David Price has lavished praise on world heavyweight champion and former sparring partner, Anthony Joshua ahead of the 4th defence of his world heavyweight title when catching up with Sky Sports. He shares the belief that none of the current crop of heavyweights have enough in their locker to deal with the threat of ‘AJ’. While Price also made the admission his fellow heavyweight is a ‘class act’ and went on to argue that he’d pay to watch him fight, citing he is one of a very few to provide value for money.
Price started off by touching on the rumoured sparring meeting between himself and Joshua who was still at the early stages of his career. “That was a long time ago. Sparring normally gets kept under wraps, but I let the cat out the bag because I thought I could get a fight with ‘AJ’.
Price did, however, go on to explain he felled a relative novice Joshua with a mighty right hand “A big right hand of mine put him flat on his face and he had to be helped out the ring. Although he was young, big men can land big punches, he’ll be the first to admit it.” Price said.
Price evaluated the progress Joshua has made over the course of his professional career and its safe to say he has been impressed from what he has seen. “There are very few weaknesses in his game and the ones that he does have, they can be polished. I’m not saying that he is the perfect fighter, but there isn’t much room for improvement, he’s coming to his physical and technical peak.
Price also touched on ‘AJ’s next opponent, an unknown quantity to many in the UK but Price shared what he knows “I know a bit about Takam, when you’re a heavyweight boxer, you’re always aware of who is about and who is a danger at your weight … Takam has always been seen as a danger in the division. Other than an early loss in his career, he has only lost to Povetkin and Parker, so he is no pushover.” Price certainly feels Takam will be more than a competitive and has proven he has the credentials for the grand stage in Cardiff this weekend, after being tried and tested against world level opposition such as Povetkin and the current WBO heavyweight champion Parker.
“I don’t actually think any active heavyweight can beat Joshua right now, including myself, but Price was quick to add “one big shot” can change everything, specifically in the heavyweight division. But David Price is of the opinion that the only person who could possibly pose a threat to Joshua, is former undefeated, unified heavyweight kingpin Tyson Fury (25-0) “The only fighter who would test him is Tyson Fury” Price said of Fury who is currently awaiting a resolution to his anti-doping hearing. However given how he has spiralled out of control following the fallout of his ban, Price has doubts over Fury’s ability to return to full fighting fitness saying “whether he could get in the shape to take him on, you don’t know.”
On a final note, Price delivered his prediction ahead of the action this Saturday night and expects Joshua to close out the show in emphatic fashion early “It’s phenomenal what he is doing at the minute. Takam is the test now and I think they will stand and meet fire with fire in an exciting fight. It’s a different style for ‘AJ’ but I think he stops him inside four rounds.”