UNIFIED welterweight champion Lauren Price is not short of options, with both Mikaela Mayer and Claressa Shields representing possible opponents.
At this stage, though, a clash with WBO titlist Mayer, 21-2 (5 KOs), appears far more likely after the American expressed her interest in becoming the undisputed queen at 147lbs.
The 34-year-old produced a clinical display to outpoint Sandy Ryan last Saturday, successfully retaining her strap with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory.
A more assertive performance saw Mayer improve on her majority decision win of last September, before calling out Price, 9-0 (2 KOs), immediately after getting her hand raised.
WBC, WBA and IBF champion Price, meanwhile, comes off an even more dominant points victory over Natasha Jonas.
The pair squared off last month at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, where Price ultimately added two more belts to her collection.
Before that, the Olympic gold medallist became a world champion in just her seventh professional outing, toppling seasoned operator Jessica McCaskill in Cardiff, Wales.
That night, in particular, left a lasting impact on the 30-year-old, whose growing fanbase in Wales is eagerly awaiting the announcement of an undisputed fight with Mayer.
“The media attention it’s already [received] has been pretty crazy,” Price told Boxing News. “Walking into Tesco yesterday, I had people saying to me, ‘when’s the fight happening? I can’t wait to buy my ticket.”
“Like any fighter, I’d love to fight at home. When I fought against McCaskill, that early on in my career, I was one of the biggest ticket sellers.
“And then, fighting at the Royal Albert Hall, I sold 1,500 tickets. People have travelled to see me fight but, if I box in Wales, I could potentially sell out a stadium; it could be massive.”
Mayer, however, has insisted that their potential dustup must take place on neutral territory, with last year’s contentious split decision defeat to Jonas – who secured a home advantage in Liverpool – still weighing firmly on her mind.
With both fighters having previously shared the ring with Jonas, too, conclusions, based largely on their respective performances, will inevitably be made.
But regardless of the vastly different outcomes in those two fights, Price believes that it is only a matter of time before she garners all the marbles in her division.
“It’s obviously a fight that I believe I win, but it’s a great fight as well,” she added.
“I had Mayer beating Jonas if I’m honest, but it was close. When I boxed Jonas, I felt I could have won every single round.
“I don’t look at it so much that she’s fought Jonas, I’ve fought Jonas and this is how it went, but in regards to our attributes, I just think that I’m better.”
In a more surprising development last week, three-division undisputed champion Shields, 16-0 (3 KOs), claimed that she would be keen to face Price at 154lbs.
And while the ‘GWOAT’ has only recently made the leap up to heavyweight, it is a rivalry that Price could see brewing further down the line.
“I’d love to share the ring with Shields,” she said. “Obviously I want to become undisputed [at welterweight] but, if Shields comes down to a certain weight, there’s definitely a potential two or three fights for us.
“We’re both Olympic champions, and I think it’s a great fight. I believe that I would come out on top.”
