5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Wales’ first female world champion

Episode Date: May 12, 2024

Stacey Copeland sits in for Buncey as Lauren Price becomes a world champion. She is joined by Barry Jones to reflect on an historic night of boxing in the Welsh capital. We hear from Lauren, as well as her promoter Ben Shalom and her partner Karriss Artingstall.

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Go to pockethose.com slash podcast. That's pockethose.com slash podcast for your two free gifts with purchase. Pockethose.com slash P-O-D-C-A-S-T. This is Five Live Boxing. Lauren Price becomes the first ever female Welsh world champion. What a night we've had here in Cardiff as she beat Jess McCaskill in devastating fashion. I'm Stacey Copeland, and this is Five Live Boxing. Barry Jones is with me here, who I know usually used to be with Buncie,

so I'll try and throw some Buncyisms in because he's on his way to Saudi. I'm glad he's not here. I'll do that. Don't tell him, but I'm glad he's not here. His thing is, don't worry about that. Make now mistake and all that stuff. But anyway, no, I won't do. I'm better at him than accent, so by the way, we've just been inside,

I mean, what was an incredible arena. it absolutely erupted when Lauren Price came out. Everybody's hairs were stood at end. It was spine tingling. It was an unbelievable atmosphere. For you, having experienced that as a fighter, and you being one of the fighters that's part of that incredible, rich Welsh boxing history and heritage,

what was that like for you? Yeah, I had to be Joe Cordina a couple years ago when he beat the Angora doing the World Title, and it's the same with Lauren, because it brings you back to your time, selfishly. But you want people to... You always want everything to say, succeed but when you have a connection

I don't know a lot of I don't know a lot of price really but she's Welsh and you know and she's a Welsh boxing so you just you want her to win so her coming out with the ring walk it was yeah you feel pumped up you just a little bit special anthem of course

you know like anyone with their national anthem it gets you emotional and she did exactly what I've been saying she was going to do all week I feel a bit smug about her because I was so confident that it would be literally just the dominant performance from her I absolutely I mean I said exactly the same in our in our buildup

on Five Live that I thought yes there were questions to be asked and it was really for McCaskill to ask those as soon as possible of the younger so-called up-and-coming fighter but everything that she asked she had an answer to I mean her hand speed what do you think

obviously you know a footwork I mean at every department you can mention anything and she was superior but what was the key on your view? It's the two things discipline because Jessica McCaskill has made a career and a successful career but drawing you into her fight. So she doesn't throw a jab

which is quite amazing, but she charges forward, she's rough and ready, she swings that overhand right, which didn't work for the tonight, but she swings her overhand right and then you try and fire back, but you hold your feet, and that's where she gets you. What Lauren did so well is didn't hold her feet, so

she was fainting before she was throwing, so she got there first, she'd faint, and that would just stop McCaskill from reacting, she was just covered up, then she would throw, and then she would move. So punches score the points, obviously. but feet when you fights. Footwork wind you do the fights

because it gets you in the position to throw punches gets you in the position where you're safe it gives you the purchase to throw power shots even you know you get the bumps in your steps to throw fast combinations your feet are more important than your hands

ironically so and her feet were perfect tonight but what was really sort of impressive this is going to sound weird she made so many mistakes a lot on price loads of mistakes which and I say it's impressive because

she won a little title against a very good world champion and she made loads of mistakes so it means she can only get better I mean there's room for improvement oh lucky can you meet the wonderful title and not be the finished article it's called the lucky one

well named but it's not lucky it's dedication to your craft and she says that it's a tongue and cheek in it's dedication to your craft it's natural ability but it's more than that the focus and you know what it's like foxing so keep your concentration

for three minutes is difficult or two minutes I should say sorry beg my pardon but they keep you concentrated for two minutes for the duration, like six rounds, eight rounds, ten rounds, is near all impossible. So, you know... Gasco couldn't do anything unless she was at close range. That was her only chance, wasn't it?

Yeah, so she tried to throw when Lauren was throwing, but Lauren was getting off first, and then she was throwing back a little bit. She had a bit of success. See, her corner, we're telling her trying time it, which is what you try and do when you're up against someone with that kind of hand speed. She couldn't get her timing.

Because she's in her up with her feet as well. So she's bongs in it. She was jumping into attack. Sometimes they're up with too close. at times a lot on prize. When she throws the left hand from the softball stance, which would be a back hand, she sometimes jumps in too close and then that's where the head clashes occur

quite often. But still, apart from that, she always bounces out. And then she started doing that. I've talked about all week that semi-circle wrong your opponent. That's the space where you dominate the fight because you throw and you pivot and you can throw from a different angle from a safe place.

And they have to turn. And that's millisecond, half a second, whatever takes them to turn, you can throw right on the middle. And she did that really, really well tonight. I thought it was a great performance. And also, she's been an Olympic gold meddist. So, you know, she's been at the highest of the height. But she hasn't boxed in front of a crowd like that, ever.

And that's just the truth. The Olympics, there wasn't a crowd. No, but even if they wouldn't have been a pro crowd like that, but they're all chained for you. Because all the people, when you get to a certain level, people, when you have a fan base, people, like, say for me, all my friends just thought I was going to win. All my fans would come to watch me.

I sold a lot of tickets. They didn't know boxing. They didn't watch boxing. and they just come to support you and they're expecting you to win. They don't understand. So that's what she, everyone's watching Lauren Price

thinks she's just going to win the fight. So there's an expectation there. And if you don't win the fight... There's a lot of media demands, isn't there? When it's a homecoming and you're the home fighter, there's a huge expectation. And then you've got idiots like me saying she's going to literally put her on a master class and walk it.

And you're like, thanks very much, Barry. You know, that's... I'm saying it's going to be a 10-0 whitewash. And I think it was going to be. Let's talk about the way the fight ended. By the way, we're just outside the arena because it's just about the quietest spot. we might as well be stood on an airport runway.

And it's warm, isn't it? It's about 50 vehicles coming in and out. So just mostly tried not get run over. It's like this heavy night in Cardiff. Warm like this. Yeah. Never rains. Well, yeah, a bit like Manchester.

Let's talk about the way the fight ended. I mean, by the end of it, that swelling on her eye was probably about the size of you. Just stuck on her eyeball, wasn't it? But, I mean, in a way, it was a shame it ended that way, wasn't it? But, I mean, obviously, it went to point to win, which she was, it was never going to change, that another four minutes of punishment was all that was on the cards there, so it was a right decision. Yeah, it is. But in a way, it is a little bit

of an anti-climics. I mean, as a fight, you don't want... It gives Jessa McCaskill a reason, an excuse or one. Let me fair, she wasn't that bad. I thought she was going to be those excuses. She never did. But she did say, there's four more minutes left, and I could have done a lot of other rounds. I could have done more work. I mean, we've got the stoppage. And I didn't see it that way.

I think she would have got just lost another two rounds, and the three rounds, two and a half rounds. And then she would have lost a fight. That's what I thought. but you never know where you're in there you always got a chance with her power and tenacity you never quite know. I mean a quick word in there, I mean fair play coming into

the lion's den putting her belts on the line because Lauren Price absolutely was high risk with very little reward for someone who's bringing the titles here, so fair play to her for doing that. But also I think right now and it wasn't, it was never the case for a long time, but right now to earn the money in women's boxing, it's in the UK. That's just how it is.

And then might change over time, but right now that's what it is. So all the fighters have to come here. Unless it's Katie Taylor and just go whatever Katie Taylor is. She can box you on the moon. She's the biggest draw in women's boxing and one of the biggest draws is in world boxing.

But apart from that, you have to come to the UK to earn the money. So she had to come here for the money. So she serves as credit for that, but we would all do the same thing. But she's a tough competitor. She'll fight anywhere. I think she's proved that.

She's got nothing to prove Jessica McCaskill. She proved how tough she was, even with the eye, and that was horrific that eye, that remind me. Dennis Lebedev when he boxed Guillermo Jones and it was almost that They don't look real, do they? They look like some out of a movie.

It was horrific and also that's painful by the way and she didn't complain about it She didn't complain. There's a left eye as well which You know for Orthodox It's going to impede your vision or at least your approach a little bit

It's going to be on the back of your mind Yeah but there's one punch You can never see that, isn't it? On that side so you know It's a free shot for Lotton Price But she was already dominant in the fight anyway If it was a close fight Then you know

And it was a swing bringing in or there was a change in momentum. Then you would have said, oh, fair enough, this is just a rematch, but no, no, she just did what, well, you thought, I thought, and anyone really who understands tactical awareness, how that fight was going to play out.

It was only the case that if she could get on, if she could get on Lotton Price early and make a feel of that physical, draw it into a war, then she had a chance. She couldn't make her respect, she didn't have the power to deter Lauren Price anyway. And also, I go back to that word I mentioned earlier, discipline.

Lauren Price showed discipline. She did hold her feet now and again to fire her back, but then she remembered, I've got to go out the way. Don't fight to her fight. She has got faster. I mean, I boxed as amateurs. I mean, she's improved immensely since then, but, you know, so I know what she's like to deal with.

Before we go on to what's next as such, and before we get it by a forklift truck, just a quick word on having this here. I mean, I asked you about, you know, what it meant to you, having boxed here and been one of those, you know, who's part of that rich boxing legacy here. for Wales, I know they always talk about rugby,

but actually incredibly successful in boxing, which doesn't always get the credit it deserves. But what does this mean for big fight nights here now in Canada? Because there was, I mean, the reception for Reese Edwards and such on the undercard shows great promise as well as Lauren Price. Well, there was, so first of all, boxing is statistically, if I can say that without stirring, statistically, I'll say it again. Why would I say it again?

Our most successful sport. Statistically. I can't say successful now. But it is... Tommy Cooper. Yeah. But it is because we've had so many world champions for a small nation. Rugby's God in Wales and that's always going to be the case because we love it.

But we've been so successful in boxing that we all... Amateur professional, we've had a real good time of it. But there's been times where no one would come to Wales. And we had that before I won a world title, you know, before Steve Robinson would brought his world title back from the northeast. Cinderella man. Yeah. But then... And then we had that time.

after Joe Kazaki. But Joe Karzeggi is a prime example. When he was flourishing, Omory World Champions, we are Gavin Rees. You know what I mean? Nathan Cleverley came along. Enzo Mconelli. There was so many from that gym.

Does it feel like it's that now again. It obviously got Johan and Gavin Croft who just signed with Anthony Crowley. You've got Owen Harris Allen, who hopefully is going to qualify for the Olympics in Bangkok. And there's a real talent called Taylor Bevin as well. Does it feel like this is a new era?

I think so, you know. I really do. We've got some really good pros and we show them tonight and that's important that they get on the big bills and they start making a name for themselves

and then they start showing what they can do and they sell tickets but it was a gamble tonight and if Lauren didn't sell and you're never quite sure we know she haven't had enough time

to fill up a fan base she haven't box in Wales as a pro and barely as an amateur so you know people haven't seen their lives it's easy to say just because she's well

she'll turn up that's not a given and by the way it's also you're from Wales but you're not from the city now we've got to see that but Stee Lee Selby was brilliant fighter

and so decent but he couldn't sell out this. She's 15 miles down the road. Exactly. Exactly. So people think it's not old. That's why Steve Robinson saw it, me. From the city, it's a different.

But she sold tonight. It worked. And that was just built. I'm not saying she goes to a stadium next. It's not going to carry the way. But that will build. The next time there, it'll be a little bit busier if there's any more seats left.

And then the time after that, there'd be people who couldn't get tickets. And then you talk about maybe other fights. And also, she has dance partners. That's the most important. dance parties in the UK. The UK is the best world to reach in women's boxing. With Natasha Jonas and Sandy Wright.

Sandy Ryan. We're going to come on to that next about what you think should happen, but there's a risk getting hit by one of these forklift trucks. Barry, I'm going to let you go and get changed now, and I'm going to head inside and see if I can find Lauren Price. So we've left Barry downstairs looking for his socks, and I'm now on the second floor. You've just had the press conference. You're still just as calm as you have been all week

and as you were at ringside. The question is, can you enjoy these moments because you are so calm and you're so focused on what you're doing. Can you enjoy it? Yeah, definitely. I will enjoy it. Like, obviously, today I have been nervous, you know. It's only normal, isn't it?

And it's a mad thing where we put, like, you're a fight that, you know, where we put ourselves through, you think sometimes or why you get in there and people who don't box think you're mad for doing it. But once it's, like, kind of over and that, you just, all the nerves go, and now I can enjoy it. I've got an after-party box, so I'm going to go and see my friends. and family.

And yeah, of course, yeah, let my ear down and joy. I see my nan tomorrow. You know, she's a massive part of my life. And she was nervous tonight, though. She's always nervous. She's a bag of nerves. But it would be great to go home and see her as well. Where did tonight rank for you?

I mean, you've had some incredible achievements, as I've been talking about this week, playing for Wales, playing in the Champions League, obviously the Olympics. But that was without a crowd. So it's still a phenomenal achievement. But where did this rank tonight for you in your, you know, incredible sporting achievements?

That ring walk. our crowd, you know, it gotta be up there win an Olympic medal, it got to be, you know, it was, you're them chanting my name, that's something that'll stick with me forever. It was, yeah,

I can't really put into words, you know, even when I stood at the top of the ramp. It spells, it was unbelievable the noise. Yeah, it was, and I've said all week, you know, I want to go on and create the legacy and I said, this is just the start, and I believe it is, I believe, you know, I can get better and better,

then it as an amateur, you know, you know what it's like, first start off and as a pro now I'm learning it's a different game don't get me wrong but I've got a great team in my own I believe I'm sure you can improve it and I said it when we're on our live broadcast there's an absolute superstar been born tonight we knew that those who knew what you were capable of but everybody else is now going to know it so to my final question it is what's next for you you've got the leverage now with having those belts you know he can sell tickets you know there's going to be you know fight fans wanting to see these rivalries sort of come to fruition

What would you want, though, next? I want to come back to Wales. Definitely now, you know, I've got them titles. But, yeah, big fights. Don't matter who, you know, I want to be involved with, you know, fighting for other belts. That's down for Rob to decide. I don't really speak much on that.

But I might be to fight anyone. Whoever. I mean, it's exciting. Tasha Jonas was ringside. We've got Sandy Ryan, who's got the other belt, obviously. I mean, is there a preference for you, or is that something you're not thinking of? about yet. Honestly, I said on the back of

of 2023, I'd fight anyone who got a belt the one for seven. We had that chat in January, didn't we? Yeah, we did. We did. My mind is exactly the same, honestly. Even though I've only had seven pro fights, everyone who got a belt at 147, I believe I beat right now. And even though I'm still learning

and I got so much more, you know, to come from me, I still believe, you know, I win them fights, so. It was incredible. Enjoy your celebration and your five guys and everything with your family. Thank you very much. privilege to be there tonight, so well done. Thank you very much. Cheers to see.

Well, we'll leave Lauren to go and arrange her five guys then, which is earned, but she's got a bit more media to do before that. So meanwhile, I'm going to go and search for the promoter of this event tonight, Ben Shalom. It was emotional, to be honest, to see her. This country means so much to her. So all she talks about, she refuses to leave. She travels to Sheffield to train, and this is where she is, and her in Carys, and yeah, from the taxi drive.

driver driving around the streets of Cardiff, playing for Wales national team, playing for Cardiff City, winning the gold medal for the country, signing a fighter with an MBE is astonishing in any sense, but then to do this in a seventh fight. I was saying before, I think she should just play rugby for him now. Yeah, exactly. She might as well fly half or whatever. She could do anything, but what we saw tonight was, what a phenomenal talent. Did you expect it to be, I mean, I thought that was going to happen.

I boxed her back in the days. An amateur I know what she's capable of. But, I mean, were you surprised at just how emphatic that was? What I was surprised is that not pleasantly surprised. She was aggressive. Something brought a different side, Lauren tonight. She could have boxed on the back foot and she could have won rounds easily. She came out and had a fight.

And the crowd got behind her and she loved every second. You could see her really enjoying it after round four, round five. I can't see her weakness. she's just the most complete fighter that I think we could have in this country. Unbelievable. Joy to watch. Finally then, the obvious question you're going to get is, I mean, you don't need to sell the story

Lauren Price, it's incredible anyway. But in terms of what's next, because for those who didn't know her talent and her ability, really a superstar, I think, has been born here tonight. But it's what's next now you build on that. You're well aware, obviously, there's Sandy Ryan, there's Tasha Jonas.

It's an unbelievable division. I mean, what do you think ought to be next for her, ideally? And Tom Jones, by the way, for a ringwalk. I mean, get onto that. I wanted Catherine Jenkins, but maybe Tom Jones. Which other. But anyway, it's not unusual. But what do you think then?

What do you reckon next? It has to be a unification. It has to be another world title. Which one? We'll see. There's so many big nights. There's so many big fights to come. The first one, you're always nervous.

Like, it's a new crowd, new fan base. Come in here, even as a promoter. and she was, we went all in on the seventh fight to go into Cardiff and do this for it to come off like it has. The trajectory is huge. The fights are big, world titles only, because she's that good. You know, she's just made a multi-weight world champion

look very ordinary. Well, she's gone off for five guys now. How do you celebrate after a night list? Can you enjoy it? Because obviously, a lot of you're a busy man on nights. How do you enjoy it and how do you celebrate after? I will enjoy this one because I think when you debut with a fighter and you see everything they go through and new to the media

and there's so many new experiences in the life and she's been through so much that she doesn't even talk about she doesn't complain she gets on with it so these are the ones that you do sit back and you really enjoy it how do you celebrate then? How do I celebrate? I think they told me there's an after party for Lauren Price which will go with the family and friends so it'd be nice to go there

have an hour and then back to work, I guess, tomorrow and back to the next fight. But yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Enjoy your party, no kidding. Enjoy your party and well done. I'm glad it went well, thanks. Cheers. Well, that was Ben Shalom, and now I'm joined by Carrey Sarting Stoll, who's multitasking tonight, Lauren's partner, ticket seller, master chef, and occasionally, if I ate yourself as well

at the end of all that. How are your nerves tonight? I'm not going to lie at the start like when we're in the back at the hotel and that my heart was pumping a bit because I could see

she was nervous and that's usually how it works when we're in the hotel on our own we're both quite nervous we're both pretty much the same and then when we get around our team and you're with your coaches and you're like you just

feel at home again and Rob and Gary and Lee Pulling they've all got a way of just soothing you and just making you feel relaxed and at home so once she was back around her team she was in the changing rooms and she looked up and she was like

it's weird this is I'm not even that nervous anymore. So I was like, right, that's me, you know, I can settle. If she's settled, I'm all right. But the ringwalk, my heart was pounding. It was incredible, wasn't it? I mean, I totally agree with you about the team, you know, all of them. They just, I loved boxing from.

I always felt like I could beat anyone with them. Let's talk about that ring walk then. I mean, it was unbelievable. I took my headphones off at one point just to absorb the sheer noise of it. And, you know, it was spine tingling, wasn't it? I mean, I know it's different for you because obviously, it's, you know, your partner. But, I mean, as a boxing fan and a sports fan,

what was it like, that atmosphere for you soaking it up? It was unbelievable, like, just watching it at the top of the ramp, and then I was looking around and everyone was up on the feet, singing along to the song as well. And imagine what it feels like for us, but then imagine what it feels like for actually being Welsh as well, a Welsh song, people are singing to it. And, yeah, it's just incredible.

But I just think it's everything and more that she deserves, like, and she's just going to go on, and she'll take over this division, I believe. and she's just a phenomenal talent. I know you had huge belief in her and you've said how calm and cool she's in the build-up to stuff like this, major fights.

I know he'd said she was more nervous for the Olympic semi-final and the final but just takes it all in a stride kind of thing. What do you think about the demands this week though because, you know, home-coming and being the home fight that the media demands in itself. I mean, did you have a concern about that or did you take that part in a stride as well?

No, so she dealt with a lot of things. Fair play to Joe, works with boxer and deals with the PR side of stuff. He got her to do the main big things prior to Fight Week, which I appreciate because that was one of my worries, like her coming into Fight Week and having to deal with all these demands and appearances and interviews, etc. Once we got into Fight Week, I had to put my foot down a bit

and like I did have to say no to quite a few people because I could see in Lauren, like Lauren just can't say no to anyone. I can't imagine that'd be the problem for you. You're just the right person for that. Exactly. We work perfectly like because she's so calm and settled and laid back and then I'll obviously put my foot in and

tell them look she's done now she's going she needs to go for food etc and that's it kind of thing and so yeah I try my best to help her and that's perspective because like I said she just can't say no to anyone she'll just try to please people and please people like she was still handing tickets out on Wednesday I think it was

she was still letting people come and like she was... She's not driving the taxi still and bringing everyone here as well last couple then I know you had immense belief in her and rightly so I absolutely thought this was what was going to happen in the fight. I thought it potentially would be a shutout as it was. I know you'd said she might drop a couple of rounds for the first time,

but it didn't even come close. We're surprised at just how dominant she was in every single aspect that you could be dominant in a fight. Yeah, and no. Like, I know what Lauren's capable of doing, and I've seen her in against, like, top quality opposition. And I think I was more surprised that Jessica, I was, well, a bit of both of it.

I was quite surprised at how Lauren kept her at bay. Like Jessica did come on the front foot and she did try and take Lauren's head off at times, but I felt like Lauren shut that down quite early. And you could then see... Disciplined, one of keeping the distance. Yeah, very disciplined. And she'll listen to Rob and she'll blank everybody else out.

Like, I could be screaming all sorts ringside and she'd take no notice of me. And she just does the right thing and takes notice of Rob. But yeah, I thought she shut Jess down really, really quick and done what she's done best, basically. So Master Chef then, she said you've been doing a cooking in the villa what have you been making and is it true that? Have you actually been making it or all right?

I do everything. I swear, I don't just say this for the cameras or anything like, but I do everything. I do all the washing. There's no camera here so you can tell, we know each of us. He can to actually tell the truth. To be fair, she'll let me out here and there. What are your best out? What are you best at? What is she like best in? It's just camp food doing it. Like it's chicken and rice. I do protein pancakes and overnight oats and stuff like that. Out of camp, I don't tend to cook to be fair. I just get like, uh, take away. Last one then, how we both going to celebrate? I think she wants a five guys.

She mentioned she wanted a five guys. Down Chippy Lane tonight, the food there. She said she wanted a five guys. Anna Nans Pigs on Blankers. Well, you both, aren't it? We can't wait to see you out next time as well for your next fight, but it's been a pleasure to chat to you as always

and enjoy celebrations. Thank you very much. And your five guys. Thank you. So I'm going to go and find Barry now, so let's take a quick break. So we were talking before, just before we went into a break,

about how exciting and packed this division. It's like, you know, and we know with the women that can move up and down with a little bit more fluidity, if you like, certainly than the men can. This division at the minute,

I mean, we've got Tasha Jonas, obviously with the world title, Sandy Ryan with the world title, Lauren Price. Now, Lauren Price didn't have that leverage. She was struggling to get those big fights because, as we said before, high-risk, low reward.

Now, she's got those titles. There's also going to be fight fans calling out for these fights with the likes of Sandy Ryan and Tasha Jonas. Tasha Jonas, had an interview last week. She's got a couple of fights left before she retires. Lauren Price isn't on the agenda for it.

It's not one she's looking at. But when the pressure's heaped on, that people want to see it. And if the money's right and all the rest of it, we know what can happen in boxing. So what do you think would be a good move for her next? And what do you want to see? Well, you'd like to think that she could just

maybe get a couple of defences just to get used to boxing the 10 round distance. And also just a bit, you know, cement that world championship pedigree that she knows how to fight management, if you will. But women's boxing is fantastic because you get to the top very quickly, but it's also a massive jump, but also you can't wait around.

That's a good thing. And it's good for boxing at it. So I would say, Natasha shows us on the same. They're both in the same promotional company. Sandy Ryan's not, so that's a hard of the fight to make. And Sandy Ryan does have a,

which has a world title now, and arguably, as the best performance, I thought, again, I think. So against Terry Harbour, she was fantastic. and I thought she beats Jessica McCaskill in their draw quite comfortable so that would be a good fight

but you've got to say Natasha Jonas will be the fight Jazz Jonas is the biggest name in that division but so Natasha Jonas is clever by saying you know well you know because she won the money for it and that's understandable because she is the biggest draw there

you know she takes every box she's a Sky Pundit as well so you know they build everything around her but Lotton Price is an Olympic gold medalist and she's an achiever at the highest levels consistently. She should be the

darling. Now, I'm not saying that's going to be the case. She should be the darling. Those fights should be made. No, there's, they could be if Chantel camera moves her, but she could easily, she might. You've got her own little British female fabulous four. Right there there you go, that's fantastic. And they'll all fight each other

because that's the only way they can make money and good. They all fight each other. They'll be fantastic. This is what the sport needs or isn't it? It's those rivalries that capture the imagination of fight fans and sometimes they can transcend the sport where it gains that public interest. But to be fair, women's boxing has been like that,

because to force his way into the, through the door, which it was very, you know, you would pass for that, of course. So to first way through the door, you had to fight competitive fights, where men had more of a luxury, you know, to take the easier, the longer route, to learn your trade more. So, you know, you've shown, it's been like that since it started, not since it started, but, you know, in the last sort of, like, five, six, seven, nine years, that, the best had to fight the best.

They have, they can go, they're going to no else to go. So it's just, but that's what you need. sport. It makes the sport healthy. Look how good it is? No. That was a good. No. When would you ever thought a Welsh woman would be filling out an arena? You're still in boxing. No, you'd never thought it. No, it's phenomenal. It's absolutely amazing. And it has been an incredible night. It's been a privilege to be here. And it does feel like the start of something very special for Lauren Price and for Welsh boxing. Finally, but obviously we've talked about that. I've got to talk about next week because you're going to be with Buncie over the next few days. So that's the

the downside. The upside is that you're going to watch what hopefully is going to be a pretty incredible fight next week, obviously, with Usik and Fury. I mean, talk to me first of all about, you know, just how exciting that is for the sport. I mean, people have been asking me about it for weeks who never take any interest in boxing whatsoever. I think Tom Gray, who's with the Ring Magazine, and I'll paraphrase what he wrote, but he pretty much said, I think there's been nine, nine undisputed matches. the heavy division since the 12 round era, which is, I think 1987 was the last 15 round fight. So 12 round since then, so since 1989, there's only been eight or nine, like, unification

matches like this. So that's what important it is. They're very few and far between. And the heavy division is our flag bearer for outside of the sport. It's the, it's the, it's the, it's the premier division. So if that's successful, it triples on all the ways. We all benefit from it. So the fact that it's happening, the best is boxing the best. One and two, this is clearly. And you can tell that, because no one's quite sure how it's going to go, who's going to win. You have your idea, but it's closed the gap.

Are you one of those who's sort of, you know, to and fro? Did you have, I think it's this thing? No, I don't know. Never been sure, or have you been sure for the beginning? I'm less sure than I was, but I'm still sticking with the same guy I picked, and that is Tyson Fury. And it's not just the size.

It's, I'll say this, and I have an elastricht attached. But he's the most adaptable fight that we've had in that division, for such a long time since I remember. I'll say he's the best since anyone, but I just say he's the most adaptable. He can change it round by round, which makes him a nightmare to train, a nightmare to be corner and all those things,

but also makes him brilliant, and also makes him vulnerable in the same measure, which makes him beautiful to watch at times. But I would say, and I'm going to say this for the devil's advocate, his last stellar performance was Wilder 2, which is February 2020, 2020, exactly where it was, I was there.

The third Wilder fight was a better fight to watch, but he wasn't as good in it, that's what made a better fight to watch. The Dillian White fight was Dillian White Pass itself, I believe, so that was an easy match. And Cizora was a fight we've seen twice before, so he didn't have to go in second gear, really. And then in Gano fight, he looked awful.

Does that show a decline? Or just a lack of motivation? I don't know, because he doesn't fight often enough to really give you a real... He is that mentality, though, because when he was training in Arjim, for his first comeback ones, and they, you know,

they weren't fighters who he knew was going to push him. It was a different, totally different, beast to when he's getting ready for wilder. Just as a final different question on this then, because obviously if talked through, you're going to win, do you think it's going to be an exciting fight or do you think there's a risk? It could be a bit of a...

It depends what Fury turns up. So Uzik will do what he always does. He will come at you, he will come at you, you're trying to press on you with the front foot, not like he does a cruiserie because he's not big enough, but he'll be on you, faintly moving, faintly moving, makes you work hard.

And he just, and he tries to win those early rounds, he doesn't panic, just wants to make it a close. fight and then by the halfway stage and all his career has done this if you're tired he just ups the pace a little bit or he maintains that pace when you can

and then he takes over he doesn't he doesn't try and be he's no bells and whistles with music he does what he does what he says on his what he does all the time but he's so effective or at it. Furely's different he's erratic he can come forward and make it brilliant or make it ugly he can dance

and make it ugly in the same measure so it's how he approaches the fight And now Uzik deals with a guy who might do a different approach in every round. That's fairly difficult. So you edge towards the bigger guy always in a heavy division with a good jab.

And Fury has a good job when he uses it well. So unless it's an obvious decline and it's hard to tell because they don't box often enough, you have to go by the best of that person versus the best of this person. I think the very best of Fury at heavy weight beats the very best version of Uzik.

heavyweight. I promise this is my final two questions now. The first one is Ronald McIntosh, our commentator on Five Live, read out a place name before that he said you had told him that was the exact pronunciation. I can't believe he trusted Barry Jones to say something live

on air that you'd said. Was it true? Yesterday's true then. Yeah, is that true then? The far as I'm concerned. Okay, and the last question then. Don't put me at the pressure now. Well, you know, the last one is, talk about pressure. Are you going to have socks on in South? because no socks today is not acceptable, Barry Jones.

I'm working with younger people now. You know what I'm going to go to turkey, have a hair transplant. I'm going to get my knees there, so I'll be 5'9 and I'll be 5'9 foot 9 and I'll brand new teeth post on I get the Saudi. What do you think you're going to like then? I'm trying to envisage that. I don't sure it's a good look. I'm not sure.

Engelbert Humperdinck. As he looks now. Quandro, quandro. Thank you for your time, Barry Jones, who by the next pod is going to look completely different. So a huge thank you to Lauren Price for chatting to us, and of course to her partner, Karis and to Ben Shalom.

It's been a fantastic night. Really, a superstar has been born. Every single person here will remember the night that they saw Lauren Price emphatically beat an experienced world champion. What's to come next? A huge chapter in Welsh boxing is about to be written.

An absolute star. Speaking of stars, Barry Jones has already left. He's gone to look for his socks, but he will be back with you this week alongside Buncey. if you haven't missed at all today, of course, because I've been a much funnier replacement. But anyway, they'll be together trying to live up to my incredible immense sense of humor,

which doesn't even match Padilla, producer, Wimbled an umpire outfit that is turned up tonight in. But anyway, let's hope he gets some fashion help before Saudi. But Bunce and Barry will be back with you from Saudi this week. You've got all the build-up. There's going to be in some incredible content as he build-up to Usik and Fury. I'm Stacey Copeland, and this has been fantastic. Live,

Boxing. This is the story of Don King once the world's biggest boxing promoter, the most powerful man in the billion dollar business. It is also the story about how and why

King killed two men. I'm Lennox Lewis. I'm Steve Bunce. Welcome to Power Play, the House of Don King. The man went from being a convicted killer behind bars to dining with presidents,

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