By John F. McKenna (McJack): British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price (14-0, 12 KO’s) is perhaps the most talented championship hopeful to come out of the British Isles in a number of years. At 6’8”, possessing a decent left jab and loads of power in his right hand Price could be a legitimate threat to end the Klitschko dominance in the heavyweight division.

Price is currently on a string of eight straight KO victories with none of those opponents lasting past the 7th round. His most notable victory thus far was an 82 second KO over badly faded former Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison on October 13 in Liverpool. Price will next take on 45 year old Matt Skelton (63-8, 57 KO’s) on December 8 at the Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside in the UK.

Skelton even at 45 is considered by Price’s handlers to be a tough customer who will do whatever he has to do to win including rough housing tactics. It is a certainty that Skelton was chosen as David’s next opponent because of his need to acquire much needed experience in a hurry. Price did not turn pro until 2009 and at 29 has had only 14 fights.
It is clear that the people who are guiding Price’s career want to guide him along slowly, while utilizing his skills to land him a title shot with one of the Klitschko brothers.

It has been estimated by those around Price that the time required before he will be ready for his ultimate challenge, would be about 18 months. For David to land a Klitschko fight and have any thought of victory however, he must strive for better competition. As everyone saw in Mariusz Wach’s recent unanimous decision loss to WBA/IBF/IBO/WBO and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion Wladimr Klitschko, fighting low level opponents in no way prepares a fighter for taking on the premier heavyweight champion of this era.

Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye also found out the hard way in his July 2011 fight with Wladimir that there is a price to pay for not fighting the best heavyweights available. Haye appeared lost once he stepped into the ring to take on Wladimir and could do nothing but flop to the canvas for fear of being KO’d.

Once Skelton is out of the way Price needs to step it up and face the best heavyweights available. David must do this to have even a glimmer of hope against “Dr. Steelhammer”.