Eye on the Heavyweights – Brit David Price Returns Sunday

Brit David Price Returns Sunday – This Sunday, May 29th at the Goodison Park Stadium in Liverpool popular cruiserweight Tony Bellew (26-2-1) faces Ilunga Makabu for the vacant WBC world title. The card is promoted by the prolific Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom Boxing and the featured fights are set to air on SKY in the United Kingdom.

Returning to the ring after a layoff of nearly a year is heavyweight David Price (19-3) as the 32 year old is scheduled for an eight rounder against Vaclav Pejsar (9-2) of the Czech Republic.

Price turned professional in March of 2009 after winning the bronze medal in the super heavyweight division at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The gigantic 6’8″ fighter had good mobility and power and he started off his career with fifteen wins in a row.

In February of 2013 it was time for a step-up fight for Price. Now Price is not Tyson Fury brash, but back then he had a lot of confidence in his game and there were many who saw him as the next British heavyweight who would impact the world title scene. The selection of cagey 41 year old American veteran Tony Thompson (36-3) for his step-up fight would prove to be a mistake as Thompson blasted out Price in the second round with one big right hand.

Price and his handlers labelled the fight a fluke and they confidently demanded a re-match. Thompson had just come off his second fight against Wladimir Klitschko but he was known more as a sparring partner than a true contender when he dispatched Price the first time. Thompson was more than happy to oblige Price and he promptly knocked Price out a second time.

Price’s flaw had been exposed. His chin had let him down twice in a row and his career took a turn away from the top of the heavyweight division where he thought he belonged. More cautiously, he progressed with his career and went 4-0 against mid-range competition.

In July of 2015 he earned a shot at the vacant European title facing Erkan Tepper and the wheels came off yet again. Tepper flattened Price with one huge punch, leaving him on his back quite motionless except for an occasional twitch. Worse than that, now in his 30’s, the formerly athletic fighter looked slower and more plodding. Price was called upon to seriously consider retirement.

Then the news broke that Tepper had tested positive for a steroid prior to their bout and Price started to hear the call again. No less a figure than Tyson Fury, who is apparently now an expert on just about anything and everything, called on Price to make one more run. And now here we are.

Pejsar has eight knock outs in his nine wins and at 6’4″ and roughly 230 lbs, he figures to be mobile. A win for Price will see him once again start to throw his name around looking for big title fights. But that could all end for good if Pejsar lands one big punch.

Graphic sent by The Boxing Channel’s friend in the Czech Republic, Marek Jelinek.

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