• David Price v Tony Thompson

Price keen to send Klitschko a message

ESPN staff
February 19, 2013
David Price is targeting a world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko © PA Photos
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David Price believes he needs to convince Wladimir Klitschko that he is a worthy contender for his heavyweight world titles with an impressive display against Tony Thompson.

Price faces Thompson at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Saturday night and is keen to show that he has the measure of a man Klitschko has fought twice, stopping the American inside six rounds in 2012.

And while the undefeated British and Commonwealth champion admits 41-year-old Thompson will pose a different challenge to his previous 15 opponents, he believes the fact he is stepping into the ring with a world title contender so early in his career is testament to his billing as a future world champion.

"I'd say that there is an expectation that I look good on Saturday night," Price told Steve Bunce during his ESPN podcast. "He [Thompson] did fight Wladimir Klitschko in July and lost inside five (sic) rounds. The fact I'm fighting someone who's only just fought Klitschko in my 16th professional fight speaks volumes about how far I've come so far.

"The next few fights are really important," Price added. "I think Tony Thompson is a perfect start. He is a jigsaw fighter, tricky and I'm going to have to figure him out. It is going to ask questions of me and it is going to teach me a lot of things on Saturday night.

"If I'm going to be what people are expecting me to be, I'm going to have to back words up by producing a good performance and a good win. I won't go looking for the knockout - I never do - but it the opportunity presents itself to finish the fight early I'll try my best to take it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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