By Johnny Walker
Heavyweight giant David Price, 28, made his case as the future of British heavyweight boxing tonight as he destroyed scrappy challenger John McDermott, knocking him down three times en route to a first-round KO victory at the Olympia in Liverpool, UK.
The hulking Price, 6’8” tall and muscular, wasted little time against the man who had twice given the current British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Tyson Fury very tough battles. McDermott came out looking to press, and Price smothered his initial attempts to get inside. McDermott was undaunted, and paid the price, so to speak, as his opponent landed a crushing right uppercut to his chin, sending McDermott to the canvas.
The game McDermott got up and tried to right the ship, but Price simply had too much firepower. A glancing Price right hand behind the ear sent McDermott crashing to the mat once again, and another hard right ended the one-sided affair at 1:13 of round one, as McDermott was counted out by referee Howard John Foster.
“I didn’t expect to take John McDermott out like that,” Price said following the fight. “That was a peach of an uppercut I hit him with.”
With the win, Price (12-0, 10 KOs) was awarded the vacant English heavyweight title, and he now becomes the mandatory challenger for British champion Tyson Fury.
“He says he’s a fighting man, and I think he’ll fight me,” said Price of the 6’9” Fury.
A battle of the British heavyweight giants must be held before May, and according to Price’s promoter Frank Maloney, it could happen as early as March.
Based on this impressive outing, Fury will certainly have his hands full with David Price.
