TO even his own surprise, David Price’s career is back on track.
Price was looking to build towards a shot at the British heavyweight championship – and instead finds himself one right hand from Anthony Joshua.
The 34 year-old meets Alexander Povetkin on the Joshua-Joseph Parker undercard at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday, March 31 – and Povetkin is the mandatory for the WBA belt Joshua holds.
“I wasn’t expecting something like this so soon,” said Price, definitely one of boxing’s good guys. “This really has come from nowhere.
“Realistically, I thought a fight like this was a way off.
“The plan was to get back to British-title level – and then this came up.
“There’s no way I couldn’t turn it down.
“It’s funny how things turn out. If you had said at the start of my career I would be fighting Alexander Povetkin in 2018 that would have been in my plans.
“Just getting the fight has put me back on track.”
Price was hoping for a shot at Joshua in December, 2016 after a possible fight with Wladimir Klitschko fell through.
The choice was either Price or Eric Molina – and Price did his best to get the fight by bringing up the time he chinned Joshua in sparring.
Joshua’s handlers went for Molina instead – and Price fought Christian Hammer and lost.
The thoughtful Scouser considers that to be “my first legitimate loss,” as previous conquerors Tony Thompson (twice) and Erkan Teper failed drugs tests.
Povetkin has a chequered past himself, of course.
He was excluded from the major governing bodies rankings after twice failing drugs tests before returning last summer with a points win over gatekeeper Andriy Rudenko.
Povetkin followed that with a win over Hammer, improving his record to 33-1. The only loss was inflicted by Wladimir Klitschko in October, 2013.
“He’s not the biggest,” said Price of the Russian, “but he’s a good fighter. He’s beaten some good people and only lost to Klitschko.”
Price has been watching Povetkin for a long time.
“When I first came on the international scene in the amateurs, he was the daddy,” said Price. “When I was 19, 20, being able to compete with Povetkin was the goal. He was the main man. We were at a couple of tournaments together, but we never fought.”
Price strikes you as someone who doesn’t always have complete faith in himself.
Former trainer Dave Coldwell said as much and ahead of this fight with Povetkin, every time Price finds something positive to say about his chances, he seems to immediately find a negative. He takes confidence from being much bigger than Povetkin, but then Povetkin has better wins on his record.
Price accepts defeat is a real possibility – he plans to carry on and try to recapture the British title should that happen – and when he spoke to Boxing Social, he kept repeating how “grateful” he is to get this opportunity against Povetkin.
But at the same time, Price does get a good feeling when he thinks about this fight.
“I believe the timing is right for me,” he said. “He is 38 years old now, he’s looking at this fight as a showcase for a Joshua fight . . .
“I have everything to gain.
“I know people write me off – and who can blame them? I promised so much and I haven’t delivered yet. People put their faith in me and they feel I let them down. It’s worse for me. I have to deal with that every day. I haven’t got where I want to be. Yet.
“My career has all been about ifs and buts. If Thompson had stayed down in the rematch and things like that . . .
“But if I get a good 12-week training camp with some good tough sparring, I’ve got every chance of winning and fighting for the world title.
“I know it has to be the best me, the best I’ve ever been, to compete with him.
“I’m around seven inches taller and that’s a massive advantage, but he has achieved more. His style is to get close and throw bent-arm shots. He has a good left hook. We know what to expect. It’s all about getting the preparations right and then dealing with it on the night.
“I’m training better than ever and I know I have the power to change a fight at any time. But then again, so do most heavyweights . . . “