Lauren To Miss Euros To Focus On World Medal Glory Bid

Lauren Price will miss the EUBC Women’s European Boxing Championships in Madrid to focus on the World Championships.

GB Boxing chiefs have decided not to consider the middleweight for selection given her recent busy schedule including winning European Games crown in Belarus.

Commonwealth Games champ Price is ranked three in the world and will be a strong medal contender at the worlds in Russia in October.

Fellow Welsh boxer and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rosie Eccles is in the GB team for the Europeans in Madrid from 22 August to 1 September.

GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken said: “Lauren has been very active in 2019 and only recently returned to full training following a short break after boxing three times on the way to winning gold at the European Games in June.

“The coaches and I discussed the schedule for the remainder of the year with her and we all agreed that the best approach is for Lauren to miss this competition and have a longer training camp that will enable her to focus her preparations on the World Championships in October.

Lauren Price (left) and Rosie Eccles who will make trip to Madrid

“Our female boxers face a very busy schedule at the end of this year which will be a good opportunity for the coaching staff to assess where they are, in terms of their development, ahead of the Olympic qualifiers next year.

“Whilst we do have three Commonwealth medallists in the team, this is a relatively inexperienced group in terms of major tournaments, so it is a chance for one of the boxers to show that they have the ability to be successful at this level and put themselves in contention to be selected for the forthcoming World Championships and the Olympic qualifiers in 2020.”

Price, who has just returned to full training after a short break following her victory in Minsk, will remain at GB boxing’s training camp in Sheffield to focus on the worlds.