By Sean McDaniel: 2008 Olympic heavyweight Bronze Medalist David Price (8-0, 6 KO’s) will be sparring with unbeaten heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KO’s) to help get him ready for his March 19th title challenge against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 28 KO’s) in Cologne, Germany. Price, 27, was selected because at 6’8″, he’s around the same height at the 6’7″ Vitali.

Price fights nothing like Vitali, as he tends to fight in close rather than stand on the outside like Vitali and he has faster hands and not quite as good power. This is going to be a great experience for Price, because he’s going to get to train with Solis, a former 2004 Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba, and one of the very best fighters in the world at heavyweight. Price should learn a lot from this experience.

Price has a fight coming up this Saturday night against Osborne Machimana (18-6-1, 13 KO’s) at the Leisure Centre, in Brentwood, Essex. Price should win that fight without any problems. His promoter needs to start moving him at a more rapid pace because at 27, Price can’t afford to waste time destroying over-matched opponents for the next three to five years. He needs to be pushed at a faster pace so that he doesn’t waste the best years of his career facing 3rd tier opposition like what he’s been facing. For the most part, Price has been knocking out most of his opponents in the 1st round. Machimana, from South Africa, might give Price a few rounds but that’s about it. He’s not exceptional and is going to have problems with Price’s size, speed and power.