Jones is now the head coach of the Welsh national boxing team and has worked with Price on a regular basis throughout her career.
He is delighted, but not surprised, that she has been able to achieve her Olympic dream.
“She’s been very successful, everyone at Sport Wales is really proud of her and I think the country as a whole is thrilled about her winning the gold medal,” says Jones.
“She’s gone the extra mile, she’s someone that’s always done that and always will do that.
“That’s how she’s got to where she has today.”
Over the last couple of years in the run up to the Olympics, Price had to spend a lot of time in Sheffield which is where Team GB boxing is based.
Given the distance from Price’s home in Ystrad Mynach and the difficulties that the pandemic has delivered, Jones is hugely impressed with her dedication to the sport and says any young person looking to get into the sport should look no further than Price for inspiration.
“She stayed up in Sheffield during the lockdown, I think that says it all about her commitment,” says Jones.
“Lauren’s ideal to be a role model for any young boxer who looking to come into the game, or, in fact, any other sport.
“She’s done so much in other sports, too, but she has really excelled in boxing and it’s all down to her hard work.
“She’s always open-minded and willing to listen. Anyone looking to get into boxing particularly on the female side, needs to look no further.”
She may be a multi-talented sportswomen – who thrived in various sports before choosing boxing – but Price was always willing to take on advice and listen to others, says her national coach.
“She’s an intelligent fighter. You can look at all her performances in the Olympic Games and see how calculated she was in terms of keeping her shape.
“One of the best things she does is boxing to the coaches instructions. That’s so important.
“To be honest, I thought she won most of her fights comfortably.”
Jones was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his services to boxing in Wales and as well as his amateur career he also boxed professionally where he won the British, Commonwealth and European titles.
Many fans and pundits of the sport tipped Price to turn professional after her success at the Games but at this moment in time she intends to stay as an amateur and has eyes on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games next year as well as the Paris Olympics in three years’ time.
“I think she deserves a nice break now and then we’ve got the Commonwealth Games in just under a year’s time, says Jones.
“It would be good for her to have a few preparation bouts before then too.
“After the Commonwealth Games, the next Olympics will only be two years away so it will be all eyes on that.”
Jones has had a long career coaching in the sport and as well as Price he has worked with the likes of Welsh stars Andrew Selby, Fred Evans and Joe Cordina.
“It’s fantastic to work with such an illustrious line of names, it’s a real pleasure.
“I’ve been committed to boxing all my life and still am.
“When you look at all the boxers I’ve worked with, it really does please me.
“But Lauren is up there with any of them.”
