BOXXER announced today that unified welterweight champion Lauren Price will defend her titles against Czech challenger Michaela Kotaskova in the main event of a November 20th BBC Two show in Cardiff.
Wales’ Price (10-0, 2 KO) took gold at Tokyo 2020 and boasts significant professional victories over Jessica McCaskill and Natasha Jonas, but major fights have eluded her of late. Attempts at booking an undisputed showdown with Mikaela Mayer fell through, as have long-running attempts to pit her against
Claressa Shields.
Hence, the Czech Republic’s Kotaskova (12-1-2, 4 KO). The 34-year-old has spent her career bouncing around Europe, only rarely intersecting with competent opposition; her biggest win came over 48-year-old former titlist Mikaela Lauren in 2024 and her clash with Chantelle Cameron this past April saw her snag a grand total of two cumulative rounds on three scorecards.
Lauren Price said: “There’s nothing better than fighting at home in Wales. The atmosphere in Cardiff is always incredible and I can’t wait to walk out in front of my home fans again.
“I’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this position and I’m not giving anything up. Kotaskova is a tough, experienced opponent who has competed at world level, but I believe I’m the best welterweight on the planet and on November 20 I’m going to show it. I want to put on a big performance and give everyone in Wales another night to remember.”
Michaela Kotaskova said: “I have a lot of respect for Lauren and everything she has achieved, but I am coming to Cardiff to take her titles.
In more interesting action, Rhys Edwards (17-1-1, 4 KO) takes on Lee McGregor (16-3-1, 11 KO) down at featherweight. Edwards came perilously close to beating Peter McGrail on short notice two years back, comfortably beat spoiler Thomas Essomba, then drew with Gully Powar in an April bid for the British title. McGregor, meanwhile, appears to have hit his ceiling after rough losses to Nathaniel Collins and Michael Gomez Jr.
