Natasha Jonas vs. Lauren Price: A Welterweight War for the Ages in London
On March 7, 2025, London’s Royal Albert Hall bore witness to a historic clash in women’s boxing as Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price battled for supremacy in the welterweight division. The stakes couldn’t have been higher: Jonas’ WBC and IBF titles and Price’s WBA belt were all on the line in a unification bout that promised fireworks and delivered a masterclass in skill, heart, and drama. When the dust settled after 10 grueling rounds, it was Lauren Price who emerged victorious by unanimous decision, cementing her status as a rising star and handing Jonas a rare defeat in a fight that will be remembered as one of 2025’s early highlights.
Natasha Jonas, a 40-year-old Liverpool native, entered the ring with a record of 15-3-1 (9 KOs) and a reputation as one of Britain’s most accomplished female fighters. A former Olympian and a trailblazer in the sport, Jonas had claimed the WBC and IBF welterweight titles with a blend of technical brilliance and veteran savvy. Her journey to this point included memorable wins over the likes of Katie Taylor (in amateur ranks) and a draw against Terri Harper, but this fight against Price was billed as her toughest test yet—a chance to unify the division and further her legacy.
Lauren Price, at 30, represented the new guard. With an unblemished professional record of 7-0 (1 KO) and a gold medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Welsh southpaw had stormed through the pro ranks since turning over in 2022. Her WBA welterweight title, won in a dominant performance against Jessica McCaskill in May 2024, marked her as a force to be reckoned with. Known for her slick footwork, pinpoint accuracy, and relentless pace, Price saw Jonas as the ultimate benchmark—a chance to dethrone a legend and claim her place atop the division.
The pre-fight narrative was electric. Jonas, the seasoned champion, spoke of proving age was just a number, while Price vowed to showcase the future of women’s boxing. Broadcast live on BBC Sport and Sky Sports, the bout drew a packed house and a global audience, with fans eager to see if experience or youth would prevail.
From the opening bell, the contrast in styles was stark. Jonas, fighting out of an orthodox stance, relied on her jab and ring generalship to control the range, looking to set up her vaunted left hand. Price, a southpaw, danced around the ring with fluid movement, peppering Jonas with quick combinations and using angles to frustrate the champion’s rhythm. The first round was a feeling-out process, with Price edging it on activity, landing 12 of 34 punches to Jonas’ 8 of 22, per CompuBox stats.
Rounds two and three saw Jonas find her footing. She began timing Price’s entries, landing a crisp right hook in the second that snapped the challenger’s head back and a thudding left to the body in the third that drew a wince. Price, undeterred, stuck to her game plan, circling and firing three-punch flurries that kept Jonas from settling into a groove. The crowd roared as the exchanges heated up, sensing the fight’s potential to explode.
The middle rounds turned into a war of attrition. In the fifth, Price landed a beautiful counter left that staggered Jonas momentarily, but the veteran responded with a flurry of her own, pinning Price against the ropes. The sixth was a back-and-forth affair, with both women trading body shots in close quarters—Jonas targeting the midsection, Price answering with uppercuts. By the seventh, fatigue crept in, but neither fighter backed down. Price’s speed gave her a slight edge, landing 18 power shots to Jonas’ 14 across rounds five through seven.
The championship rounds were where Price pulled away. In the eighth, she caught Jonas with a straight left that opened a small cut under the champion’s right eye, a moment that shifted momentum. Jonas, blood trickling, fought back valiantly in the ninth, landing a looping overhand left that rocked Price—the closest either came to a knockdown. But Price’s conditioning shone in the 10th, as she outworked Jonas with a 22-9 punch advantage, sealing the deal with a late flurry that had the Royal Albert Hall on its feet.
The judges’ scorecards told the story: 97-93, 96-94, and 96-94, all for Lauren Price, a unanimous decision that crowned her the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight champion. CompuBox stats underscored her dominance—she landed 142 of 412 total punches (34%) to Jonas’ 108 of 356 (30%), with a significant edge in jabs (78-52). The decision was met with applause, though some Jonas fans argued her power shots deserved more credit.
Post-fight, Jonas was gracious in defeat. “Lauren was the better woman tonight. I gave it everything, but she’s the future, and I’m proud to have shared the ring with her,” she said, hinting that retirement might be near but leaving the door open for one more run. Price, elated, paid respect: “Natasha’s a legend. This is the hardest fight I’ve had, and it’s an honor to take these belts.”
For Price, now 8-0, the win catapults her into superstardom. Talks of a blockbuster clash with undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor or a stateside showdown with Mikaela Mayer surfaced immediately. At 30, her blend of Olympic pedigree and professional polish positions her as a potential pound-for-pound queen.
Jonas, now 15-4-1, faces a crossroads. At 40, she’s achieved more than most, but the sting of losing her titles might fuel a comeback. A rematch with Price isn’t off the table, given the fight’s competitiveness and the demand for women’s boxing at its peak.
Jonas vs. Price wasn’t just a fight—it was a statement. Women’s boxing, often overshadowed, took center stage in London, delivering a contest that blended technical mastery with raw emotion. For those in attendance and watching worldwide, it was a reminder of the sport’s power to captivate, regardless of gender. As 2025 unfolds, this early March gem sets a high bar, proving that the welterweight division—and women’s boxing as a whole—is in thrilling hands.
