• Heavyweight

Fury: Jaw and team are Price's problems

ESPN staff
February 25, 2013
Frank Maloney and David Price contemplate defeat in Liverpool © PA Photos
Enlarge

Tyson Fury has told rival David Price that half his problem is the team he has behind him and the other half is his glass jaw.

Fury says he was harbouring hopes of a summer bout with Price to decide who will inherit David Haye's mantle as the top British heavyweight when the 32-year-old retires.

But that was before Price was floored by 41-year-old American Tony Thompson at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Saturday night in the second round.

While Price staggered to his feet, the referee soon ended the contest ruining Price's unbeaten record and ending the prospect of a much talked about fight between Fury and Price.

Fury told ESPN that the position Price finds himself in is down to his promoter Frank Maloney choosing the wrong fights for his man, leaving him under-prepared to defend himself against tougher opponents.

Maloney, 58, collapsed shortly after seeing Price lose and was taken into hospital overnight before being discharged on Sunday.

In 2012 Price fought four times and won all of his bouts by knockout in convincing fashion, raising his stock in the heavyweight division. But it proved a false economy and Fury, unable to resist a dig at his rival, shared the blame for the defeat with Price's jaw.

"He's only got one person to blame and that is Frank Maloney," Fury told Steve Bunce in his latest boxing podcast. "With the education I've had, he wouldn't be in this situation today.

"His last three fighters were Audley Harrison, Matt Skelton and Tony Thompson, they're all in the 40s bracket. Like I said before, it was a disaster waiting to happen. You know what it is, you can't put a chin where there isn't one.

"To be honest, I don't want to be big headed and I don't want to be arrogant, but......I told you so. I know people aren't going to like that, but I've been saying it for a while now. It just goes to show I'm right again.

"I thought that Thompson was going to get blown away and it was going to be a big fight between me and David this summer and that I was going to do him. Tony Thompson has taken it away from me.

"One more thing, I think David Price needs a professional trainer. The amateur style isn't suiting his game. He's the biggest amateur in the professional world. He needs to stop bouncing like a kangaroo."

Tyson Fury was talking on Buncey's Boxing Podcast, which also features chats with Ken Buchanan and Sam Maxwell. Click here to listen

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices