Wales’ unified world champion Lauren Price says she has turned down a return to the Royal Albert Hall to defend her welterweight titles in Wales.
Price, 31, has not fought since adding the WBC and IBF belts to her WBA crown last March, with a dominant points win over Natasha Jonas at the London venue.
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The former Olympic champion from Bargoed says she will finally make her next defence in the Welsh capital in the spring.
“I am coming back to Cardiff and fighting on 4 April at the [Utilita Arena],” Price told an audience at Rodney Parade in Newport.
“It’s a massive fight and I am excited after being out of the ring through no fault of my own, just because of the politics of boxing that I had to deal with.”
Price had said in the aftermath of her victory against Jonas that she expected to become an undisputed champion by the end of the year.
She was in attendance in Las Vegas as Mikaela Mayer outpointed Briton Sandy Ryan for the second time to defend the American’s WBO welterweight title.
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However, despite hopes that the Boxxer-promoted fighter would be back in the ring by August it now appears she will face a gap of 13 months between fights.
“I am back sparring and have had a great week of training. I am ready to crack on and put on a good show for my fans,” said Price, who is unbeaten in nine fights since turning professional.
“It’s all been signed off and I can finally move on with concentrating on training, leaving no stone unturned so that I am ready for 4 April.”
There has been no official announcement for a show at the 7,500-capacity Utilita Arena, but the British Boxing Board of Control have posted notice of a bout between Welshman Rhys Edwards and Birmingham’s Gulraj Powar for their vacant featherweight title in Cardiff on Saturday, 4 April.
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The fight will be promoted by Ben Shalom, the founder and CEO of Boxxer.
Price, who also won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and played international football for Wales, has always said being Welsh is a key part of her success.
“I want the big fights, I want momentum and I love fighting in Wales,” she added.
“In talks I got offered Albert Hall again, it’s a fantastic venue, but I want to fight in Wales with Welsh up and coming talent on the card.
“The dream is to sell out stadiums and follow the likes of Joe Calzaghe, and that starts by boxing at home.”