BARGOED boxer Lauren Price made history yesterday as she and Charlene Jones became the first female fighters to compete for Wales at a Commonwealth Games.

Price easily beat Guyana’s Theresa London over four two-minute rounds last night and the 20-year-old, who was born in Newport, goes for a medal in her quarter-final against Kaye Scott of Australia at around 9.45pm tonight.

“It’s been such a long wait to get in there and I’m glad the first one is out of the way now,” she said after her first victory in the 69-75kg division.

“Hopefully I can get another win to take me into the semis.”

Both losing semi-finalists in the boxing win a bronze medal but Price is going for gold.

“It couldn’t have gone much better with two standing counts against London but there’s a lot more to come,” she said.

“I felt a bit sluggish in there and I know I can perform better.

“I was happy to get four rounds under my belt after such a long wait and I can move on now.

“Savannah Marshall is the world number one and world champion and the Canadian Ariane Fortin is a two-time world champion so there are some tough girls in this division.

“But I’m confident I can win a medal and I’m going for gold.”

Price says she wasn’t conscious of being a trailblazer in women’s boxing in Wales but she was glad of the vocal Welsh support to calm her pre-fight nerves.

“I didn’t really think about making history I just went out there and did my best,” she said. “I was quite nervous in the day but now I’m feeling good.

“I’ve had wonderful support with people coming up to cheer me on and it’s been great so far.

“The Scottish people are getting behind all the British boxers so it makes for a great atmosphere.”

Ebbw Vale’s Ashley Brace should have been the third woman in the Welsh boxing squad but she was denied her chance in Glasgow due to issues over her past career in kick boxing.

“I really felt for Ashley and to be told two weeks before the Games I thought was really unfair. I’m gutted for her,” said Price.

“But it’s nothing to do with Welsh boxing and we’ve got to look forward now.”

Price has also competed in kick boxing in the past and has represented Wales at football but she says boxing at Glasgow 2014 is her biggest achievement.

“This is the top; the Commonwealth Games are massive,” she added.

“Winning gold would beat winning my first cap for Wales. It would beat everything!”