I think the gloves need to be hung up now by David Price.
Price fell victim to his fourth pro defeat on Saturday night against Christian Hammer. Hammer was down in the fifth, yet sadly the almost 20 stone Price couldn’t make the most of that and “gassed” and Hammer was able to stop him on his feet in the seventh round. Price was visibly finished, so much so that he really struggled to get up off his stool in the corner for a good three-to-four minutes after the fight.
Almost four years ago, after his second defeat to Tony Thompson, I wrote this: ‘Before any talk of possible opponents, Price must sort out his conditioning. He must ensure he is able to fight beyond six rounds without being gassed. He has power and precision but a lack of stamina will mean he may as well not bother.’
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It would appear that whilst a lot of boxing fans/enthusiasts and experts could see the issues Price has/had, his team could not, which is more than a little worrying. I take no enjoyment in being able to spot the frailties in Price’s condition all those years ago, I am more worried that his team or him didn’t address this issue.
It seems almost a lifetime since Tyson Fury and Price were massive rivals and the fight was seen as a 50/50. It could be tempting for Price to go back for a British title fight in order to win a Londsdale outright and whilst this seems a perfectly good decision on the surface success would lead to other “opportunities”, which could lead to more defeats and heartache. He would most likely have to fight the winner of Sam Sexton or Gary Cornish for the belt as Dillian Whyte vacated to chase a fight against Deontay Wilder and the BBBoC have called for Sexton-Cornish for the vacant title.
Sexton-Price is a very winnable fight, with Price having already KO’d Sexton within two rounds in 2012.
As an amateur, Price won a Bronze Olympic medal and Gold at the Commonwealth games. As a professional he held the English heavyweight title in 2012, and the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2012 to 2013. There is no disgrace in that, not everyone can be a Lewis, a Klitschko, a Holmes or an Ali. He should be very proud of what he has achieved.
That said, it really is time for the 33-year-old to hang up the gloves now. He’s a nice bloke, perhaps too nice for boxing—I’m yet to see anyone with a bad word to say against him within the boxing world.
A future in punditry awaits him.
I wish him well…
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