BOXING promoter Ben Shalom believes Lauren Price has the potential to be Wales’ next Joe Calzaghe as the welterweight targets a homecoming fight in Cardiff in 2024.

Unbeaten Ystrad Mynach fighter Price defeated Sylvia Bortot in Bournemouth on Sunday evening to continue her rise through the professional ranks.

The 29-year-old has won all six of her fights – all of which have taken place outside Wales – since turning professional in 2022.

She continued that record against Italy’s Bortot, who she fought on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith's WBO title defence against Poland’s Mateusz Masternak.

And Shalom, founder and CEO of Boxxer, says the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion can be Welsh boxing’s next major star.

“We feel we've got a real chance to create a national icon,” he said.

“The aim next year will to be to bring her back to Cardiff and start to build something that has not been seen before in Wales possibly since the Joe Calzaghe days.”

Shalom says Price could take on the winner of the Natasha Jonas’ fight with Mikaela Mayer.

Two-weight world champion Jonas will defend her IBF welterweight title against Mayer in her hometown of Liverpool in January.

“I’d like to see Lauren Price fight the winner,” he told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“You look at the influence Katie Taylor has had on Irish sport. Lauren Price has the chance to do that for Wales.

“She will be wanting to fight for world titles as early as March, April next year. I think next year we are going to see the emergence of an absolute superstar of British boxing.”

Price feels she is ready for a title fight and capable of beating either Jonas or Mayer.

“I think I'm improving every fight,” she said.

“The winner of Jonas v Mayer, that's what I want. I believe I beat Tash or Mayer.

“I think it's a very realistic fight. I want the fight and I've been told by certain people I'm in line to face the winner.”

Jonas, 39, will be making the first defence of her IBF welterweight belt since stopping Canadian Kandi Wyatt in July.

Jonas is also the reigning WBC, WBO and IBF light-middleweight champion.

American Mayer, 33, is a former unified super-featherweight world champion and will be stepping up in weight for the bout at the M&S Bank Arena.

Liverpool's Jonas has won 14 professional fights, with two losses and a draw, while Mayer has won 19 fights and lost one.

“In 2024 I’ll be banging on the door for those world titles,” added Price.

“I have been wanting the big fights for a while now.

“I believe I am in my prime and come March or April I am ready for my world title [opportunity].”

Newbridge legend Calzaghe retired with an unbeaten record after 46 fights in 2009, having added the Ring light-heavyweight world title to his IBF, Ring and WBO super-middleweight world belts – holding the latter for a decade.