At six foot eight & nearly 250 pounds David Price 7-0(5) commands respect from his piers. It hasn’t all been plane sailing for the 2008 Olympic Bronze medallist since going pro, he endured a frustrating wait before finally getting started only to find that start was to be stunted while others from the 2008 Olympic team were getting regular action. After Setanta crashed and David Hayes’s Hayemaker company no longer had TV dates Price decided to go with Frank Maloney who had among others successfully moved Lennox Lewis to the Heavyweight title. It’s something Price hopes will rub off on him, since signing with Maloney Price has been kept far busier. He fights this Saturday in London and hopes to use the win as a spring board to a big 12 months in which he hopes he can win his first title’s as a pro.
Hello David, welcome back to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – It’s been awhile since we spoke, how are things? What’s news?
David Price – Things are great my girlfriend just gave birth to our second child, a little boy David. That was August so I’ve been busy over the summer. I knuckled down now in training for my next fight which is 16 October, so I’m working hard in the gym with my trainer Frannie Smith and also my strength and condition trainer James Morton at the John Moore University in Liverpool. It’s going well, I feel I’m progressing in this camp physically & technically.
Anson Wainwright – What about away from the ring?
David Price – I’ve been doing bit’s of work with Liverpool F.C TV going on chat shows, phone in’s & debates little things like that because I’m a big Liverpudlian and have a bit of a profile in the City being an Olympian so they invite me on from time to time. Just that type of thing really.
Anson Wainwright – As you say you’ll be back in action on the 16 October who will you be fighting? Is it a 6 rounder or 8 rounder?
David Price – It’s due to be an 8 rounder so I’m hoping we can get a suitable opponent. We’ll be ready for a 8 rounder but it’s 1 and a half weeks out and still no sign of an opponent. A couple of names have been mentioned but I’ll have to see what happens, but I can’t really mention them.
Anson Wainwright – Will they be a step up for you would you say?
David Price – Yeah definitely. One name that has been mentioned if it goes through will definitely be a step up. Whether it happens we’ll see. All I can do is keep training in the gym and sparring up & train as if it’s a world title fight. I’m leaving nothing to chance no matter who the opponent is. So hopefully I’ll get in and they’ll extend me a bit at least.
Anson Wainwright – Though you don’t want to look past this fight, what are your plan of where you’d like to be in the next 6 months to a year?
David Price – I definitely want to be knocking on the door for the British title. Looking at what’s out there there’s nothing for me to fear at all. So I’m confident that in the next six to twelve months as long as I get there right learning fights. The next two or three fights are going to be important to me as far opponents are concerned because they could stand me in good stead for title fights which I’m expecting in 2011. That’s what I’m looking for British level then move on from there.
Anson Wainwright – You’ve been a pro now for 18 months how do you think you have adapted to the pro game?
David Price – At first it was a big transition, I concentrated on my power base punching and things like that. But the more we’ve delved into things. We’re working on a lot of different things. Some times we even work on the things that gave me success in the amateur’s like my speed, my speed of feet but what we’re trying to maximise my height, that’s a big advantage we’re trying to take a lot on board from what the Klitschko’s do because I’m a similar size and similar build to them. We’re trying to take there good points and bring them into my game. Obviously it’s more of a marathon than a sprint so I’m having to pace myself a lot more. When I first turned pro, in my first fight I think every single shot I threw was a power shot and I realised I can’t do that these fella’s are tough and you can’t just take them out you need to punch pick a bit more. We’re working on a lot in the gym. That’s why I’m hoping for someone who at least stands up a few rounds and show what I’ve worked on in the gym and what’s in store for the future.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?
David Price – Frank Maloney is my promoter & manager, Frannie Smith is my trainer he was head trainer at Salisbury ABC through out 1990’s and early 2000’s and it was the regarded as the best amateur club in the country. The reason I took Frannie on board is because when I first turned pro Adam Booth wanted me to have a Liverpool based trainer at the same time as him being my main trainer so I asked Frannie Smith if he’d do it. Out of all the coaches in the amateur’s he was probably adapted to the pro’s better than most. So I asked him to come back and he did. We ended up working more together after the split with Hayemaker, but it seems to be a great decision he’s got a good boxing brain, he’s forward thinking in his training methods. He’s learning all the time taking things on board off every trainer he speaks too. It’s just me and him, there’s no one else involved so i get a 100% of his attention, it’s working well I think. We use Long Lane ABC the club I very first started with and I’ve kept a good relationship with them over the years. They’ve got good facility’s good full size ring, loads of equipment, showers everything we need really. We just go in there first thing in the morning when no one’s there do our thing. Then later on we use Liverpool John Moore University which has better facilities than most I’d say as regards weights and conditioning equipment so we all use that and James Morton who’s a doctor in sport science, he works for Liverpool FC as a nutritionist so he’s held in high regard, it’s good to work with someone as professional as him. So we use that in the night. We use the track (Running track) at Wavertree.
Anson Wainwright – Do Hayemaker still have any part of you interms as promotional rights etc?
David Price – I’m completely with Frank Maloney now.
Anson Wainwright – You have previously said you have sparred with several top fighters at Heavyweight can you name some of the guys and how did those sessions go?
David Price – I sparred with obviously David Haye, Kali Meehan the Australian Heavyweight who fought for the World Heavyweight title, Vladimir Virchis and I sparred with Albert Sosnowski. Out of all of them David Haye was the best. I’d still say i held my own, i never felt out of my depth with Haye. They all have nice things to say about me, obviously sparrings different but it’s been good scope for the future.
Anson Wainwright – The British scene while not in a age is pretty hot with several interesting fights further down the road including Dereck Chisora, Sam Sexton, Tom Dallas, Tyson Fury, Matt Skelton to name a few how do you see things on that front?
David Price – All those guys aren’t bad fighters, i’d rate Chisora highest out of most of them, i’d put myself above all of them. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a fighter being confident in himself, i think we should all believe. I was number one in the country as an amateur for a long time, i know it’s a different game but i’m going to adapt to what needs to be done. That’s my belief in myself as a fighter.
Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on Chisora’s win over Sexton?
David Price – I thought it was a good win. I thought Sexton’s fights with Rogan might of stood him in better stead. But Chisora dug deep and i think it was battle of wits and he was the stronger one on the night. But still the type of fighter Chisora is style wise might suit me but it remains to be seen. I’m confident i could beat anyone at domestic level, which is why it’s important Frank Maloney gets me the right opponent’s in my next fights to get me that learning experience and move on from there.
Anson Wainwright – How do you see the Haye-Harrison fight going & what do you think of that fight?
David Price – When I first heard about it I though maybe this was Audley Harrison’s time but I’ve though about it properly and my conclusion is that David Haye’s going to win the fight within five rounds I think he’s better in every department that Audley Harrison and it’ll show on the night.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?
David Price – Thanks with being patient with things, because a couple of my last opponents have been not up to scratch but keep that little bit of belief, keep the faith. And thanks for the support.
Thanks for your time Dave, good luck on with the fight.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
