Lauren Price Survives Gritty Stephanie Piñeiro Test!

By: Rick Rivers

Saturday, April 4th, Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: In the main event of a Benjamin Shalom – Boxxer, “Awaken The Dragon” event, Ystrad Mynach, Wales, 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, Lauren Price successfully defended her WBC, IBF, and WBA Welterweight titles with a blood and guts ten round unanimous decision over Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s, Stephanie “The Medicine” Piñeiro.

The IBO belt was not at stake, from the first bell, Piñeiro’s forward pressure tested Price’s speed and counter-punching. The undefeated Puerto Rican consistently pushed the action, forcing Price into gritty exchanges, while the Olympic gold medalist relied on precise hit-and-move tactics to land crisp combinations. By the middle rounds, both fighters were showing visible damage, including a significant cut on Price’s mouth in round five that sent blood spilling for the remainder of the fight.

Despite the injury, Price’s ring intelligence shone through. She countered effectively, opening Piñeiro’s left eye and maintaining control even under relentless aggression. The championship rounds highlighted Price’s resilience, as she absorbed flurries and responded with calculated counters, nullifying Piñeiro’s urgency and securing a clear 99-91, 98-92 times two points victory.

The fight correctly billed as Price’s sternest professional challenge to date, was a brutal, tactical battle that showcased Price’s heart, chin and ring Apiece demonstrating she can “win ugly” improved to 10-0, 2Ko’s. Piñeiro earning respect for her fearlessness and relentless work rate with her first loss slips to 10-1, 3Ko’s.

Correctly billed as her sternest professional test to date, the fight became a brutal, tactical battle that highlighted Lauren Price’s heart, chin, and ring IQ. Showing she can “win ugly,” Price improved to 10–0, 2Ko’s, while Piñeiro’s, fearless and relentless action throughout, suffering her first defeat, slips to 10–1, 3Ko’s.

In the twelve round semi-main event, Penygraig, Wales, Rhys Edwards and Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Gully Powar battled to a brutal, high-paced still vacant BBBofC British Featherweight Title majority draw.

Edwards started sharply, using his crisp jab and slick footwork to control the opening rounds while keeping Powar at range. The Welshman’s cleaner punching and movement allowed him to dictate the early tempo.

Powar gradually grew into the contest in the middle rounds. Applying constant pressure and increasing his work rate, the Wolverhampton fighter targeted the body and forced Edwards to work harder. Though many shots were caught on Edwards’ guard, the relentless pace began to slow the Welsh boxer’s movement.

The championship rounds turned into a gritty war of attrition. Edwards landed the cleaner, sharper combinations, including hard right hands and left hooks, but Powar refused to yield, marching forward and firing heavy punches of his own.

Both fighters emptied their reserves in the twelfth. Edwards closed with a sharp late flurry, but Powar answered with a thunderous right hand at the bell, bringing the crowd to its feet and sealing a dramatic finish to a closely fought contest.

Edwards’ jab and technical edge contrasted with Powar’s relentless pressure and durability, ultimately producing a result that reflected the 115–113 Edwards, 115–113 Powar, and 114–114 razor-thin margins of a thrilling British title fight. Edwards bumps over to 17-1-1, 4Ko’s as Powar moves to 13-1-1, 1Ko.

In a minor upset, Cookstown, Northern Ireland’s, Teo Alin captured the vacant BBBofC Celtic Super Featherweight Title with a dramatic fifth-round TKO stoppage of Cardiff, Wales, previously unbeaten Kane Shepherd.

The contest was competitive through the opening rounds, with Shepherd using his footwork and boxing skills to control much of the early action. The Welshman appeared to be edging the fight on the scorecards as he circled the ring effectively and landed the cleaner shots, while Alin pressed forward looking for opportunities to land power punches.

The momentum shifted dramatically in round five. Alin landed a devastating right hand that sent Shepherd crashing to the canvas. Although the Welsh fighter managed to beat the count, he was visibly unsteady upon rising. Referee Gray stepped in and waved off the contest at 0:35 of the round, awarding Alin the stoppage victory. Alin with the biggest win of his career, improves to 8-0, 3Ko’s. Shepherd with his first defeat slips to 8-1. 3Ko’s.

In a scheduled, ten round all Wales, one-sided welterweight affair Port Talbot’s, Morgan McIntosh produced a surprising devastating display of power to claim the vacant Welsh Area Welterweight title with a brutal third-round stoppage Aberdare’s, Lewys Parfitt.

From the opening bell, McIntosh established himself as the aggressor, stalking Parfitt around the ring with a menacing, pressure-heavy style. Parfitt, looking to use his jab and movement to keep the dangerous Port Talbot man at bay, seemed hesitant from the outset, perhaps wary of the knockout power McIntosh brought into the contest. That caution proved justified but ultimately futile. In the second round, McIntosh landed a thunderous left hook to the body that sent Parfitt crumpling to the canvas for the first time. The Welshman beat the count, but his legs looked unsteady, and the confidence that usually defines his performances had visibly evaporated.

The end came swiftly in the third round. McIntosh, sensing blood, swarmed Parfitt immediately after the bell, pinning him against the ropes and unleashing a ferocious barrage of hooks and uppercuts. Parfitt, showing immense heart but little defensive answer, absorbed several clean shots to the head before a brutal right cross sent him down for a second time. This time, Parfitt struggled to rise, his face a mask of pain and exhaustion. Although he managed to beat the referee’s count, he was clearly in no condition to continue. Recognizing the danger their fighter was in, Parfitt’s corner made the difficult but correct decision to throw in the towel, handing McIntosh a decisive TKO victory and the Welsh Area Welterweight crown. McIntosh unbeaten since his sole defeat coming by way of a four round points loss in his pro-debut moves to 6-1, 1Ko. Parfitt with his first defeat dips to 5-1, 1Ko.

Other Action

Middleweights: Kyran Jones referee Chris Jones 60-54 W6 Connor Goulding

Super Bantamweights: Yuvraj Karia 39-37 W4 Jake Pollard

Super Featherweights: Jacob Robinson 40-36 W4 Eliecer Quezada

Featherweights: Mikey O'Sullivan 40-36 W4 Jose Manuel Perez    

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