Bavington to make a piece of fight history

Poster for the historic contest at Resorts World

BLACK Country warrior Kirstie Bavington is about to cement her place in boxing history.

A new queen will be crowned as a 114-year wait finally comes to an end on Saturday, May 6, when Lauren Price MBE and Kirstie become the first professional female boxers in history to compete for a British title and coveted Lonsdale Belt.

And Kirstie gets her welter title chance on home soil – Birmingham’s Resorts World.

Introduced in 1909 and named in honour of Lord Lonsdale, the great patron of British boxing, the British championship belt was created as a prize to be awarded to the domestic champions across the various weight classes. 

When the British Board of Boxing Control was formed in 1929 it took over governance of the British championship and Lonsdale belt, which remained available only to male boxers – until now.

Equality for women’s sport will rightfully shine through in what is a huge, landmark moment when Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist Price (3-0, 1 KO) meets former EBU European welterweight champion Bavington (7-3-2, 2 KOs), live on Sky Sports.

Price will be keen to be the first woman to get her hands on a Lonsdale belt. The Welsh wonder was the first sportswoman to receive her MBE honour from King Charles III following his accession to the throne last November and she is arguably the most decorated amateur to hail from these shores. 

Since turning professional in 2022, the former Wales international footballer has been victorious in three contests, including February’s impressive victory in Paris over Naomi Mannes – who Bavington defeated for the European title in November, 2022.
Price made history last October, too, at the momentous all-female BOXXER card when she stopped Timea Belik in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,000 fans at The O2 and a live television audience of over two million viewers – a record audience for a live women’s sporting event on Sky Sports. 

Fittingly, her historic bout with Bavington will take place in Birmingham on the day King Charles III is officially crowned. The first British championship belts were made in the Birmingham workshops of 250-year-old jeweller Mapin & Webb, which is also responsible for the Crown Jewels that will be used in King Charles III’s coronation ceremony.