Wolverhampton’s Kirstie Bavington is set to make history when she takes on the unbeaten Lauren Price in the first ever Female British title fight. The fight has been announced to be on the undercard of the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien contest on the 6th May at the Genting Arena Birmingham. The fight will be aired live on Sky Sports and will be promoted by Boxxer promotions. The fight is scheduled for ten two-minute rounds in the welterweight division.
Bavington, (28) is a former professional female footballer who turned over to professional boxing in May of 2018. Her record stands at seven wins and two draws out of twelve contests and she is the former EBU European Welterweight title. Bavington is coming off a defeat when she challenged for the WBA intercontinental welter weight title losing on a split decision against former world challenger Kandi Wyatt in her home town of Wolverhampton in March of 2023.
I contacted ‘Bavo’ and asked her how it felt to be making history and getting a crack at the British title? Kristie informed me Its amazing news, I’m still taking it all in. I’m a bit gutted being stripped of the EBU title unfairly really but this is the boost I needed”. Bav continued “Its just shows hard work and resilience pays off. It’s great to inspire the youngsters coming up and inspiring them to become anything you put your mind too!”
When I asked how she thought the fight would go? Kirstie said with confidence “I’ll win 100% and cause another upset, but obviously full respect to Lauren who’s achieved so much already in representing her country in both football and boxing along with the gold medal. It will be a great fight, I’m excited to get back to winning ways!”
Her opponent on the night is a formidable one, Lauren Price was also a former professional footballer playing for Cardiff City and representing Wales in football. The Twenty eight year old southpaw from Newport has been an accomplished Kickboxing winning silver at the world championships in 2007 and becoming the youngest competitor in the British Kickboxing championships. Price went on the be a four-time world champion and a six time European Champ in her kickboxing career.
As an amateur boxer Price won Gold at the 2021 Olympic Games and also claiming gold in the European’s, commonwealth games and the world championships.
Price’s professional record at the moment is three fights three wins and when she was asked how she felt about being in this fight she informed the Sky sports reporter "It's a complete honour. It's another thing to add to my list to go and make history. I can't believe it really. It's a very proud moment for me”.
This is a big step forward for female boxing, the first British title fight took place back in 1909 and now, more than a century later, female fighters can compete for the highly esteemed championship belt.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Well to start off with congratulations to Kirstie Bavington for getting herself in a position to be able to make history in the first ever British female title fight. Now I am not going to lie this is going to be a big ask for Bavington to come out victorious. Price has been fighting in combat sports since she was a kid and has fought at the highest levels in all of them. Price had an exceptional amateur career winning Olympic, Commonwealth, European and word championship gold in her career. Price has been groomed to be in this position with I’m sure Ben Shalom and Boxxer promotions expecting her to come out victorious, but have they really considered the ‘Bav Factor’! Bavington has had her ups and downs in her career but has always learned from her defeats and came back strong and better prepared for her next encounter.
I was at the Holte Suite Aston when Bavington made her debut and was the first person to interview her after the drawn contest back in May of 2018. Kristie acknowledged she didn’t fight her best that day and went on a fought much better in her next contest.
Bavington who is a teacher when not in the ring has the tough Black Country attitude and will be determined to causes a major upset and not just tip the apple cart over but smash it to bits. Myself like I said this is a tough ask of the former EBU European champ but if her tactics are right this could well be the upset of the night.
I do remember a great upset when I first started the Column when Matchroom came to town and Birmingham’s Craig Cunningham took on Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo for the WBC International Middleweight title with Cunningham stopping him in the eighth round, no one expected this but it happened and was a great night for Midlands boxing with such a major upset. Bavington has definitely got the tools to do the job and I will be cheering her on, on the night.