The fighting pride of Wales fought off a spirited effort from Pineiro to win a 10-round unanimous decision by scores of 98-92, 98-92 and 99-91, meaning the challenger won no more than two of the 10 rounds on any card.

Price boxed well behind her jab, a tactic Pineiro tried to imitate. However, the 35-year-old Puerto Rican was picked off on her way in throughout the fight.

Still, the scorecards didn't tell the full story, as the world champion had to dig deep after suffering a nasty cut in her mouth late in Round 4.

“I felt my lip go straight away," Price said. "That’s something I haven’t suffered, but it’s part of pro boxing. It was a fight I had to take. I haven’t been in the fight for a year, but credit to my opponent.

“Sticking to my boxing. What a tough girl. I knew I was going to be tested, but [I'm] keeping the belt in Wales.”

Price continued to box well and had the fight comfortably in hand down the stretch even if her heavily marked up face seemed to indicate the opposite.

At the final bell, she was declared the winner and then was greeted by a potential future foe, Shields.

"It’s only a matter of time. To be the best fighter you have to box the No. 1 fighter in the world, " said Ben Shalom of Boxxer.

Shields offered her thoughts on the fight and a possible meeting with Price, who, as a 147-pounder, is naturally smaller.

"She fought through adversity,: Shields said. "Yeah, me and you. If you want to come up to 160, me and you can make it happen. You did great tonight. Olympic champion to Olympic champion. We can fight at the end of the year."

Price is up for the showdown later in the year.

"Mikaela Mayer didn’t want the fight," she said. "This girl is one of the best in the game. I want to fight the best. I respect her. We all need a dance partner, but I back myself."

Rhys Edwards and Gully Powar left everything in the ring but had to settle for a majority draw in a 12-round fight for the vacant British featherweight title.

Powar was given the nod on the first card, 115-114, but the other two read 114-114.

Powar was the aggressor, and Edwards opted to fight on the back foot and pick his shots. That tactic served the latter well, but he wasn’t able to stop Powar from coming forward.

By the mid rounds, Edwards found some openings, but Powar responded and made the hometown fan favorite fight at an uncomfortable pace.

As the rounds passed, the fight developed into a war of attrition, which suited the visitor. However, when all was said and done, the two couldn’t be separated.

“I knew it was a tight fight," Edwards said. "I thought my quality was better than his work rate. We do it again. It was a brilliant fight. I’m sure the people would like to see it again.”

Said Powar: “I was relentless the whole 12-rounds. I didn’t let him breathe."

Northern Ireland’s Teo Alin upset Kane Shepherd, stopping the Welshman in the fifth round of their junior lightweight contest. In the final round, Alin (7-0, 2 KOs) dropped Shepherd (8-1, 3 KOs) heavily with a big right hand. Although he made it to his feet, referee Steve Gray stopped the action at 35 seconds. ...

Morgan McIntosh (6-1, 1 KO) dropped former amateur rival Lewys Parfitt (5-1, 1 KO) three times – once in the second round and twice more in the third – on his way to a third-round stoppage. With the win, McIntosh claimed the Welsh welterweight title. ...

Welsh middleweight Kyran Jones dominated Connor Goulding (5-10, 0 KOs) over six rounds. Jones (14-0, 1 KO) picked up the points decision 60-54 on referee Chris Jones' scorecard. ...

Teenage junior featherweight Yuvraj Karia (9-0, 4 KOs) outpointed old warhorse Jake Pollard (1-107, 0 KOs) over four-rounds. ...

Jacob Robinson (12-1, 2 KOs) continued his comeback with a four-round decision over Eliecer Quezada (24-41-4, 9 KOs). The son of former WBO featherweight champion Steve Robinson won all four rounds against the Nicaraguan journeyman. ...

In the first fight of the night, talented amateur Mikey O’Sullivan (1-0, 1 KO) had a successful pro debut at junior lightweight with a four-round decision over Jose Manuel Perez (15-31-1, 10 KOs).