It is a significant weekend for Welsh boxing as Boxxer comes to Cardiff with a show that platforms Welsh stars such as Lauren Price.

From seasoned professionals to young debutants, the Utilita Arena will have a range of talent on display this Saturday night.

The Welsh flag will also be flown in the North tomorrow night, as former Cymrych twins Ioan and Garan Croft make their debuts for Matchroom Boxing on the undercard of Pat Brown-Vasil Ducar in Altrincham.

After over a year long layoff, unified welterweight champion Lauren Price returns to headline in her home country this weekend against the undefeated Stephanie Pineiro Aquino.

The challenger boasts a 10-0 record, with a notable win over former title challenger Marie Pier Houle. Saturday night includes a couple of significant ‘first time’ moments for Pineiro, such as it being the first time that she challenges for world honours as well as the first time she competes outside of her country.

Price is returning to Cardiff after a career defining win last May against Natasha Jonas where she put on a virtuoso performance against the veteran to capture the WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles.

Cream rises to the top faster than usual for those with a world-class amateur pedigree in the women’s professional ranks. Needless to say, the former Olympic gold-medallist has excelled through every opportunity given to her since turning professional almost four years ago.

Despite Price’s incredible achievements so far in her career, her legacy is yet to be cemented as a professional, and defending her belts against an undefeated contender is a step towards doing so.

The Ystrad Mynach boxer is one belt short of making history and becoming the only Welsh boxer in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed status.

Mikaela Mayer holds the WBO title and will be looking to face the winner of Price-Pineiro and determine who the best welterweight in women’s boxing truly is.

The undercard features a crop of Welsh talent, former amateur star Kyran Jones is in action in his 14^th professional fight and Mikey O’Sullivan, a product of the successful Cardigan ABC, makes his professional debut.

Rhys Edwards eyes another high-profile fight after his narrow loss to Peter McGrail on the undercard of Fury-Usyk 2 in late 2024 but has since got back in the win column against Thomas Essomba last year.

Elsewhere, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ioan Croft will feature in Altrincham with his twin Garan Croft, former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. The Croft brothers left the amateur game after stellar careers in late 2024.

Moving to Manchester and training under former world champion Anthony Crolla, the boys put on exciting displays in 2025 to rack up a strong undefeated record. This year they got their breakthrough as Eddie Hearn sought after them and signed them both to Matchroom Boxing.

Just weeks after the promotional deal, Ioan and Garan, as they do more often than not, fight on the same undercard of Pat Browns headline event.

The 24-year-olds have shown world-class potential and will be an asset to Matchroom’s UK roster for years to come.

As the boxing schedule heats up, expect more action to come from the Welsh scene in the coming months.

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