By Gareth James

Lauren Price was narrowly beaten by old rival Nouchka Fontjin on her ring return at the Grand Prix event in Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic.

The 26-year-old defeat at the hands of the Dutch boxer leaves her with bronze from her second competitive event of 2021.

Price had to settle for silver when beaten by Fontjin at the tournament in Hungary in February.

The Newport fighter had not boxed since that event having missed the tournament in Serbia last month.

Price was using the event as part of her build-up to June’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Paris, which has been rescheduled after the original qualifier in London was stopped last March due to COVID-19.

Price won the middleweight world title after beating her old rival in 2019 taking the title on appeal in Russia.

The duo look set to renew their fierce rivalry in Tokyo where Price will be looking to add to her world, Commonwealth and European crowns.