Wilfy Dee: Liverpool’s own David Price continued to stampede through the heavyweight rankings, at least on a domestic level, with his four round demolition of Sam Sexton at the Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside last night. Sexton(15(6)-3-0) who’s only other 2 losses came from the hands of Derek Chisora(15(9)-3-0). Price has now taken his record to 13 wins in as many attempts, stopping 11 of his opponents usually in spectacular fashion. Now all the conversation has inevitably turned to whether or not he has what it takes to dethrone one of the Klitschko brothers who have long reigned supreme over one of most decorated divisions in the history of Boxing.
Towering in at 6’8”, Price’s presence in the heavyweight division is definitely starting to create a bit of a buzz as more and more people are seemingly sitting up and starting to take notice. This side of the pond anyway is particularly getting a little excited as we can just about smell the rise of a another British Heavyweight Superstar. However, I am also aware of how us Brits are a little susceptible to get a little carried away with ourselves whenever the possibilityy of Sporting glory presents itself. So, I am doing my very best to take all things into account to assess the situation as unbiased as possible to try merit merely a guess to what may lie in Mr. Price’s near future..
The argument you imagine would conjure up first is the quality of opponents that Price has been facing. Yes, there isn’t any world beaters involved but you show me a heavyweight ‘World Beater’ and I’ll show him David Price. Considering we are talking about his first 13 fights as a professional he has hardly been dancing with mugs. Each fighter was supposedly a step up in competition, some undefeated and others putting in good showings against other supposedly ‘rated’ fighters so it wasn’t supposed to be all roses and picnic baskets. They were all tests in their own and just because someone passes a test with flying colours doesn’t necessarily mean that the test wasn’t difficult enough. Again, still fighters that you would expect the best in the world to make an easy night’s work of. And that is exactly what David Price has been doing.
Averaging only 2.7 rounds per fight saying any other than ‘destroying’ his competition is an understatement. The standout factor for me is the very distinct improvements every time he is stepping into the ring. Not only with his technical ability but in his physicality as well. The guy is a former Olympian, bronze medallist at Beijing 2008 and 3 x ABA Champion so I’m sure it has been quite some time since he has been out of shape but if you look back over his last 4-5 fights you can noticeably see a drop in body fat and increase in muscle mass. His power is undeniable but his agility and ability to work for angles and switch up his punches is what is starting to set him apart from the other challengers he is so regularly being compared to. His jab and straight right and generally the punches you refer to as his most potent weapons but the uppercut that put Sexton on his backside last night was something to be admired. His sharp right hooks are not too shabby either.
What now then? Well, I think the vast majority of us will be able to agree he is simply too good to be fighting at domestic level for much longer. Some may argue that the young Tyson Fury(18(13)-0-0) is a mountain that needs to be conquered but he had a chance to fight Price but preferred the option of giving up his British titles to snap up the then vacant Irish Heavyweight title with a win over Martin Rogan(14(7)-3-0) for reasons open to debate. So does he jump for World Title immediately? I’m sure if Frank Maloney really wanted to make it happen they could have a showdown with one of the Ukrainian brothers signed within a matter of weeks, but both Price and his promotional team seem resigned to the idea of ‘slow and steady wins the race’. The traditional road to world glory generally involves winning titles at every level before going in for a shot at the big time but is going for that European title really necessary? I don’t think it is.
What I would really like to see is a Top 10 Ranked opponent to really test his credentials as a possible contender. Everyone seems to looking at 18 months as a general timeline so we are only looking at 3 fights realistically. Only 3 fights to gather all the experience needed. What I would really like to see is Maloney getting Price out there to test some American waters. A fight with Chris Arreola(35(30)-2-0) would be great for exposure and would determine how much is really is just ‘hype’, though I’m sure Arreola is going to be more focused on working for another shot at the gold himself. Seth Mitchell(25(19)-0-0) another exciting prospect who has been putting people away as quickly as Price has lately. There is certainly plenty options available before the ‘big push’ which you would imagine will be aimed at Vitali first, who Price is more than capable of causing some trouble, and then onto Wladimir.
All in all, as absolute model professionals if nothing else, I would put good money on the fact both of our Heavyweight World Champions are starting take notice of the Scouse Powerhouse and the following he is starting to accumulate. Watching the entrances last night seeing David Price standing at the top of that ramp as just an enormous frame whilst 5000 of his fans bellow out the words to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before he made his way to ring to Johnny Cash’s Ring Of Fire was enough to send chills down the spine. He definitely seems to have that special something, but of course, for now it’s all idle speculation.
@WilfyDee