David Price Versus Tony Thompson Heavyweight Fight Preview
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
Rising British heavyweight prospect David Price, age 29, (15-0, 15 knockouts) of Liverpool, England, United Kingdom, squares off against 41 year old southpaw heavyweight contender Tony Thompson of Washington, District of Columbia, United States, (26-3, 24 knockouts) in a crossroads bout which brings back memories of the height disparity Jack Johnson faced when he lost his world heavyweight title to Jess Willard at Oriental Park in Havana, Cuba, on April 5, 1915, nearly a century ago.
The 12 round Price versus Thompson bout is the main event of a 12 bout card which will take place at Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Hopefully, Price’s bout with southpaw Thompson will last longer than Price’s 82 second knockout of 41 year old 6’5 1/2″ southpaw Audley Harrison in October 2012. Tickets for Price versus Thompson are available online at http://www.echoarena.com/whats_on/boxing.asp or watch online via www.Wealthtv.com
At 41, heavyweight contender Tony Thompson has lost only twice in the past 12 years-both in heavyweight title bouts to Wladimir Klitschko. While inactive for the past seven months, his record of experience-36 wins in 39 fights, with 24 knockouts-gives him somewhat of an edge against unbeaten British hope David Price. Thompson has faced such unbeaten heavyweights as DeSean Harper, Robert Anderson, Eric Kirkland, Dane Dunston, Chester Hughes and Yanqui Diaz, so facing 15-0 David Price should not phase Thompson more so than the others.
Monte Barrett and Kevin Johnson are among the American heavyweights who have traveled to Great Britain and failed in recent memory. The best way for a legitimate American heavyweight to win in Great Britain is to do it like Muhammad Ali-just stop your opponent early, as he did with Henry Cooper. Or, as in the logic of the late great Jerry Quarry, just take the British and European Heavyweight champion and knock him out in the first round, as Quarry did with Jack Bodell in November 1971 in Wembley Arena in London.
Bodell is a significant reference because Tony Thompson-like Bodell-is a southpaw. Bodell is 6’1″. Thompson is 6’5″. Quarry was a short yet extremely powerful orthodox counterpuncher. Here Thompson must choose to get off first against the taller fighter, or counterpunch upwards. Due to Price’s height, he cannot stand in front of him for long, or he will go down hard. Thompson, 41, must not only outwork his opponent, he will need superior movement to put rounds in the bank. That will only happen if Price gives him the chance. The fighter who asserts authority first in this affair has a great advantage. Kevin Johnson could not win a round on two judges scorecards against Tyson Fury in December 2012 in Belfast. If Price is cautious in the opening rounds, Thompson can assert authority and seize the momentum, if he moves well and doesn’t get hurt. 12 rounds is a long night.
Height is always an advantage. When you are taller you can punch down, so it hurts more when you are shorter, you punch up, which takes away from your power and makes you tired in along fight. Thompson had trouble with Wladimir Klitschko, who is 6’6″. Price stands 6’8″.
Thompson as a southpaw may or not have an advantage, depending on whether or not the Price camp has properly prepared for a southpaw. Thompson will do what southpaws normally do-use the right jab, the right hook, and straight left hand, and keep the right foot outside of Price’s front left foot.
Look at Adrian Broner versus Gavin Rees last weekend in their lightweight title matchup in Atlantic City, and you can see what a rough time Rees had in a long fight trying to punch upwards at a ridiculously taller Broner as his target. Rees tried to mix it early, but in the long run couldn’t cut it, and got chopped down by Broner. Tony Thompson is now to go in with David Price, a very tall fighter, perhaps the tallest heavyweight in recent years. He will have to fight a vicious war!
Price, the latest in the heavyweight British invasion of David Haye and Tyson Fury and himself, must keep his right foot on the outside of Thompson’s left foot and connect inside with massive power. it is this technique which enabled Price to dispose of Sax Sexton, Audley Harrison, Matt Skelton, Raphael Butler, Osborne Machimana and Tom Dallas. Thompson, on the other hand, disposed of Maurice Harris early-he can hit with power too, especially on the inside if he gets there.
As one of Britain’s big three, Price has been protected. Tyson Fury is angling for a bout with Steve Cunningham. David Haye wants a bout with Dr. Vitali Klitschko. Price will therefore not find a potential bout with Fury or Haye in the near future.
Power punching ids going to be the key behind this bout. Thompson has got to get to the inside immediately, land power shots to the head and body, and break Price down like he did with Harris. Price has to use his height advantage to land power shots like rain and get the aging 41 year old Thompson out of there. Like Cedric Boswell, Thompson is aging but tough, and only the hardest of hard hitting power hitters can deal with Thompson.
Prediction: Price by knockout in seven rounds, OR Thompson Win Majority Decision in ten rounds. Thompson’s best chance in a lengthy technical bout is to draw the bout into the eighth round, the boogeyman’s twilight zone, where Price has never been. Thompson can do some real damage in a long fight, provided he doesn’t get hit by any late thunder thrown by price. Also, the fighter who lands the better power shots has a better chance of winning this bout, by moving forward with pressure and cutting off the ring.
In Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez IV, Pacquiao landed 94 of 256 punches, to Marquez 52 of 246. Pacquiao landed 68 of 148 power shots to Marquez 41 of 150 power shots. The only flaw in the Pacquiao game plan was Marquez was a superior counterpuncher, and landed the better and most effective power shots accurately, and ultimately with more lethal authority. Thompson must do the same.
Price’s 6’8″ frame means Thompson cannot outwork Price if the bout is fought inside of a telephone booth in center ring. Thompson will have to mix his punches well with a good defense to keep David Price at bay and remain in the house.
For Tony Thompson, the David Price bout is probably the swan song. His only other bout would be with WBA heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin if he wins this bout, not the Klitschkos. Tony Thompson versus David Price should be an extremely exciting heavyweight bout while it lasts, for as long as it lasts. Price could get a shot at Robert Helenius of Finland, another unbeaten exciting heavyweight, or contender Mariusz Wach of Poland, if he beats Thompson. The winner of that bout would get a shot at either of the Klitschko brothers for one of the alphabet heavyweight titles in Germany, and would be a most qualified world title challenger. Personally, I don’t like Thompson fighting in Europe, American heavyweights do not seem to have well when they go over there.
True, Muhammad Ali disposed of Cooper, Jurgen Blin, Richard Dunn, Jean-Pierre Coopman and others. Larry Holmes carried Lucien Rodriguez. Michael Spinks disposed of Steffen Tangstad. But the three British heavyweight contenders, Haye, Fury and Price-are absolute monsters. I just wouldn’t want to meet them in a dark alley, and perhaps, that sums up my prediction of which way the Price-Thompson fight will go this weekend. Where Fury and Price and Helenius are at this moment-the two Klitschkos and Povetkin can run with their titles, but they cannot hide much long. Dr. Vitali Klitschko also cannot run from David Haye. Speaking of the British heavyweight invasion, the two Davids are the name dominant fighters of the moment.
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