DAVID PRICE WANTS TYSON FURY
By Sam Jordan
Saturday night proved to be a particularly disappointing night for British boxing fans. Paul Smith lost his WBO world super middleweight rematch against Arthur Abraham, whilst over in Monte Carlo Martin Murray was stopped inside the distance by the fearsome Gennady Golovkin.
One bright spark from the night however was the return to action of Beijing bronze medallist David Price. Price, 31, who had been sidelined since July with a variety of different injuries, returned on the undercard of Abraham-Smith II and gave a timely reminder of his credentials against Brazilian Ireneu Costa, a respectable opponent who had previously taken Christian Hammer (Tyson Fury’s next opponent) the full 12 rounds.
CHANGE IN STYLE
What was striking about Price on Saturday evening was his more measured approach. Rather than trying to blast his opponent out of the ring, he fought behind the jab, and systematically broke down his opponent, forcing the stoppage in the 6th round.
Costa, whose record was fairly impressive with 16 wins and just 2 defeats before the fight, was expected offer some stiff resistance for the Liverpool heavyweight. However Price controlled the fight from start to finish, merely toying with his prey before clinically finishing him off with a synonymous big right hand.
After the fight Price was quick to acknowledge his new approach, whilst also discussing potential future opponents. Speaking to iFL’s Kugan Cassius, Price confirmed he was looking to return to the scene of his only professional defeats in the summer, before moving onto some big fights possibly against arch nemesis Tyson Fury.
“Were looking for someone who has got something for me to take off them” answered Price about his next opponent before confirming his wish to return to Liverpool. “The plan is the Echo but it needs to be a big enough opponent to warrant going to the Echo.”
POTENTIAL CLASH WITH FURY
Asked on the possibility of facing Fury, the burly scouser said “If he (Fury) was to look for an alternative (to facing Klitschko) he wouldn’t have to look any further than myself. Fighters owe it to each other to produce opportunities, without other fighters there would be no boxing so we all owe it to each other to be involved in these big fights. If it doesn’t work out for him (the Klitschko fight) then we are wiling to talk.”
The fight with Fury has always been talked about in boxing circles, particularly prior to Price’s defeats to Tony Thompson. Price who at one time was the brightest hope in the division and mandatory for the British title was desperate for the fight with Fury, as the pair engaged in a war of words on social networking site Twitter. Fury though decided to vacate his titles, citing his lofty world ranking and his desire to progress along the world route as his reasons for dodging the bout at that point.
Two defeats to former world title challenger Tony ‘Tiger’ Thompson for Price put that potential fight on the back burner as Fury pressed ahead with his world title ambitions, fights falling through firstly against David Haye and then Dereck Chisora before eventually dispatching the latter in November to become mandatory for a world title.
Price meanwhile was forced to go back to the drawing board. He tried numerous different trainers including Adam Booth and Tommy Brooks before reverting back to tried and trusted Franny Smith whilst he also changed promoters following Frank Maloney’s retirement from the sport with Team Sauerland taking over promotional responsibilities.
After four straight-forward wins for Price under the Sauerland promotional banner, it looks like this heavyweight grudge match could finally materialise sooner rather than later. With Fury in limbo regarding his next opponent after Hammer and Price looking for a big name opponent and now that David Price wants Tyson Fury again, what better time for this bitter feud between two of Britain’s most exciting fighters to be put to bed.
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