Tyson Fury wishes David Price good luck against Povetkin

Boxingnews24.com

By Tim Royner

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is wishing David Price (22-4, 18 KOs) the best of luck with his fight this Saturday night against Alexander Povetkin (33-1, 23 KOs) on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker card at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Povetkin is a big favorite to defeat the 34-year-old Price, and many boxing fans feel this is going to be a real slaughter. After great early start to his career, Price has gone downhill since 2013 with 4 losses. That’s not a lot of defeats for a fighter, but those losses occurred each time Price would step up against better opposition.

Price has never beaten a good fighter yet during his 9-year career, and it’s unlikely he’s going to suddenly show some talent by defeating Povetkin on Saturday.

”I want to wish David Price all the best in his fight with Povetkin,” Fury said on his social media site. “Povetkin is a former world champion, but he’s have the size of you. I’ve been up close to him. He’s very small compared to us. All you need to do David is land one punch on him, one detonating right hand. You’re catapulting yourself back into the heavyweight division, and you can get a fight against whoever after you knockout Povetkin. So, believe in yourself. You can do it. You are David Price, the knockout king of the heavyweight division, and I’ve got faith in you. Come on, David, do it for the northwest,” Fury said.

Price can get a title shot against IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua if he beats Povetkin. There would be a waiting period for Price to get a shot against Joshua. As long as Price doesn’t lose to whoever he faces while he waits on the Joshua fight, he should be able to get a title shot. Beating Povetkin is going to be awfully tough for Price.

The 6’8” Price has the power to beat the smaller 6’2” Povetkin, but what could keep him from winning is his chin and stamina. Povetkin has a big edge over Price in his ability to take punishment, and with his stamina. Povetkin is vulnerable to getting hurt. Wladimir Klitschko had Povetkin on the canvas four times in their fight in 2013. Each time Wladimir connected cleanly with a hard shot, he knocked Povetkin down. It was the size and power difference that was giving Povetkin so many problems against Wladimir. Price is even bigger than Wladimir, and he’s almost as powerful. If Price can land enough of his shots cleanly to the head and body of Povetkin on Saturday, he could knock him out. It’s going to be a race against time for Price. He’s little more than a 5-round fighter at best. After the 5th, Price gasses out and crumbles. Price says he’s had a hard training camp, but it’s not likely that he’s improved his stamina enough to beat a guy like Povetkin. Price needs to go after Povetkin early and hope he can knock him out.

Fury is expected to relaunch his career on June 9 against a tune-up opponent. While he’s talked about wanting to fight Shannon Briggs, that fight probably won’t take place until later this year if at all. Fury’s June 9th fight is likely to be against a lower level domestic level fighter.