Will Price retire or not?

[MrJasonM]

Im of the opinion that after all of his fights in Germany, and his performance against Teper that he hasnt improved at all since his losses to Thompson.

I dont quite know who has been training him, if it is still Franny Smith then it's obvious to see why he hasnt improved. Not a criticism of Smith but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

I believe he didnt want to join Adam Booth as he didnt want to relocate to London for 5 days of the week, and as a young father I get that and its not for me to comment on that aspect of his life.

However at 32 and with no punch resistance at all, (that shot from Teper was not a big punch) and zero confidence, I feel like there is far too much to fix for him to be able to compete again at European or World level.

At 30 after his losses to Thompson he could afford to go back to the drawing board and start again a little but he has nothing at all to show for his last two years.

I would absolutely love to see him come again as I really like the guy but I think if he is in a position to retire, he should.

[mickey1975]

My mates were sat with his family in Berlin and they said even they were saying he had no confidence.

[chiggsy]

I remember price being 1/3 odds on to beat fury on sky bet when there was talk of a fight.

[Ketchel_2008]

I think he should definitely call it a day.
Problem he has now is everyone is going to try and catch him early on David seems like a reasonably bright lad and I think that thought will be in the back of his mind making him more tentative/nervous.
He's basically also a one armed puncher now pawing with the jab looking for the straight right, again easy for someone to plan tactics against.

[magwitch]

Completely out there wasn't he? I think we make a gigantic mental leap for mankind in this country......the ABA champ is a drop in the ocean, in a medium sized country in a division known for being an 'extremity' and so not a lot of strength in depth.....and we take ours and suppose that because he's a big strapping lad he might be the future heavyweight world champion.
Might as well find a big lion and suppose he's the hardest on the Serenghetti. I think too much time in the amateurs getting your ego massaged is NO GOOD for the deep end.
I also think all that best amateur in England year in year creates a bit of a blindspot.

[Maxsplit]

I think not.

In a few months time people will realise he has actually only lost to two opponents in his pro career. A new coach and new strategies and people will pay to watch his next fight as they know he has the right hand money shot that could win any fight.

I think though this time he should avoid 18 months of rebuilding vs cans and just have a meaningful fight vs Joshua/Browne/Chisora and just fight as if he has nothing to lose.

I still think it will end in disaster but there is certainly one more pay day out there for him at the very least IMO.

[magwitch]

Price would have shut Fury's mouth when Fury was fat, young and mouthy - and Fury reckons he was desperate to fight a "name" - now it may all be talk that if the numbers involved don't back up the bravado but Price should have taken him there and then - it would have been a "fight" if nothing else.
Now Fury is no longer fat, young and mouthy. He's trim, experienced and confident - and fighting for titles in three months time.

[magwitch]

A new coach and new strategies and people will pay to watch his next fight as they know he has the right hand money shot that could win any fight.

...do you not think they've all got the right hand money shot though? What's worse is finding out people have got it who you never knew had it!
It'd be like me going up against some gunslingers like that film The Quick And The Dead........I know I've got a pistol that can kill any one of them....not much good if it takes me 20 seconds to draw, point and fire it tho.

[crusader]

His reluctance to throw against Teper was worrying. For all the talk of him being a threat despite his fragilities because of the power he carries ---and he carries a lot---he won't be much of a danger if he just shells up and doesn't throw. He can switch trainers and recognize his flaws but I don't think he'll be able to shake his confidence issues, especially now that he's been flattened again.

I think he can do well against people like Cornish and Lewison and possibly recapture the British title if the top Brits are out of the picture, but if he plans on fighting above that level I don't see things ending well for him.

[ShadrachSimmo]

He could challenge Cornish for his British title after he's leathered Joshua

[sharpei_louis]

I might be a little harsh but after that showing there are a queue of British heavies who would fancy their chances against Price and I'd doubt he can even return to British level.
His confidence is gone, he knows himself that he can't take even a simply solid punch and put on the performance of a man running scared. I don't think there's any getting over those issues; you look at the Khans, Maccarinellis and even Wlads of the world and at least they got ko'd by big shots. You can train to a level where it's hard to catch you flush but Price needs so much more than that it's impossible. Time to retire.

[palooka]

Without wanting to be harse and rude to Price, it shows how brave both Enzo and Khan are - getting back in and actually going for the win after being flattened, they must be very strong mentally. Price didn't even throw any hard punches back, he capitulated immediately.

[Andrew]

He seems a genuinely nice bloke and I didn't like to see him get splattered like he did v Teper.

Like others have said I feel it will happen again if he fights journeymen for a year and then back into a proper fight.

I reckon he earned decent money when he had those fights at the Echo. If I am not mistaken the Teper fight was a $250,000 purse split 50/50.

I was well on the bandwagon when he was smashing everyone up to the Thompson fight. It was clear TT was very undersestimated and too big a jump in level,the rematch was a complete disaster.

I hope he retires so he doesn't get splattered in that manner again.

[Fatsam]

If his confidence wasn't already shite going into the teper fight it's safe to say it's non existent now. I think a strong gust of wind from a missed hook would have him on his back now.

I think he needs a new trainer, few fights against lower level opposition to build him up a bit and claim to be a new and improved David Price with better defence. Then look for a cash out fight against Fury after he's recovered from his wladamauling.

[davie]

I'm not sure if people are confusing "will" and "should" in the OP poll

I don't think for a second Price will retire. It may briefly have crossed his mind in the direct aftermath of the fight, but there is no chance he will not fight on IMO

Should he? Well that's up for debate, I'd be incline to say he probably should unless he is content mixing at a lower level and occasionally getting sparked and running the risk of an injury

[lillywhite14]

Completely out there wasn't he? I think we make a gigantic mental leap for mankind in this country......the ABA champ is a drop in the ocean, in a medium sized country in a division known for being an 'extremity' and so not a lot of strength in depth.....and we take ours and suppose that because he's a big strapping lad he might be the future heavyweight world champion.
Might as well find a big lion and suppose he's the hardest on the Serenghetti. I think too much time in the amateurs getting your ego massaged is NO GOOD for the deep end.
I also think all that best amateur in England year in year creates a bit of a blindspot.

It was the Olympic bronze that got people thinking Price could do something as a pro. Chuck in a commonwealth gold and 3 ABA titles and he is Britains 3rd best ever Super Heavy. He certainly wasn't your 'average' ABA super heavy champ.

[crusader]

Also knocked out the tournament favorite on the way to the bronze.

[lillywhite14]

Also knocked out the tournament favorite on the way to the bronze.

Yeah, remember that being a shock. Timurziev wasn't it? Think I read he had suffered from some pretty serious health problems around that time though

[johnswan1]

I'd still give him a shot against Fury because he wouldn't need to fight scared against him.

Fury doesn't have the power and isn't relentless enough to make Price panic. I think a fight between them would be more of a boxing match, with Price the harder hitter and Fury the better stamina. You would have thought Price's skills would be miles ahead of Fury given his amateur career but he simply has not progressed in terms of skills or tactics in the pro game whereas Fury has.

[keithmoonhangover]

I think he should volunteer his services to Wladimir Klitschko, spend time in this training camp and see if he can get Jonathan Banks as his trainer.

Wlad was once in a position where his confidence was shattered and his chin looked to be made of glass. Wlad found a way to rebuild his confidence and protect his vulnerable chin. There's no reason why price couldn't do the same. He needs a hypnotist, like Nigel Benn used.

[gp.]

Completely out there wasn't he? I think we make a gigantic mental leap for mankind in this country......the ABA champ is a drop in the ocean, in a medium sized country in a division known for being an 'extremity' and so not a lot of strength in depth.....and we take ours and suppose that because he's a big strapping lad he might be the future heavyweight world champion.
Might as well find a big lion and suppose he's the hardest on the Serenghetti. I think too much time in the amateurs getting your ego massaged is NO GOOD for the deep end.
I also think all that best amateur in England year in year creates a bit of a blindspot.

It was the Olympic bronze that got people thinking Price could do something as a pro. Chuck in a commonwealth gold and 3 ABA titles and he is Britains 3rd best ever Super Heavy. He certainly wasn't your 'average' ABA super heavy champ.

Olympic/amateur boxing is really for kids and novices. If you stay in it until your late 20s, you are going to look better than you are. Audley being the prime example.

[gp.]

I'd still give him a shot against Fury because he wouldn't need to fight scared against him.

Fury doesn't have the power and isn't relentless enough to make Price panic. I think a fight between them would be more of a boxing match, with Price the harder hitter and Fury the better stamina. You would have thought Price's skills would be miles ahead of Fury given his amateur career but he simply has not progressed in terms of skills or tactics in the pro game whereas Fury has.

Because he stayed amateur too long. Should be a lesson to others. If you want to turn pro at some point; hanging around waiting years in amateur just so you can win an Olympic medal is never a good idea.

[crusader]

How old is too old for a heavyweight?

Price was still 24 to start the July before the August Olympic competition.

[crusader]

Also knocked out the tournament favorite on the way to the bronze.

Yeah, remember that being a shock. Timurziev wasn't it? Think I read he had suffered from some pretty serious health problems around that time though

Yes, he had health problems and did virtually nothing after qualifying for the Olympics in 2007. He faded into obscurity shortly after losing to Price and I'm not sure if he's even fought this decade.

In form he was an elite fighter though, and in addition to dropping and generally having his way with Camarelle at the 2006 Euros he widely beat Pulev and Helenius on his way to the title. With his aggression, big hitting, and relatively limited skills he was kind of like the Majidov of his time, though not as accomplished.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I'd still give him a shot against Fury because he wouldn't need to fight scared against him.

Fury doesn't have the power and isn't relentless enough to make Price panic. I think a fight between them would be more of a boxing match, with Price the harder hitter and Fury the better stamina. You would have thought Price's skills would be miles ahead of Fury given his amateur career but he simply has not progressed in terms of skills or tactics in the pro game whereas Fury has.

You're really saying Fury doesn't have the power to bother Price? I think Price would have been bothered by Chris Byrd.

It's hard to envisage a path for Price now, he'd have to have a long rehabilitation against a lot of tomato cans, but then what? As others have said, it's not just his chin but his defence, the guy is a sitting duck to anyone with B- level skills. I would favour Malik Scott to stop him...