Lauren Price has categorically denied any rumors of mishaps during sparring in preparation for Friday’s welterweight world title unification with Natasha Jonas, live on Sky Sports.
Rumors, fuelled by Jonas’ trainer Joe Gallagher, suggested that Price, an Olympic gold medallist, had been knocked down in sparring as she trained for Jonas.
“I never said knocked out,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “I was informed that she was dropped in sparring with a body shot.
“I’m just pointing out that everyone is trying to create this image of a superwoman who hasn’t lost a second, hasn’t lost a round, hasn’t experienced any setbacks. I just have to say, hold on everyone. Wait a minute.
“She has had eight professional fights, she’s done very well, she’s excellent in football and kickboxing, and she’s good at boxing. But she’s not unbeatable.”
Price vehemently refuted any claims of being dropped in sparring. “By who?” she questioned. “He’s fabricating it. Honestly, he is. If you get dropped in sparring, you get dropped, it doesn’t matter – sparring is sparring. But I haven’t, ever.”
Gallagher also claimed: “I observed an amateur fight of hers where she was dropped in the first round by a body shot and then took a standing count from a head shot. Then I heard that she was dropped in sparring in Sheffield.
“I’m not trying to portray Natasha as invincible. Natasha has been knocked out in front of everyone on Sky. But for you to try to depict yourself as this untouchable, unbelievable [fighter], everyone needs to, as Roy Keane says, calm down, relax.
“Natasha is a more well-rounded fighter. The more complete fighter. She can fight on the inside, she can fight on the backfoot. She can fight at range. Lauren has not demonstrated any of that yet.
“We’ll see Friday night whether you lose a round or lose this or lose that.”
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Lauren Price is in a buoyant mood ahead of her unified welterweight title fight with Natasha Jonas on Friday
Regarding her count in an amateur bout, Price told Sky Sports: “I don’t know what he’s talking about. It’s the same as when I boxed Jonas. [Becky Price, not Lauren Price boxed Jonas in the World Championships.] None of it is true.
“It’s all irrelevant. It’s laughable really.”
If it was a tactic to unsettle Price’s renowned composure, which helped her win Olympic gold and every other major amateur championship, as well as the WBA welterweight world title, she stated: “I am very composed.”
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Natasha Jonas’ trainer Joe Gallagher is adamant his fighter will defeat Lauren Price at the Royal Albert Hall
Jonas did not address the sparring stories but warned: “Anyone at any weight in any division is vulnerable if you hit the right spot at the right time, anyone can fall. That includes me. It has happened to me. I just believe there are numerous vulnerabilities [in Price]. Talk to me after the fight and I’ll inform you of what we focused on and whether I executed it or not.
“I’m getting ready for the best version of Lauren that I anticipate. I’ll be neutralizing all her strengths and asserting my advantages.”
Watch Natasha Jonas fight Lauren Price at the Royal Albert Hall live on Sky Sports on Friday March 7.
