Boxing: Pryce ponders weight move after crushing defeat
Mar 16 2009 by Blair Wood, Western Mail
WELSHMAN Bradley Pryce has admitted he might step up in weight as he bids to bounce back from a bruising second-round defeat to Matthew Hall.
The Newbridge fighter was left absolutely devastated as his first fight in nine months ended in complete disaster on Saturday night.
After a tentative first round in Manchester, he was knocked down three times in the second, losing his Commonwealth title in the process. It was a tough pill for Pryce, who had declared 2009 would be a fresh start for his stalling career, to swallow.
And he now has a long road ahead of him as he tries to pick up the pieces and get things back on track following a seventh career defeat.
Claiming that he felt severely weight-drained before the bout, the 28-year-old believes moving up in weight could be the solution.
Having spent most of his career at light-middleweight, both he and trainer Enzo Calzaghe believe it might be time for a change as he looks for a rapid return.
“Enzo believes the time is right for me to step up a weight and maybe even two,” he said.
“We’ll talk about things and hopefully I will talk to (promoter) allegedly about it as well.
“The key thing for me is to be back in the ring as soon as possible. Hopefully within about eight weeks.”
As for the fight itself, he added: “That was one of the worst nights of my career. I have been out the ring for nearly a year and I guess it showed.
“I was clearly rusty, but it is no excuse. I have always been a slow starter in fights and it is something I need to address because it cost me.”
