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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.”

thirlwall would be a good fight for pryce next, see what bradley has left and see if matthew fancies the job too...

Thirwall is barely area title class

Things what gripes me about Pryce and Maccarinelli is the lack of credit for the guys who bashed them. Both knocked out but blamed on lack of sparring in Enzo's case and weight in Bradley's.

Yeah, I agree Thirlwall would be an easy night for Pryce.

chris s wrote:Things what gripes me about Pryce and Maccarinelli is the lack of credit for the guys who bashed them. Both knocked out but blamed on lack of sparring in Enzo's case and weight in Bradley's.

Yeah, I agree Thirlwall would be an easy night for Pryce.

Not true. Macca clearly stated he took his opponent too lightly and that he turned out to be much better than he thought. He gave plenty of credit to him.

Not wanting to be too harsh on Enzo who has just come off a heavy defeat but at what part was he humble?

Where he said they could fight 1 million more times and Ola wouldn't win again? That Ola was a worse fighter than Hobson, Braithwaite and Domingez? When he is blaming whatever he can think of including stating he has had blood tests because there must be something wrong he then boasted as weak as he was, he was still pushing Ola around the ring?

Yep, humble stuff from old Macca there

I always thought that Pryce was more a natural welter and looked a bit flabby at light-middle so can't see how moving up in weight will help him at all?

He isn't in shape at LMW, he could easily get in better shape than he is, at 168 he'll be more blown up and take a pasting, too small and weak for the weight

Bradley needs to focus thats all. He can make 154 easy I would say.

At this rate he'll end up being our very own Guillermo Jones!

Deserter wrote:I always thought that Pryce was more a natural welter and looked a bit flabby at light-middle so can't see how moving up in weight will help him at all?

My thoughts exactly. If anything he should be looking to return to welterweight IMO.

I thought Bradley looked a bit soft around the edges the other night, certainly not weight drained.

Super Middle?? He's having a laugh.

Coco wrote:Thirwall is barely area title class

i disagree, thirlwall is better than area class, he has just not realised his potential (?? lifestyle, training, women etc etc)

but, thirlwall is a bigger man than pryce, thirlwall is a natural middleweight/super-middle and would therefore tell us if pryce can take the heavier shots.

personally i think it would be a good 10 rounder if it came off. and dont forget, thirlwall can hit very hard when he is motivated.

...the last four words are key Rhino.

Thirwell is a middle at best in my opinion.

yes dave, but he is a real middle, pryce is a lardy LM, and thirlwall would not want to be anyones stepping stone, i reckon he would KO pryce...

When did Matt last fight 19.....

I'd be suprised if pryce steps up.He came up from light-welter.I always thoguht that welterweight was his best weight but he seems to have stuck at middle.I felt sorry for him last week.He's been matched tough his whole career, put some very good wins together and then had no fights for ages and then gets knocked out.He deserves better than that.

Pryce and Maccarinelli complaining of ring rustyness. Who do you blame the fighters, allegedly or Enzo Calzaghe?

I dont think Enzo is doing enough as a trainer with some fighters and things arent happening for these boys at the moment. I think Nathan Cleverly made a really good decision to leave :P

Pryce has had problems with alcohol in recent times so if he was weight drained, then I figure he struggled to make 11st because of a lack of discipline!

I just do not see him being big or strong enough at SMW!