Is Lauren Price In Over Her Head Against Jessica McCaskill?
May 11 represents the biggest night in the professional life of Welsh welterweight Lauren Price (6-0, 1 KO) as she will challenge reigning WBA welterweight champion Jessica “CasKILLA” McCaskill (12-3-1, 5 KOs) on May 11. But is this fight a case of too much and too soon for the challenger?
Price will have the home area advantage. The fight occurs on her home turf at the Cardiff International Arena in Wales. At the introductory press conference, the challenger was the face of calm and relaxation. When asked what she must do to defeat the champion, Price said the following to members of the boxing press:
“Jessica, she likes a dogfight . . . She’s tough, she strong . . . I believe that I’m the better boxer. Use my speed, use my skill. Take it round by round and win the rounds.”
But CasKILLA represents a significant step up in competition. Most pundits have ranked McCaskill the top fighter in her division since her upset win over Cecilia Braekus in August 2020.
SKILL AND TALENT VERSUS TOUGHNESS AND WILL
The former undisputed champion offers a physical brand of boxing that Price has never faced as a pro. If experience counts for anything, the defending champion has the advantage in that department.
However, the Welshwoman is not your ordinary world title challenger. A Gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she’s received rave reviews from several pundits in the UK boxing scene. The 29-year-old is fast and athletic. In truth, she has more natural talent and skills than the champion.
McCaskill has been out of the ring since a split-decision draw against the reigning WBO champion Sandy Ryan in September 2023. She didn’t look good in that outing and believes she will perform better against Price. The WBA champion knows her best chance to win against Price is by forcing the pace. She’s going to be in her face from the opening bell.
Can Price withstand the pressure, or will facing the relentless will of the champion cause her to fold? If Price handles the moment of being in her first world title fight on home soil, she has the tools to box circles around CasKILLA and become the first woman from Wales to win a world title.
