David Price has successfully defended his Commonwealth and British titles – knocking out Matt Skelton in the second round – and is now aiming for the world title
Unbeaten, Price survived an early charge from Skelton to take full control of the fight going about his business strategically before picking off his Bedfordshire-born opposition, finally putting him to his knees with a vicious left hook to the body.
The referee for the evening, Richard Davies, began the count but Skelton’s corner had already thrown in the towel, conceding the contest.
After his victory Price, 29, told JMU Journalism how he dismantled Skelton: “I didn’t have time to think, he was right on me, I was shocked.
“But that was never going to last, I was just going to settle into the fight before I started to get my shots off, so it didn’t really bother me.”
Price’s victory has set him up with the opportunity to fight American Tony Thompson at the Echo Arena next February.
Price believes a ten-week training camp will be sufficient to take him into what he believes is a world level fight and just the stepping stones onto his preferred fight in Tyson Fury, who called the Liverpudlian out after his 82-second demolition of Audley Harrison.
Price told JMU Journalism: “That is the only fight that makes sense at a British level, but the fight between me and Fury, when we do fight will be at a world level, it is going to be massive.
“It is a fight that I am really longing for and it has to happen.”
Fight promoter Frank Maloney announced in the post-fight press conference that he has awarded full marks to Price for his performance in 2012 and that he has earned a break after his busy schedule.
Maloney went on to say: “He is now on the world stage, by the end of 2013 David Price will be ready to fight for a world title and win the world title.
“The whole team are happy with the way 2012 has gone.”