David Price Pulls Out of Fight With John McDermott

by Scott Christ on Nov 8, 2011 5:00 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

David Price has withdrawn from his November 19 bout with John McDermott. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

David Price has canceled his November 19 fight with John McDermott, citing a non-specific training injury in a press release from Frank Maloney's team.

"I am absolutely disappointed and feel deflated that I have had to withdraw from the fight, because I put so much time and effort into it. I feel like I have let people down, an injury is an injury and I would never pull out of a fight unless I thought it would affect my performance," said Price.

"The way I feel right now it would be a big mistake to take a risk and I don't want to let my fans or Frank down so I feel that I have made the right decision in pulling out."

The fight, says Maloney, will be rescheduled after Price "rests for a minimum of four weeks."

This is the second time this fight has been pushed back. Price (11-0, 9 KO) is one of Britain's top young heavyweights, a powerful puncher who at 6'8" has a massive frame. Veteran McDermott (26-7, 17 KO) hasn't fought since February, and at this rate is risking ring rust waiting on Price.

Hopefully they fight will be rescheduled for January. This also puts a hitch into Tyson Fury's giddy-up, as Fury was hoping to fight the winner in March as part of his master plan to prepare for Wladimir Klitschko in three fights' time.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

That’s too bad. I wonder if it’s the right hand again.

I thought this might be interesting. I think Price has a lot of potential. But, while I’ve only seen a few McDermott fights, against Fury, and he looked like a tub in those, he seems to have a really good chin and tight, hard punches. He also doesn’t seem to be too fazed by height or weight disparities.

I hope it gets rescheduled.

by DrRck on Nov 8, 2011 5:56 PM EST reply actions

Yeah McDermott is better than his physique suggests, for sure.
He’s good pretty good technical ability and is tough, up to a certain level.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 8, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

It would be a fight worth watching, though i would strongly favour Price.
Disappointing it’s been cancelled again and that it possibly puts the Fury fight further out of reach, or at least back even further.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 8, 2011 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

IMO he beat Fury

Good test for Price, against a decent gatekeeper.

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 8, 2011 6:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

IMO he beat Fury

First fight, i agree. Definitely. Clearly, imo.
Fury turned the tables in the rematch though. Stopped him too.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 8, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

Yep

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Yeah Fury got a little gift in that first fight. He sure has improved a hell of a lot in the meantime though

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Fury looks much better now, in my opinion maybe the overall best of the post-Klitschko generation.

The Price-McDermott match-up would be a very interesting fight, though.

by DrRck on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Im not sure he is the most highly skilled of the bunch

But he has a hell of a heart. Put that alongside his skill set and size, and he might well become the next ruler of the Heavyweight division

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

His punches still look kind of slappy

But then again, Calzaghe had the same criticism and he wasnt half bad either.

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 8, 2011 6:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think he is still adjusting to his frame

And he has also worked hard on his conditioning. If he works with Steward like he has in the past, expect him to iron out those flaws

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

He is still young i think a lot of us forget at times.
I read this about him today, don’t know if you saw it.
Sad news really. Never nice to hear people suffering with depression.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170031-tyson-fury-admits-to-severe-depression

by Matt Mosley on Nov 8, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Wow. Didn’t expect that from him.

It also makes me believe the ending to his story won’t be a happy one. Unless he finds peace, his boxing career will resemble that of Evander’s me feels.

I know it is very early doors to state such things, but Depression really is a tough one to get over. And if he finds peace in the ring, that is where he will keep going back there untill he can’t.

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

The fact he has admitted he has a problem

Is a very good step though

by Sweet science on Nov 8, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, full interview here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/nov/05/tyson-fury-interview

he’s very candid, unusually so. it’s difficult to gauge the extent of an illness like this, and by all accounts he’s surrounded by people he loves, but that stuff about dealing with his first defeat if/when it comes got me feeling a little queasy.

by abcdefghijklost on Nov 8, 2011 7:35 PM EST up reply actions