BoxRec

Press Release

2020 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price will face Silvia Bortot on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO world cruiserweight Title defense against Mateusz Masternak on Sunday, December 10th live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Price (5-0, 1 KO) is on a fast-track to world title success following a glittering amateur career. Having made history earlier this year by becoming the first female to win a British title, ‘The Lucky One’, will be aiming to end 2023 with a statement win against Bortot (11-3-1, 3 KOs).

The Italian is a former EBU European Super lightweight champion who went the distance with former unified world champion Mikaela Mayer in Manchester in September, the same night Price secured her fifth pro-victory against Lolita Muzeya.

Price knows a victory can put her in the mix for big fights at welterweight including a showdown with the winner of the upcoming IBF World Title contest between BOXXER stablemate Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer.

“I’m looking forward to December 10th and continuing my progression by finishing the year with a good win to take me into 2024,” said Price. “Bortot is a good opponent, she’s game and tough like them all but I believe I’m the bigger, stronger and better boxer. She boxed Mayer in her last fight and gave her a good ten rounds so she will be a good step up. There are some great female fights coming up and I believe next year I will be involved in the big fights.”

“Lauren is an exceptional talent and one of the future stars of this sport,” said BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom. “She is already closing in on World Titles and in just her sixth fight is taking another step up on December 10th. 2024 can be a massive year for her but first she must overcome a tough test against Silvia Bortot.”

Price joins fellow Olympic medallist Ben Whittaker (4-0, 3 KOs) in action in Bournemouth. Whittaker has got off to a blistering start to his career since turning professional in the wake of his 2020 silver medal glory, wowing crowds around the country with his flamboyant and unorthodox style. The 26-year-old is returning to the south coast, where he made his professional debut, and is looking to end the year on a high with another memorable performance.

Whittaker has all the talent in the world but I'm not sure I'd agree with the press release calling his pro career start blistering, 4 fights in 16 months is not what you want in your first year and a half. I appreciate he's had injuries but perhaps less faffing about in the ring might help mitigate those.

I am aware I sound 92.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 17:45 Whittaker has all the talent in the world but I'm not sure I'd agree with the press release calling his pro career start blistering, 4 fights in 16 months is not what you want in your first year and a half. I appreciate he's had injuries but perhaps less faffing about in the ring might help mitigate those.

I am aware I sound 92.

Yes an I don’t think I would agree with this quite either “Lauren is an exceptional talent and one of the future stars of this sport,”

it's a press release, filled with ridiculous hype of course

Masternak wins this comfortably IMO.

Redback Rasta wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 20:05 Masternak wins this comfortably IMO.

Interesting. Why? He’s 3-1 I think

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 20:11

Redback Rasta wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 20:05 Masternak wins this comfortably IMO.

Interesting. Why? He’s 3-1 I think

I like Billam-Smith but I don't rate him highly. Good odds there for a small wager IMO.

masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 21:08 masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑22 Nov 2023, 09:55

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 21:08 masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

Since when was smith top 10?

Price and Whittaker on the card will add at least one ticket sale

tony1234 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 10:17 Price and Whittaker on the card will add at least one ticket sale

From the person who misunderstood and thought he was buying a ticket to see Forrest Whittaker?

jameswilson wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 11:31

tony1234 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 10:17 Price and Whittaker on the card will add at least one ticket sale

From the person who misunderstood and thought he was buying a ticket to see Forrest Whittaker?

I think Forrest would beat the Tyson who boxed Ngannou

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 08:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑22 Nov 2023, 09:55

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 21:08 masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

Since when was smith top 10?

Since he beat a load of top 25ish guys, won CW, Euro and then WT vs Okolie obviously.
Clearly not elite, but he's in everybody's Cruiser Top 10 right now.

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 08:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑22 Nov 2023, 09:55

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 21:08 masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

Since when was smith top 10?

With all due respect.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 20:02 it's a press release, filled with ridiculous hype of course

of course, and often amusing too

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 08:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑22 Nov 2023, 09:55

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 21:08 masternak is one of those guys who is always competitive but cant seem to kick it up a gear to get it done vs top 10 opponents, i imagine it will be the same story

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

Since when was smith top 10?

at minimum since he beat okolie, but prob even before that he was in the lower half of the top 10 on accumulated solid wins

boxrec #3
transnational boxing rankings #2
ring magazine #6
espn #4

get with the times my man. if anything we could be calling him a top 5

masternak is one of these good euro/low world level fighters who holds his own but doesnt get it done in these types of fights. he then wins a bunch of fights at a lower level vs okay but not great opposition, gets brought in again for another respectable loss, rinse and repeat.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 17:14

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 08:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑22 Nov 2023, 09:55

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. What are his good wins?

Since when was smith top 10?

at minimum since he beat okolie, but prob even before that he was in the lower half of the top 10 on accumulated solid wins

boxrec #3
transnational boxing rankings #2
ring magazine #6
espn #4

get with the times my man. if anything we could be calling him a top 5

masternak is one of these good euro/low world level fighters who holds his own but doesnt get it done in these types of fights. he then wins a bunch of fights at a lower level vs okay but not great opposition, gets brought in again for another respectable loss, rinse and repeat.

I agree with this, I think Billam will unify despite humble origins as a boxer. I think he has studied and learned while more talented fighters chat and don't deliver. I think he'll beat Riakpohre in any rematch too. I'd hope he does if only to stop Richard replaying his "I got stabbed once please love me" mantra.

Brieidis
Opetaia
Mikaeljan
Gassiev
Dorticos
Jack
Off the top of my head and a good few heavies that only went up chasing the big bucks.
I'm not going to argue the toss about whether he is good enough to be WBO champ or not, but when we hear most of this forum saying that Fury can't fight, we do need some perspective.

gassiev is at hw now and you only listed 5 other cruisers

i would rate cbs above jack and mihalkin. i mean jack only had 2 fights at cruiser and very arguably lost one of them to an unknown. dort hasnt had a meaningful win in 4.5 years and is arguable too.

not sure what fury has to do with this

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 19:09 gassiev is at hw now and you only listed 5 other cruisers

i would rate cbs above jack and mihalkin. i mean jack only had 2 fights at cruiser and very arguably lost one of them to an unknown. dort hasnt had a meaningful win in 4.5 years and is arguable too.

not sure what fury has to do with this

How many people have Fury in the top 10?

And it demonstrates how weak the cruisers are that Smith is in the top 10, I guess the world operators have moved up

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 20:02

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 19:09 gassiev is at hw now and you only listed 5 other cruisers

i would rate cbs above jack and mihalkin. i mean jack only had 2 fights at cruiser and very arguably lost one of them to an unknown. dort hasnt had a meaningful win in 4.5 years and is arguable too.

not sure what fury has to do with this

How many people have Fury in the top 10?

And it demonstrates how weak the cruisers are that Smith is in the top 10, I guess the world operators have moved up

most? not sure what you're at with fury

most rankings also have cbs top 5-6. he'll beat masternak here. master vs michal cieslak would be a cool all polish fight btw

Press Release | Undercard

The stage is set for another night of boxing in Bournemouth as local hero Chris Billam-Smith makes a return to defend his WBO world cruiserweight title against Mateusz Masternak on Sunday, December 10th live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Billam-Smith captured the WBO crown in May with a fairytale victory over countryman Lawrence Okolie in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Vitality Stadium, home of his beloved A.F.C. Bournemouth.

‘The Gentleman’ will make the first defence of his title at the Bournemouth International Centre against Polish powerhouse Masternak, who returns to the UK for the first time since his 2015 European championship scrap with Tony Bellew.

And fans have even more to look forward to with the full undercard revealed for the sold-out, south coast show.

As previously confirmed, 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist Lauren Price will face former European Champion Silvia Bortot. Having made history earlier this year by becoming the first female to win a British title, Price (5-0, 1 KO) will be aiming to end 2023 with a statement win against Italy’s Bortot (11-3-1, 3 KOs), who previously went the distance with former unified world champion Mikael Mayer.

Fellow 2020 Olympic Medallist Ben Whittaker has an opponent set for his hugely-anticipated return to the ring. Future boxing superstar Whittaker (4-0, 3 KOs), who has been wowing crowds around the country with his flamboyant and unorthodox style, returns to the scene of his spectacular pro debut to take on Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-2-1, 3 KOs).

Having impressed on previous visits to Bournemouth, Michael McKinson (25-1, 4 KOs) will make the short trip from Portsmouth to take his place on the undercard. The 29-year-old southpaw stopped Lebin Morales last time out at Vitality Stadium and will be hoping a similar victory can set him up for a title run in 2024.

Following his victory over Stanley Stannard in an official eliminator bout during BOXXER’s visit to Bournemouth in May, Lee Cutler (13-1, 7 KOs) will face Obi Egbunike (8-2-1, 1 KO) for the vacant English super welterweight title in a potential show-stealing 50-50 clash.

Southampton light heavyweight Lewis Edmondson (7-0, 3 KOs) joins the bill as he looks to extend his unbeaten record against Dmytro Fedas (8-4-2, 5 KOs). ‘The Saint’ claimed his seventh pro win with a technical decision victory over Petar Nosic on the undercard of Billam-Smith’s world championship winning fight in May.

And fresh from her impressive debut, 18-year-old bantamweight Francesca Hennessy (1-0, 1 KO), the daughter of renowned boxing manager and promoter Mick Hennessy, can continue the perfect start to her professional career when she gets back under the bright lights in Bournemouth.

BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom said: “The Bournemouth International Centre is going to be rocking on December 10th as we end the year with another spectacular sold-out show on the south coast. We have Olympic medallists, local stars, and some of British boxing’s hottest young talents in action. This show is a real Christmas cracker and one you do not want to miss!”

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 19:58

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑21 Nov 2023, 17:45 Whittaker has all the talent in the world but I'm not sure I'd agree with the press release calling his pro career start blistering, 4 fights in 16 months is not what you want in your first year and a half. I appreciate he's had injuries but perhaps less faffing about in the ring might help mitigate those.

I am aware I sound 92.

Yes an I don’t think I would agree with this quite either “Lauren is an exceptional talent and one of the future stars of this sport,”

Didn't she win an Olympic gold medal?

Coco wrote: ↑23 Nov 2023, 18:11 Brieidis
Opetaia
Mikaeljan
Gassiev
Dorticos
Jack
Off the top of my head and a good few heavies that only went up chasing the big bucks.
I'm not going to argue the toss about whether he is good enough to be WBO champ or not, but when we hear most of this forum saying that Fury can't fight, we do need some perspective.

You do know Billam-Smith beat Okolie, don't you?