Super-bantam prospect Hopey Price believes he will illustrate his greater pedigree when he meets Zahid Hussain in an all-Leeds clash at The SSE Arena, Wembley, on February 13.
Southpaw Price, still just 20, enjoyed a highly successful stint in the amateurs, peaking with a gold medal at the Youth Olympics in 2018. Now a 3-0, 1 KO pro, Price believes he will show his credentials in the unpaid code and longer term potential against former Central Area featherweight champion Hussain (16-1, 2 KOs).
“Most people would look at someone who’s 3-0 fighting a 16-1 fighter as a big step-up, but for me I take it in my stride,” insisted the Dave Coldwell-trained Price. “I will prove how good I am and I’m looking to steal the show.
“I want to prove I’m the next big thing to come from Leeds. There’s levels to boxing and I will show in this fight that I’m levels above Zahid Hussain. If I keep putting on these good performances then I’ll continue to be on the good shows.
“I don’t feel I’m far off title level but I’m still only young. As soon as Dave and [promoter] Eddie [Hearn] give me the green light then I’ll be ready to bring belts back. I think the fans are going to watch me and think, ‘Wow, who is this kid!’ I want to people to say, ‘This kid is special’.
“I’m not in this game to just become a British champion, I want to be one of the all-time greats. If I am going to get there then I need to take these types of fights and show how good I am. I believe I should be beating guys at this level in style.
“On February 13, you’re going to see a big improvement from me. Fight Camp was an amazing experience and against Johnny Phillips I stepped out of the journeyman bracket and fought someone who was coming to win, which only means you’ll see a better Hopey Price.”
Price-Hussain will be live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN worldwide on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s featherweight clash with Mauricio Lara.