Lauren Price was crowned world amateur champion in dramatic circumstances at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia, after the judges’ overturned the result of her final against Nouchka Fontijn of Holland. The Dutch boxer had initially been awarded a 3-2 victory, but it was overturned on appeal.
It equals the achievements of Nicola Adams and Savannah Marshall, who won the world crown in 2016 and 2012 respectively.
Price’s gold was the highlight of a great week for Great Britain’s women which saw them win three medals as Karris Artingstall and Demie-Jade Resztan claimed bronze at featherweight (57kg) and light-flyweight (48kg).
Price, 24, said: “It all feels like a bit of a dream at the minute. I have dreamt of being world champion for most of my life, so to finally achieve it feels unreal.
“It was a close fight and I did think I had won it with my work in the second and third rounds so once it went to review I thought there was a good chance it would go in my favour.
“It is definitely the high point of my career. I have got Commonwealth gold, European Games gold and World Championship gold, so I just need to make sure I get the big one next year to complete the set.
“We have such a great team at GB Boxing and I just want to thank them all for all they have done for me. The coaches and all the staff out here have been amazing. They really believed in me today, so I just want to thank them for everything.”
The medal haul equalled the previous best performance by women from the GB Boxing squad at a World Championship, which came in China in 2012 when Savannah Marshall, Nicola Adams and Natasha Jonas won gold, silver and bronze.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken said: “Lauren has been absolutely fantastic for the last two years and thoroughly deserves to be world champion. She has been getting better and better and winning the world championship is a fantastic reward for all of the hard work she has put in in the gym. The squad is going in the right direction and the outlook is positive as we look towards the Olympic Games in less than a year.”