Boxing power couple Karriss Artingstall and Lauren Price are making waves in the professional game after reaching the pinnacle of the amateur sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The pair confirmed their relationship publicly after the Olympic Games in 2021 – revealing how they had bought a house together before flying out to Tokyo to represent Great Britain.
Two years later and Artingstall and Price are stronger than ever. They are looking to conquer the professional game together and insist training and competing alongside each other has helped their career progression.
Artingstall returned to the ring on Saturday evening and took another important step in her professional career. The Olympic bronze medalist claimed victory over Linzi Buczynskyj on the Lawrence Okolie-David Light undercard, earning a shut-out points win in just her third professional bout.
While Price will make her four professional bout on May 6 – just eight weeks after she beat Naomi Mannes by unanimous decision in Paris. However, Price’s opponent has not yet been named.
Sportsmail caught up with the power couple before Artingstall’s bout with Buczynskyj. When approached to take part in a game of Mrs and Mrs, Price said: ‘I love a game, as long as I win’.
Boxing power couple Karriss Artingstall and Lauren Price are making waves in the professional game after reaching the pinnacle of the amateur sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games
The pair confirmed their relationship publicly after the Olympic Games in 2021 – revealing how they bought a house together before flying out to Tokyo to represent Great Britain
Artingstall returned to the ring on Saturday evening and took another important step in her professional career by claiming victory over Linzi Buczynskyj
The fighting talk was clear from the get-go and the pair didn’t hold back when answering our quick-fire questions. The hilarious interaction certainly gave us an insight into the couple’s relationship and their wonderful personalities.
We heard about Artingstall’s addiction to Candy Crush, Price’s hatred for ice baths and the pair’s VERY different Nandos orders.
Sportsmail started the game off by asking ‘who is more laid back’. Price was quick to respond saying ‘oh me 100 per cent’. Artingstall seemed to agree with her partner.
Artingstall won the next round. We asked ‘who is the better cook’ and both boxers replied saying the Olympic bronze medalist was the household chef.
‘Who trains harder’ was the next question. Both Artingstall and Price paused to think about this one. Eventually Artingstall responded by saying: ‘That’s joint that. It’s 50/50’. Price added: ‘We train together so it has to be equal’.
We went on to ask ‘who will become a world champion first’. Both boxers gave an ‘oo’ and an ‘ahh’ before going dead silent. They were both waiting for the other one to say their name.
It was Artingstall who broke first and said: ‘I’m going to pick Lauren’ – to which her partner looked pretty pleased.
Price will make her four professional bout on May 6 – just eight weeks after she beat Naomi Mannes by unanimous decision in Paris. However, Price’s opponent has not yet been named
Artingstall won featherweight bronze, while Price won gold in the middleweight division
Artingstall was adamant that she was the winner of the next question. We asked ‘who has better taste in music’ and Artingstall said: ‘Definitely me. She is into Westlife and all that jazz’. Price was quick to defend herself, saying: ‘I like a bit of chill.’
Next up we asked ‘who has a better sense of style’. Artingstall joked: ‘it depends on who you ask’. While Price said: ‘Karriss dresses me’ before bursting out into laughter.
We went on to ask ‘who gets more nervous before a fight’. Price replied: ‘I am going to say her because I am more laid back. But, it’s an odd one because if you don’t have nerves there is something wrong.’
It’s clear the boxing power couple are committed to training, but when asked who is most likely to turn up late… they both said Artingstall.
Artingstall replied instantly saying: ‘Me. Definitely’. Price agreed and added: ‘This one as she likes to sleep in’.
The pair were divided on the next question. We asked who spends more time on their phone. Price instantly turned to Artingstall before claiming: ‘Karriss 100 per cent. You’ve only got to check the data’.
Artingstall disagreed but did admit to spending copious amount of time playing Candy Crush on her iPad. She said: ‘On the iPad yeah because I am playing Candy Crush but I’m not sure about the phone.’
Next up we asked ‘who disagrees with their coach the most’. Artingstall sheepishly responded ‘me’ before looking tentatively at Price and bursting out into laughter.
Artingstall continued to answer ‘me’ to the remaining three questions. The first was ‘who gets their own way the most’. The second was ‘who has better taste in movies’ and the third was ‘who has the better Nandos order’.
When asked ‘who has the better taste in movies’, Artingstall said: ‘Me. You never pick a movie’. Price interjected by saying: ‘Nah not true’. To which Artingstall responded ‘You literally never pick one. Ever’.
The final question was ‘who has the best Nandos order’. Artingstall said: ‘Definitely me. When we first went to Nandos she used to order chicken, plain chips and tomato sauce. What is that.’ Price jumped in by saying: ‘I am on medium now!’.
Sportsmail asked Artingstall for her Nandos order as she sounded so confident. The Olympic bronze medalist said: ‘Chicken wrap. Peri salted chips. Garlic bread. Hallumi, chili jam and garlic perinaise’.
Artingstall met Price while they were both training as amateurs with Team GB. The two rising stars started out as friends but realised their was more to their relationship shortly after.
The couple reached the pinnacle of the amateur game together – both representing Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics – before announcing their relationship.
Shortly after the Olympics, Artingstall and Price decided to turn professional – signing for the same promoter.
Speaking at the time, Artingstall said: ‘I think in general we’re just a power couple. There’s nothing we won’t give 100 per cent to and when we’ve got our mind set we’re both just full steam ahead with it.
‘People don’t realise but boxing is a lonely sport, but when you’re doing it alongside your partner and your best friend, it’s special.
She went on to add: ‘We both just want to reach the top together. I want to be by her side while she’s pursuing her dreams and vice versa.’
Artingstall and Price are not the first couple of emerge from boxing world. Nicola Adams was once engaged to her former rival Marlen Esparza.
Additionally, Estelle Mossely and her heavyweight boyfriend Tony Yoka both won gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Artingstall and Price are looking to conquer the professional game together – having both signed for Boxxer in April 2022.
Promoter Ben Shalom is confident in Artingstall’s ability – claiming she is a ‘vicious’ fighter that looks to ‘knock her opponents out’.
Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail prior to her win over Buczynskyj, Shalom said: ‘Karriss is vicious. She was a very very good amateur but she is made for the professional game.
‘She is vicious. She’s got power which is sometimes lacking in the female sport. She is going to be going for knockouts.
‘Buczynskyj – who she is going to be fighting – made this fight. It was almost like how could we say no to this.
Promoter Ben Shalom (above) is confident in Artingstall’s ability – claiming she is a ‘vicious’ fighter that looks to ‘knock her opponents out’
‘We’ve got a local girl here with a winning record who beliveves in her ability and sees a massive opportunity to fight.
‘Then you have Karriss who is also in her home town in her third professional fight. Fair play to both of them for taking it.
‘Karriss has got everything to lose. She is the Olympic bronze medalist and this is her third fight. She’s fighting someone who has got more experience than her.
‘Buczynskyj has done 10 rounds twice. Karriss is a compelte novice at professional sport. So, it’s going to be a proper fight. It’s also going to be a Manchester female fight which is quite cool.’
Source: Daily Mail Online