David Price in big test against John McDermott in British heavyweight title eliminator on Jan. 21

By Boxing News - 01/02/2012 - Comments

Image: David Price in big test against John McDermott in British heavyweight title eliminator on Jan. 21By Sean McDaniel: Unbeaten former 2008 super heavyweight Olympian David Price (11-0, 9 KO’s) takes the biggest test of his career against John McDermott (26-7, 17 KO’s) in an important British heavyweight title eliminator bout on January 21st at the Olympia in Liverpool, England.

If the 28-year-old Price wins this fight, which is what is expected of him, he’ll be next in line for the current British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. I’m not sure that Fury’s promoter will let him take that fight, so Price could end up as the British heavyweight champion in 2012 whether Fury voluntarily relinquishes the belt or if he fights Price. Right now, Price looks to be the best heavyweight in the UK bar none.

Obviously, Fury, McDermott and Chisora have something to say about that. David Haye is excluded from this subject because he’s just looking to get a payday fight against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and then cash out of the sport.

Price, 6’8” 244lbs, has excellent size and big time power. He’s been crushing all of his opponents in the past year and has a five knockout win streak going for him. McDermott can take a pretty good punch, however, so it’s going to be intriguing to see if Price has enough power to take him out.

McDermott, 31, has only been stopped three times in his career with the latest KO loss occurring against Fury in June 2010. Price can’t afford to let McDermott stick around for too long because he punches too hard with his right hand and Price’s chin is fragile.

That’s he knock on Price, and although he has yet to be hurt in the pro ranks, which would be more of a product of the weak opposition he’s been steadily matched against. You couldn’t expect a fighter with only 11 fights under his belt to have faced a quality fighter at this point, but there’s no denying that Price hasn’t really had his chin tested as of yet. As an amateur, Price was stopped by the hard hitting Roberto Cammerelle in the Olympics.

McDermott doesn’t punch nearly as hard as Cammerelle, though, so Price may not have a lot to worry about. He should be a little concerned because McDermott gave Fury problems with his big right hands and recently blew out Larry Olubamiwo in a 1st round TKO win last year in February. That was the only time McDermott fought in 2011, so Price is going to be getting a slightly rusty fighter on January 21st.

McDermott usually fights well for three of four rounds and then gasses out completely. He then tends to clinch a lot and periodically throw big shots when rested enough.



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