David Price to accept Povetkin fight
In what I can only describe as a really gutsy move, David Price has accepted a fight with Alexander Povetkin on the undercard of Anthony Joshua-Joseph Parker. His intention being to ‘gatecrash’ the heavyweight division.
As we told you yesterday on3kingsboxing.com, promoter Eddie Hearn was considering either Price or Dereck Chisora as a potential opponent for the WBA mandatory challenger Povetkin.
Price was once one of the rising stars of British boxing. He was named Ring Magazine ‘Prospect of the Year’ in 2012. His rise came to a shuddering halt after back to back loses to Tony Thompson. Before attempting to rebuild his career twice. Before losing to Erkan Teper and Christian Hammer. All of his loses have come by way of knockout.
Talking to Sky Sports today Price said“It’s a no-brainer with a massive upside for me. Everything to gain, so I just agreed straight away,”
“I don’t think the fight is actually made, but I’ve agreed to take the fight and if it can happen, brilliant.”
“We’ve told Eddie yes. Now we’re just waiting on the other side, which I can’t see it being a problem if he wants to fight on the show. Probably see me as an easy touch, but obviously I would have other ideas. Ten years ago I was in the Olympic Games and drew the Russian [Islam Timurziev] in my first fight, who had beaten Povetkin as an amateur.”
“He was the world No 1 and everyone expected me to lose, but I beat him, I knocked him out with my right hand. I’ve been here before.”
“I would be a heavy underdog, understandably so, but I still believe there’s a twist to come in my story.”
“I’ve had a bad few years and I feel like my perseverance is going to pay off at some point, it’s got to.”
“It would have been easy for me to walk away from this sport and take myself away from the limelight, away from the criticism, the doubters, and go and live a peaceful life. But something has made me keep coming back and it may be this.”
I applaud Price’s spirit and refusal to give up. Price does carry a lot of power and thinking about it is probably one of the biggest one punch knockout punchers in the division and at 6 feet 8 inches he would most certainly have a huge advantage in size and reach. However, Povetkin is also one of the most technically gifted boxers in the division and has fought and beaten bigger men before.
I’m intrigued by this fight, the heavyweight division is getting interesting …
By: Aaron Cooper
