David Price needs to improve

By Boxing News - 07/20/2013 - Comments

price455By Tom Drury: The dust has now well and truly settled after David Price’s stoppage defeat at the hands of American Tony Thompson. David Price is a prime example of how hard boxing as a sport is, size and physical strength alone are not nearly enough to succeed in this sport. I do not agree with the people who said it was not a good idea to put Price straight back in there with Thompson. Thompson is a “C” level fighter at best and without question is over the hill.

Price not so long ago was tipped to go on and achieve Heavyweight success, how wrong were those who voiced that opinion, not just fans but experts, trainers and fighters. Price in my opinion was never destined for big things, he doesn’t move well, his hands are slow and he doesn’t have many punches in his arsenal. This is what happens when a fighter is matched carefully throughout there career, they obtain false confidence and believe they’re skills are better than they actually are. Knockouts over the likes of Sam Sexton and John McDermott do not set you up for a stellar boxing career or mentally prepare you for times of adversity.

After watching the first fight, my first thoughts were “its over for Price” the knockout punch was an awkward shot that had no real pop and hit Price on the ear, not a punch you would expect to end a fight in the Heavyweight division. I worried for Price in the rematch, when you are matched carefully and built up to be the next big thing without been tested or showing skills that fit the bill it puts a lot of pressure on you as a fighter, I’m sure after the first loss to Thompson, the confidence Price had carried with him entering his fights had well and truly gone.

The second fight started well for Price using his jab and getting the knockdown in the second round. Thompson did not waver or get disheartened by the hard hitting Price, he continued to take it to Price and exposed the biggest flaw a fighter can have “lack of heart”. The fifth round was all Thompson connecting on Prices chin with numerous shots after the first shot connected it was clear Price was hurt and did not want to be in there, holding his hands up to protect himself with a look on his face that portrayed failure. Price took a standing count and without question “QUIT” when clearly he was able to carry on.

In my opinion as a boxing fan Price should walk away from the sport while he’s got the chance, he will have lost many fans from that last performance, while it is quite barbaric we as fans love to see heart and will, a fighter giving his all, never giving up till the bitter end, not a fighter clearly quitting in the face of adversity after the fans have spent hard earned money on attending a fight in support of there man.

Lennox Lewis, Team Fury, Chris Byrd have all reached out to offer David Price training and an open door to continue with his boxing career. In my opinion this should not be the case, you cannot train or make “Heart” or a “Winner” that is something you are born with. David Price was not. While this pains me to say, Tyson Fury the UK’s other heavyweight prospect was bang on the money all along and I feel if Price had took a fight with Fury it would have ended in a savage KO. Fury in no way is a technically gifted fighter and in my opinion will be uncoiled by the hard hitting David “The Hayemaker” Haye in there fight on September 28 but what Fury does have is the heart of a lion and that heart has carried him through thus far in his career, Fury will fall because of fighting guys with superior skills not due to “Lack of heart” or winning mentality.



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