No shame for David Price, career a success whatever happens

[Ruthless-RKO]

Winning an Olympic bronze medal and claiming British heavyweight title glory mean David Price can look back on his career with satisfaction no matter where the big man’s future lies.

At 33 years old and with four stoppage losses to his name, some have been quick to criticize Price via social media and beyond following a high-profile defeat to Christian Hammer on Saturday night.

Whether he decides enough is enough for a possible career as a pundit or to give it one last go in the ring, those accolades can never be taken away from Price and will eventually outweigh the low points. In years to come, Price won’t be remembered as ‘the heavyweight who got knocked out a few times’, he’ll be known as the former Lonsdale Belt holder and Beijing 2008 semi-finalist who consistently dreamt big to the vast majority of UK fans.

Price has stamina problems, we all know that, but at 6ft 8ins tall and with a rigid frame, it would be tough for anyone to have coped with the scenario of coming in heavy for brutality or lighter to be fresh in the later rounds - with such bulk to carry.

Hammer knew after two rounds he just had to get through the worst blows Price could muster until around the fourth or fifth, but was almost knocked out for his trouble and knew surviving being dropped meant victory was his to take.

There’s no doubt Price will need some time to reflect on what transpired in London, but the general consensus was the weight he carried was all wrong and dropping a couple of stone could be key to enjoying some further successes moving forward.

Having won the British belt outright in 2012, a European title would be a sound target for ‘Pricey’ should he decide to regroup and work on the obvious issues that mean his tank empties so quickly.

As a physical specimen, Price has nothing to worry about and those question marks over his chin are largely due to the defenceless state running out of gas leaves him in once the fuel has burned up and his hands drop.

[Stuarty]

His career promised so much in the early stages then he got found out. No shame in that but I reckon he'll no doubt have more than a few regrets. I hope he hangs em up and I wish him the best with whatever he decides to do. Seems a decent enough guy.

[TheGingerBomber]

I think anyone who wins a British title has had an okay to brilliant career, but I agree with certain people's sentiments that he's had a worse career than Audley! It's disappointing, but if Price wants to go on I'd happily watch him fight for British title with Sexton, Allen, Cornish and Lewinson, not to mention Gorman and Sheehan.

[Tangerine]

sorry but i dont agree with that at all.

David Price will forever be known as the guy who promised so much early on and never delivered,he will never shake that.People are not going to forget in a few decades,just like they wont forget about Audleys failure as a pro.He won that British title easily,he could and should have won and held a European title at least.

His career is full of regrets from bad matchmaking to numerous trainers to believing the doubt in his own mind.This should have been all avoided and maybe its harsh to blame soley him for it all.

My feeling with it is he's obviously better than he shows on fight night but the doubt has crept in so much and he has believed it himself more and more and more since the moment Thompson put him down to the moment hes stopped on his feet by Hammer.imagine the pressure he puts himself under going into these fights,all eyes on him(or at least feeling like they are..) its quite unique.i can certainly sense the "everyones just tuning into see if pricey gets sparked out" whenever he fights more than any other fighter,again massive pressure on the guy.

i say all this as a big fan of Price,always backed him to carry on but now I see no future for him in fighting anymore

[Lenny]

It's the immediate Thompson rematch that did for him. Haye didn't jump straight back in against the cat, he went and got a first round knockout before beating some shopworn domestic level fighters before the ultimate confidence boosting fight he could in Girov. Price should have done something similar.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, with proper matchmaking he should have got himself a title shot and gone into it with enough confidence to give himself a punchers chance.

[SAPFO]

Get back to British level and get the rounds in. He learned nothing early on bombing people out.

AJ will find this out soon enough.

[Lenny]

He's not going to be able to get the rounds in. It's not possible.
His only hope is to go back to trying to knock people out within 3 rounds and keeping clear of anybody durable. It's too late though

[chad]

As a boxer who struggled to last more than 12 minutes he did incredibly well to pick up the British and Commonwealth titles. Anything above that he was found out. If he was playing out the first 3 years of his career today I doubt he'd win any titles. I think guys like Dillian Whyte and Hughie Fury would be able to deal with him.

[Horse]

He should try to win the Lonsdale belt outright and never feel the need to step up in level again.

[dirk2686]

Get back to British level and get the rounds in. He learned nothing early on bombing people out.

AJ will find this out soon enough.

But it was at British level that he wasn't getting rounds in precisely because nobody was living with him. He'd had ten fights against the usual cannon fodder, and then in succession, Tom Dallas (unbeaten at the time) - won in two, John McDermott (first round KO), Sam Sexton (won in the fourth), Audley Harrison (stopped in the first) and Matt Skelton (second round KO).

Conditioning has to have a played in the latest fights though. Up to Teper he was a constant 245-250, but since he's been over 270 three on the spin and was nearly 30 pounds over what he probably should have been for Hammer. That only points towards a change of approach in his training which manifestly hasn't worked - he was exhausted.

Joshua could go either way to be fair. Everyone said the same about Wilder and then he did a proper 12 round job on Stiverne.

[SAPFO]

What I meant was the play with the opponent more rather than take them out. A comfortable level where he can see what works for him. There is no doubt Fury's early rounds have stood him in good stead.

[boxingknockout]

This sounds vicious but he's basically a failure and a bum considering the hype and his potential.

[Taansend]

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

Get a bunch of big punching heavyweights all fighting in one night & they'd lap it up.

David Price
Charles Martin
Trey Lippe
Travis Kauffman
Chris Arreola
Shannon Briggs
Nathan Gorman
Jun Long Zhang

Cheap PPV in the US & UK & free in China

[BitPlayer]

He's not world level, not near. There's no shame in that, like you said he's achieved a lot, though I think he should hang up his gloves, mostly because I like him and don't want to see him hurt. Maybe have a go at winning the British belt outright and end on a high.

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

Get a bunch of big punching heavyweights all fighting in one night & they'd lap it up.

David Price
Charles Martin
Trey Lippe
Travis Kauffman
Chris Arreola
Shannon Briggs
Nathan Gorman
Jun Long Zhang

Cheap PPV in the US & UK & free in China

Actually, this sounds cool.

[Horse]

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

It worked for Audley.

[handsofstone]

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

It worked for Audley.

3 times

[Taansend]

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

It worked for Audley.

3 times

But now Eddie wants to promote in the USA. Have the new Prizefighter somewhere in Florida so a bunch of British can come over and spend a week chilling here.

And I could go too

[elephant man]

The harsh reality is that he was simply nowhere near the level the hype suggested. Maloney was calling him the new Lewis, Bellew the heir apparent to Wladimir Klitschko etc all based on knocking out Audley Harrison and John McDermott. He'd faced literally no resistance until he stepped up against Tony Thompson who, if you recall, looked like he'd hardly trained a day for the fight. After seeing the weigh in most people expected an easy win over an unmotivated and lazy veteran. His lack of punch resistance, shown up in the amateurs, was brutally shown up but some people made excuses. 'It was a lucky shot,' 'Caught him in a weird place' and the instant rematch was made.

Now, in hindsight people will say the rematch shouldn't have happened straight away but if he avoided the Tiger fans would have criticised him and, if we're being really honest, if you have to avoid a 43 yr old Thompson coming in almost 20lbs fatter than he did for the biggest fight of his life against Wladimir Klitschko, then you might as well forget about becoming the next dominant heavyweight on the planet.

Facts are facts, his technique, lack of punch resistance and awful stamina allowed him to get as far as he possibly could. Of course he can look back and be proud of his career, he'll achieve more than any of us but if we're honest, not many fans will look back at his career fondly or as a success. How many look back on Harrison's career as a success? Olympic gold, Euro champ, world title challenger - better than Price, yet his career was a disaster for the most part because he had the potential when turning pro to achieve way more.

Price should retire but as a boxing fan I enjoy watching him fight because of his power, obvious flaws and vulnerability. He will always be in fun fights but if you can't beat someone as bang average as Hammer then I don't see why he'd bother putting himself through more camps and more beatings.

[elephant man]

He needs to beg Eddie to resurrect the Prizefighter nights. I'm sure they'd do well in the US where people like things done quickly.

If he could get the rules changed to one round instead of three he could win.

[Kit]

Just one ABA title would have done me. I would even settle for a final.

[forcefraser]

Obviously a British title is a feat to be proud of, but Pricey will not be remembered for that if he hangs them up now.

He´ll be remembered as one of the biggest hype jobs in recent times, who never beat even a semi top level opponent as a pro and got stopped each time he stepped up even slightly. His best win was Sexton, Skelton, Audley or Tom Dallas. That puts it into perspective.

He was touted as a nailed on future champ, set to reign after Klitschko, ready to smash Fury. I bought into it myself.

Ultimately he will be remembered for his failings rather than the success he has had. It`s maybe not right, but that`s the truth.

The big stiff idiot comment by Fury will also be linked with him I`m afraid.

It puzzles me still that a guy of his size and amateur pedigree has no jab to speak of.

People talk about his chin and yes it is poor. He took some decent digs from Hammer and from Thompson in the second fight, but he does not react well to them.

However the first Thompson fight was a cuffing shot with nothing on it at all and the Teper punch was actually not that heavy when you watch it in slow motion. Both absolutely destroyed him.

He`ll get hurt if he keeps going and I for one would not like to see that.

[Horse]

His best win was Sexton, Skelton, Audley or Tom Dallas. That puts it into perspective.

Wrong.

[forcefraser]

His best win was Sexton, Skelton, Audley or Tom Dallas. That puts it into perspective.

Wrong.

Sorry Horse, please forgive me. It`s called an opinion.

Who you got? McDermott?

[elephant man]

Don't forget Big Bad John

[Horse]

Sorry Horse, please forgive me. It`s called an opinion.

Who you got? McDermott?

Your opinion is awful if you think that Dallas might be his best win.