Boxing
Ben Shalom reveals why talks over undisputed fight involving British star collapsed
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A disagreement over location scuppered plans for an undisputed bout between WBA, IBF, and WBC welterweight champion Lauren Price and WBO title holder Mikaela Mayer, according to BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom.
Shortly after Price defeated fellow Brit Natasha Jonas at the Royal Albert Hall to add the WBC and IBF belts at 147lbs to her collection in March, the Welsh star made it clear she would look to complete the set by defeating the winner of the rematch between Mayer and Sandy Ryan.
Later that month Mayer came through unscathed and expressed that interest in a fight with Price was mutual. However, talks never properly developed, with Mayer now moving up to 154lbs in an attempt to take the WBA super welterweight title off Mary Spncer next month.
Price’s promoter Shalom claimed the major hold up was a dispute over which side of the Atlantic the fight should be staged.
He told The Ring: "We're planning a big fight for her [Price] now, we wanted Mikaela but the terms and money has to be right. Everything needs to align and it felt like she didn't want to come back to the UK - the money for this fight is in Cardiff - I don't think it does the same anywhere else. If we can [make it], it involves Mikaela coming here and for the moment, she's not willing to."
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A former international footballer for Wales, Price has become a star in her home country, building on her Olympic gold at the 2021 Tokyo Games to become a world champion after just seven professional fights.
As such, Shalom and BOXXER feel that the fight will be most profitable in the Welsh capital. Price defeated former undisputed champion Jessica McCaskill at the Cardiff International Arena to win her first world titles in 2024, and harbours ambitions of fighting in the city’s football and rugby stadium.
The Cardiff City Stadium is home to Cardiff City and the Welsh national football team, with Price representing both in her previous career. The biggest dream for Price is fighting at the Millennium Stadium, the national home of Welsh rugby that hosts 78,000 for boxing.
However, fight plans have been halted by an injury according to Shalom.
He revealed: "We've been speaking to her, she had a little injury which kept her out longer than expected but will be back in November."
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