Wales’ Lauren Price successfully defended her WBA welterweight world title by stopping Bexcy Mateus in devastating fashion in Liverpool on Saturday.
The 30-year-old dropped her Colombian opponent three times, all with her left hand, before the referee stopped the bout in the third round.
The fight was broadly a mismatch as Price outclassed her opponent and extended her undefeated record to eight fights in her first defense of her world title.
“Speed comes power, I enjoyed myself there tonight,” Price told Sky Sports.
“I wanted to make a statement, I want big fights next year.
“Thanks to my opponent, I didn’t know much about her but I knew she had a good record. I had a great camp and I’m over the moon.”
Price also holds the Ring Magazine title and will look to unify the division if rival Natasha Jonas can pass her test against Croatia’s Ivana Habazin.
The Welsh boxer was on the undercard of IBF welterweight champion and rival Jonas in Liverpool and she called out her domestic rival after the victory.
“It will be a great British fight. When I became Olympic champion I wanted to be involved in huge fights,” she said.
“It’s a great fight for the British fans and for boxing in general.”
In just her seventh professional fight, Price captured a world title, becoming the first-ever Welsh female world boxing champion.
The victory continues Price’s remarkable sporting career, which includes four senior world kickboxing titles, as well as a host of European gold medals, and representing Wales in football at international level.
Price shows her knockout ability
The Exhibition Center in Liverpool was nicely filled with the main hall and a flat floor plan so that the spectators were all on the same level.
Price’s name was greeted with cheers in the arena as she made her way to the ring, wearing a shiny red fight outfit with gold trim.
In the moments before the fight, she remained cool and locked in, shadowboxing as she waited for the first bell.
The match started with Mateus on the front foot, the Colombian, 29, looking to set the tone and forcing Price to box off her back foot.
Mateus’ corner shouted encouragement for their fighter as she pressed on, but Price started landing some decent blows and then scored a knockdown in the first round when she landed a powerful left hook off a straight right hand.
Mateus beat the count and returned to her corner after being stunned for the end of the round.
Price’s confidence grew as they entered the second, finding success again when she stepped in and dropped Mateus again.
She delivered a devastating straight left hand to the Colombian’s head, who hit the canvas again before getting back to his feet and going one more time to end the round.
Mateus was visibly shaken going into the third when Price brought him up again.
The Olympic gold medalist delivered a series of powerful punches before Mateus turned her back and was pinned by a straight left hand and floored for a third time.
Referee Steve Gray then waved off the match and Mateus’ team threw in the towel moments later when the fight was stopped.
