Lauren Price is eyeing a fight that will be “massive for world boxing” if she can overcome Michaela Kotaskova next month – but has ruled out facing Claressa Shields for now.

Olympic gold medallist Price will put her unified WBA, WBC and IBF welterweight titles on the line when she fights the 34-year-old Czech in Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on 20 November.

The bout, which will be shown live on the BBC, will be her first since a grueling title defence win over Stephanie Pineiro in April, which had undisputed heavyweight champion Shields watching on in attendance.

It had been thought the pair would meet at middleweight but Price says talks broke down.

That prompted her to switch attention to 34-year-old Kotaskova – with the potential of a major showdown early in 2027.

“There had been talks going back and forth with some big fights, but I wanted to get out before the end of the year,” said Price.

“There’s obviously been talks of the big fights after that. I know I’ve got a bit of a quick turnaround after this one.

“I can’t think too far ahead, I’ve got to get through the 20th, but I’ll be back out early next year in a massive fight.

“I can’t say much but I can officially say that it’s not going to be Claressa Shields.

“I can just say every boxer wants to hold all the belts and it’ll be massive for Wales, massive for Britain and massive for world boxing.”

Price has previously been linked with facing Mikaela Mayer to become undisputed at welterweight.

A three-weight champion, Mayer lost her super-welterweight titles to Chantelle Cameron in August but still holds the WBO welterweight belt she took from Derby’s Sandy Ryan in 2024.

Price says her focus is simply on Kotaskova, who took Cameron the distance in London in April.

Her loss on the scorecards at super-welterweight is her only defeat in a 15-fight career and will present a tough challenge for Price in her 11th fight since giving up her amateur status.

At one stage it had seemed as though all roads led to a showdown with Shields, with the two facing off after Price’s win over Pineiro earlier this year.

Shields called out Price as recently as August having reclaimed titles at middleweight.

A two-fight deal had been speculated but, when pressed on what happened, Price told BBC Sport Wales: “There was nothing on my side. The money wasn’t great, I wanted to fight in America and in Wales, but she wouldn’t come here, and there was no rematch clause.

“Everything basically was stacked against me and it just didn’t make sense.

“I have to stand on my own two feet and think: ‘I’m Lauren Price, I’m unified champion, Olympic gold medallist’.

“If I was towards the end of my career or if I had a few losses, absolutely you jump on it.

“But there’s no rush and there’s equally exciting fights out there.

“That fight will definitely happen, but only when it’s the right time and it makes sense.”

Price says the frustrations of negotiations are part of the game when it comes to professional boxing, and she has instead concentrated on continuing her rise and growing stature as one of Britain’s leading female athletes.

After biding her time to return to the ring after a cut lip suffered in the points win over Pineiro – as well as getting married – Price’s focus is on underlining her headline status having been inspired by Katie Taylor’s recent emotional farewell at a sold-out Croke Park.

“I’ve always believed that I’d be good enough, but it’s not just that,” Price said of whether she could dream about a similar scene at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are, it’s having people behind you – which is why I feel so lucky being Welsh because we’re a nation that back our own.

“For me to have nights like that it’s about putting bums on seats and about building the journey, which is why I’m excited to be boxing on the BBC because people can see me and it gets me known. It’s all about that legacy.

“For now, though, we have a Friday night at the Utilita Arena which will give people time to come down after they finish work, so let’s blow the roof off!”

Price says she is also excited about giving young Welsh talent such as Rhys Edwards and Kyran Jones the chance on the undercard of her fight, which will kick-start a sporting weekend in the Welsh capital that includes Wales men’s rugby union side taking on Australia in the Nations Championship the following evening.

She added: “It will be a tough fight, but I’m confident my skill level and boxing IQ will come through and make sure I get my hand raised.

“Everyone at this level is decent opposition and wants to nick those belts off me, but I want to put on a top night for the fans and I’ll give my all to do that.”