Lauren Price made history at the Cardiff International Centre, as she became Wales’ first female world champion, dazzling against Jessica McCaskill to become WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine welterweight champion, with a badly swollen eye ruling McCaskill out before the start of the ninth round.
Price, a 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist, had made swift progress as a pro, becoming the first ever female British champion, while McCaskill had previously reigned as undisputed champion, but was fresh off a contentious draw with Sandy Ryan in her most recent outing.
Price (7-0, 1 KO) made a bright start, landing with well-timed shots in the opener, and the pair opened up at the end of the second, with McCaskill (12-4-1, 5 KOs) on the end of a stiff Price right hand.
It was a frantic start, with Price getting the better of the action, and the Champion’s eye was swelling as the fight reached halfway.
The American was struggling to impose herself, and Price made further headway in round seven, connecting with punches that McCaskill was having difficulty seeing and reacting to.
The doctor as forced to look at the eye of McCaskill between rounds, and she was ok to continue, but Price continued to dominate, and after a strong eighth round, the doctor was again called to look at McCaskill, and the fight was waved off.
“What Katie Taylor has done for Ireland, I want to do the same for Wales.” 🏴
Wales has a new superstar in Lauren Price 🌟 pic.twitter.com/JPiI0w15KE
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 11, 2024
Fury gets the stoppage:
On the undercard, Hughie Fury (28-3, 16 KOs) had his second fight in under a month, and the heavyweight stopped Patrick Korte (21-4-1, 18 KOs) in two rounds. Korte ate a bunch of heavy right hands in the second frame, and the referee wisely removed him from battle.
Hughie Fury rocks and stops Patrick Korte! 💥#McCaskillPrice pic.twitter.com/gAiwCQrWu9
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 11, 2024
Edwards continues progression:
Rhys Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) took the vacant WBA Intercontinental featherweight title as he took a career best win in a points success over Thomas Patrick Ward (34-2-1, 5 KOs) Two scores of 98-92, and a third at 99-91 secured the win for the home fighter.
Jeffers scores highlight reel KO:
At super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KOs) scored a rare knockout win, as he poleaxed Darren Johnstone (8-1, 2 KOs) in the fifth round of their ten rounder. A huge right hand did the damage.
OH MY! That was pure destruction from Mark Jeffers! 😳🚫 pic.twitter.com/XqzmIQM2Q5
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 11, 2024
Edmonson schools McIntyre:
The show opener was at light heavyweight, and Lewis Edmondson (9-0, 3 KOs) stayed unblemished, taking all eight rounds against Joel McIntyre (20-9, 5 KOs).
Undercard recap:
Cardiff super featherweight Kane Shepherd (5-0, 2 KOs) impressed, dropping Ishmael Ellis (14-9, 0 KOs) in the second of their scheduled six rounder, before Ellis retired at the end of three rounds.
Kyran Jones (10-0, 1 KOs) dropped Lewis Howells (3-1, 0 KOs) in the first round of their super middleweight bout, but had to settle for a 59-54 win on points over six.
Swansea-based Heavyweight hope Moses Jolly (9-0, 6 KOs) went the full six rounds with Amine Boucetta (8-13, 0 KOs), taking a 60-54 win.
