Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price Predictions: Historic headliner favours Welsh wonder

Natasha Jonas puts her WBC and IBF welterweight titles on the line against WBA queen Lauren Price this Friday, March 7. The palatial surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall in London will host this superfight, which headlines a historic all-female BOXXER card. Sky Sports will broadcast the event live.

Here are my Jonas vs Price predictions ahead of this excellent unification fight.

Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price Odds

Jonas is in the underdog slot for the first time in a good while. The Scouse hero is 7/2 to pull off the upset. Price is 2/9 to claim the biggest victory of her career so far. A draw is available at 16/1.

Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price Fight Preview

The road here has been just long enough to build intrigue to an absolute fever pitch. This collision course was effectively set the second Price annexed the great Jessica McCaskill’s WBA belt by technical decision last May.

Jonas was already the reigning IBF holder at that point, with the idea of a title unification making this already-appetising match-up irresistible. The pair were paired with different opponents on BOXXER’s December card at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool in what effectively amounted to two semi-finals designed to engineer a Jonas-Price fight.

To the immense relief of promoter Ben Shalom, both boxers got their respective jobs done on the winter fight card. Price looked monstrous as she decimated the over-matched Bexcy Mateus, steamrollering her in three rounds.

Jonas had a tougher time, something many were quick to reflect on. I would offer in mitigation that she had a far more accomplished opponent too. Taking nothing away from Price’s mega-performance, but Jonas faced WBC champion Ivana Habazin in the night’s main event. She was made to work very hard on the way to scooping the fifth world championship of her career.

Jonas took a deserved unanimous decision against Habazin, after which she was joined in the ring by Price. The pair had kept a respectful distance in the build-up and emphasised how they were concentrating on their own fights. But the talk turned a little nasty after their bouts had concluded.

This was not the manufactured WWE drama of a Jake Paul fight promotion of course. The women did not say anything you couldn’t repeat to your mother. But the barbs were sharp, with Jonas questioning Price’s resume and the Welsh wonder replying with jibes about Jonas’ age.

The post-fight press conference was revealing. Price spoke of a fight with ‘Miss GB’ like it was a goal. The 30-year-old clearly considers this bout a career milestone and the result of many years of hard work.

Jonas’ tone was different. She stated that there are other fights that she would rather have had. She invoked names like former foes Katie Taylor and Mikaela Mayer. The Liverpudlian seems to consider Price a troublesome obligation rather than a cherished opportunity.

With Jonas having retired in the past before returning, and openly toying with the idea again at the age of 40, you wonder if her heart is in this one. It is a tremendous heart that has carried her to historic highs, but you do sense Jonas would have rather righted a wrong against former conqueror Taylor, or repeated the trick against Mayer, than engaged Price.

In a close fight, and this battle of the Olympians will be close, you do wonder if Price’s desire could edge it. Jonas has fought the biggest names in the game and, by extension, is one of those names now. Price is on the cusp of that level, with a Jonas victory the missing ingredient to tip her over the edge. 

One woman is perhaps viewing this fight as more of the same, while the other sees it as her ultimate goal. Price is an Olympic gold medalist, as well as a former international footballer for Wales. She is used to achieving her goals. 

But Jonas is the most consummate of professionals. I do not think she will look past this fight at all. However, I don’t think the desire burns as deep as it does within Price. At this rarefied level, those sort of emotional concerns can make all the difference.

Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price Full Card

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Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price Prediction

I have to go with Price here. Jonas is going to go down as a British great. Along with her trailblazing moment as the first female Team GB boxer to fight at the Olympics, she has fought the best and won a bevy of world titles.

But time waits for no fighter. Price described herself as “too young, too quick and too good” when confronting Jonas. I think she is all three at this stage of their respective careers.

I think it will be a valiant effort from Jonas and a phenomenal fight. But I can only see Price’s hand getting raised at the end. By the end, I mean the final bell after 10 rounds of action as I see this one going the distance. My pick is Price on points at 4/9.

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