Boxing News Boxing News
For a very brief period, Liverpool’s Echo Arena was alive last night with the reverberations of heavyweight David Price’s gloved right hand connecting to the head of opponent Audley Harrison.
Undefeated British and Commonwealth champion Price made a mockery of ex-world title challenger Harrison’s challenge in all of 82 seconds, in which Harrison quite possibly didn’t connect with a single punch.
Price actually didn’t do much better, landing about three but they were all very heavy rights that separated Harrison from his senses, the third and final shot appeared to have the challenger out on his feet before he was bundled over, ending the contest in the very first round.
It wasn’t much of a fight up until that point. Both men pawing with their forward hands, looking to set up a power shot. The surprising thing was that Harrison actually was attempting to pressure Price, who at 6’8 tall, dwarfed the normally towering 6’5 Audley.
Price was patient, waiting for the moment when his southpaw opponent would go off balance and Harrison did just that when missing a big left but the champion waited still.
At just over a minute in, Price lashed out and struck an off-balance Harrison with a thundering right, staggering the 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist but Harrison showed heart to keep his feet.
Harrison backed onto the ropes where Price rammed home another right and it appeared that Harrison was near defenseless when Price struck again with his primary weapon.
Harrison swooned, help up by an arm in the ropes when he was bulled over by an over-anxious Price, prompting referee Howard Foster to pull the plug at 1:22 of the first frame.
Price, now 14-0 (12), himself a-former Olympic medallist, heads into a clash scheduled for December with brawler Matt Skelton, a former British and Commonwealth king.
Late bloomer Skelton at 45 years of age is half a decade past his rough and ready best but should provide Price with more experience and build toward a domestic level super fight with Manchester’s Tyson Fury.
Harrison, age 40, will ideally retire as he has very little left to give after going 28-6 (21) during an 11 year career.
