Leeds boxer Hopey Price maintains unbeaten start to professional career with mature performance against Jonny Phillips at Matchroom's Fight Camp

The Leeds fighter moved to 3-0 with a mature performance against an aggressive opponent in Phillips, who was constantly looking to get in close and unsettle Price.

However, Price kept his foe at distance and wore him down throughout the contest, landing a number of combinations to take every round on the judges's scorecard.

Big things are expected of the youngster, who boasted a stellar record in the amateur ranks.

He won gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and also claimed two European Championships and an astonishing seven national titles.

Price is used to the big stage, fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's win over Andy Ruiz Junior in Saudia Arabia in only his second professional appearance.

At Matchroom's Fight Camp, Phillips looked to take the fight to Price in the early stages of the first round but the Leeds fighter remained calm under the aggressive style of the more experienced boxer.

The 20-year-old looked to keep Phillips at distance and started to work down his opponent with Phillips lunging in and failing to land with some wild shots in the latter stages of the second round.

Price had not boxed since December and was due to fight in April but the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to those plans while Phillips last fight came in February.

Phillips had boxed 33 more rounds than Price prior to the contest and had been victorious in five of his nine professional bouts.

The six-round contest was the longest fight of Price's fledgling career after his first two fights only lasted a combined seven rounds.

As the fight wore on, the Leeds fighter handled Phillips's front-foot style with ease, landing some delightful combinations as the bout moved into the fifth round.

Price showed maturity beyond his years in the final round, catching Phillips with a number of straight shots to see out the fight and maintain his unbeaten start to life in the pro ranks.

"I felt I performed well, I was boxing nice," said Price.

"I was listening to instructions and I felt like I could have done more at times but with an opponent like that, who is coming in with his head and swinging, you can't afford to take them risks.

"This game is only one shot and the fight is over and that ruins my whole plan for where I want to go, I have just got to be older and wiser and fight like I did."

Price's victory came on the undercard of Terri Harper's first defence of her WBC super-featherweight title against Natasha Jonas in the first world title fight between two British women.

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