Olympic medallists sign deals with GB Boxing

Tokyo Olympic medallists Lauren Price and Karriss Artingstall have become the first professional boxers to sign training and management contracts with GB Boxing, which runs the domestic sport’s World Class Performance Programme.

Under the terms of the deal, the duo, who have already landed long-term promotional deals with Boxxer, will continue to train under GB coaches in Sheffield, alongside the next generation of Olympic aspirants.

GB Boxing chief executive Matt Holt stressed the mutual benefit of the arrangement, under which the boxers will not receive any funding, and will pay a portion of their professional purses to GB Boxing in return for the coaching and facilities.

Holt told PA Media: “The main benefit of engaging in this activity is not actually a financial one, it’s the performance benefit for the boxers who are coming through the programme.

“We’ve seen from previous cycles the benefits our boxers have gained from training regularly with the highest-quality professional boxers – Carl Froch through the London cycle then Anthony Joshua post-London, through Rio and Tokyo.”

GB Boxing chiefs have determined an initial capacity for three professionals, all of whom, under current international boxing rules, have the possibility of continuing to represent Team GB at the Olympics as professionals.

However, Holt stressed that the deal does not represent a move to optimise future Olympic options on behalf of the governing body, and that it has been made clear that the boxers on the programme will be favoured when it comes to selection issues.

Furthermore, a clause in the professional boxers’ contracts makes clear that in the event of a clash between a professional bout and a significant event relating to the world-class