David Price vs. Sergei Kuzmin: Fight Preview
Last March (2018), David Price, came within seconds of erasing five years of being on the wrong side of devastating KO victories that began with two back to back loses Tony Thompson in 2013, when the Liverpudlian was knocked out yet again by Russian Olympic gold medallist, Alexander Povetkin. It is increasingly hard to remember but back in 2012, Price was Britain's next Lennox Lewis, an Olympic bronze medallist and then the reigning British and Commonwealth champion, David Price was widely believed to be fated to become what ultimately Anthony Joshua became, the biggest star in British boxing. After getting knocked out by American heavyweight Tony Thompson and Germany’s Erkan Teper, however, his fortunes quickly changed for the worse, and it was his amateur rival Tyson Fury and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua who became Lennox Lewis’s new potential successors in British heavyweight boxing.
In the wake of his defeats it eventually emerged that both Thompson and Teper had failed drug tests, and Price attempted to make a comeback based on the argument that he had never been defeated professionally by a clean opponent in a fair fight. It was a good narrative, with the benefit of being true. Unfortunately, after a further two knockouts, to Christian Hammer and Alexander Povetkin respectively, it is clear that Price might possess a knockout punch only second to Deontay Wilder in the current heavyweight division, but Price is also the most vulnerable of the super heavyweights.
After almost knocking out Povetkin in his last fight, on the undercard of Joshua-Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Price deserved one last chance to prove that he is not ready for retirement yet. Step in unbeaten Russian prospect, Sergey Kuzmin, 31, who boasts a record of 9 knockouts in 13 contests.
With over 80,000 fans expected to be in attendance at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, most of them British, Price has both home advantage and experience on his side. Is it possible that Price’s prior experience in Stadium fights will give him an edge over his younger opponent? Whatever happens, do not expect this one to go to distance, it may just come down to whoever lands the knockout blow first. A win might land Price a long-awaited all British showdown with Dereck Chisora, who has already revived his career with his shocking upset win against Carlos Takam. A fight with fellow MTK Global fighter Tyson Fury is also not completely unthinkable, if Fury was to lose to Deontay Wilder and was looking for a comeback opponent that could set records on BT Sport. Another brutal knockout would leave Price competing at domestic level fighting on MTK Boxnation cards until another up and coming prospect tries to capitalising on his name value.