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Thompson stuns Price in the fifth

Tony Thompson pinned David Price against the ropes in the fifth © PA Photos

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David Price turned 30 today, but it was Tony Thompson who was celebrating after beating the Englishman in five in his hometown of Liverpool.

Price had previously been 15-0, with 13 knockouts, when he lost to Thompson in February after being stopped in the second, but looked on course for revenge when he floored the American after just six minutes in the rematch.

But Thompson recovered and had Price pinned against the ropes in the fifth.

Price, failing to return punches, was given a standing count by referee Marcus McDonnell before stopping the fight. Thompson is now 38-3, with 25 KOs.

Price, perhaps with that huge punch five months ago still in the memory, began warily, but soon started to settle in and landed a couple of decent hits.

Gathering confidence, Price was out the traps in the second and had Thompson wobbling right from the bell. The American hit the canvas after a swift right-hander from Price, but was saved by the bell with the count at nine.

Thompson was again caught in the third, but the ropes saved him from another count. More brutal testing followed but Thompson rallied with a couple of good hits to the chin of his own.

Price was again the aggressor at the start of the fourth but Thompson was really settling into the fight now and unleashed a barrage in the final minute of the round.

The tables turned, Thompson went for broke in the fifth and a bombardment of blows had Price on the ropes before McDonnell intervened.

The British and Commonwealth champion showed little in the way of recovery and the fight was waved to a halt a little under two minutes into the fifth round.

"I would be a liar if I said I did not have butterflies before. David scares the hell out of me, he is a good strong boxer," Thompson told BoxNation after the fight. "But it brings the best out of me."

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