Mayer just yet. But talking to Lauren, she said, well, you know, why shouldn't I be considered for Katie Taylor's final, final fight? And then also, she introduced it, not me. Clea Sheield, obviously she's talking about fighting Maya. Lauren's naturally bigger than Maya.

Lauren's got an idea where she could go weight-wise. Where could Lauren go weight-wise if the Shields fight came up? How heavy could she fight at and not start losing speed? Yeah, I think she's already proved that she can compete at middleweight. To £160, something like that? Well, you know, you look at 75 kilos in female boxing at the Olympics and at the World Championship. Which is where she was for five, six years. And she won gold at both of those weights.

and that's, you know, you're just touching on, you know, just under 12 stone. Yeah, yeah, of course. So, you know, 168 pounds. So, you know, she's capable of moving up and down the weights. Obviously, you know, currently she's at Walter Weight, which is where she's most suited. But obviously, when you've got, you know, a boxer who's got the physicality and got the skill set as well, then they can fight anybody

and they can fight in all weight divisions and Lauren Price is one of those fighters. So, I mean, if one of those fights came up, Katie Taylor or Cleoesha Shields, there would be, you'd welcome that, you'd welcome that? Oh, 100%. That's what she might be, she needs a name. Yeah. The Tasha Jonas worked to a degree, but we lost momentum with the year break. Yeah, and that's been disappointing that, you know, we lost momentum.

But, you know, now that she's back up and running, you know, she should be boxing the best females in the world at whatever weight, whatever weight that the matches can be agreed. read at, then Lauren Price is one of the best females in the world and she should be in those matches. And Rob, finally, and it's not going to be an Olympic question, it's not going to be a hard one. Have you got an invite to the 36 person hen party in Ibiza, which she's having before her wedding? Luckily no. And hopefully you didn't get one either, Steve. I didn't get one. Yeah, so, yeah, no, yeah, I think she cares about me, so she's not going to invite me to that Maybe that's why she hasn't invited me. I've got to be honest with you.

I've got no wishes to go to Ibiza, but I wouldn't mind seeing them on the first or the second night out. I think she's... Even she knows it's a special. It's going to be a proper night. A proper hen party, that gig. Yeah. Where is it going to be again?

Ibha's somewhere. Yeah, I'll be in Tenerife. Rob, thanks very much for your time. Thanks, Steve. So Rob McGracken there on Lauren Price. One of his... I get the sort of... I get the feel.

with Rob that she's been one of his favourite fighters over the last 15 years. You know what I'm saying? Just the sense that he's got a soft spot for her. Well, yeah, but the thing is what Rob will say, and when he speaks to other boxes on the programme, he'll use Lauren as an example of someone who never moaned, never complained about injuries, didn't say, I don't want to go to...

Say when Nicola Adams. Exactly. Yeah, I'm not a story yet. I don't want to go to that tournament. Whenever you said to Lauren, you're boxing, so and so... Next week, she was there. Nicola Adams was exactly the same.

They don't turn tournaments down. And so he uses her as a positive example. You've just got to get on with it. You're here to box. You train hard. We send you to tournaments. Don't start saying, oh, I don't want to go to tournaments when you're doing all this training.

And he'll use Lauren as an example for that. And the reason we send you at tournaments is because the more tournaments you go to, the better you'll be when you go to the ones that matter. The Olympic qualifies, the Europeans, the Wales, and more than that, the Olympics. is to improve you, you see. She fights on Saturday.

It's on BBC 2. I think it's on about 8pm on BBC 2. It's incredible. It's the same night as obviously Deonti Wilder fights Derek Del Boycezoa. That's on 5 Live, probably from 10pm. And then on Sunday, there were four world title fights, women's World Title Fights,

involving five British women. That's also on 5 live. It's been a busy, busy few days, and the next few days will be even busier. Lauren Price in the super fight with Michaela Meyer. Oh, hey, who knows? Maybe a catchweight fight with closure shields. That's down the road.

I've been Steve Bunce, and this has been a very special five live boxing. New teams. New rules. A new returns. The engines are revving. Hear every race live on BBC sounds. It's all lights and the lights.

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