Fury claims Price isn't Right for Pro Game

Hennessy Sports9th March, 2009

Unbeaten heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury has launched another scathing attack on his British rivals ahead of his fourth pro fight in Birmingham this weekend.

Fury who has enjoyed a hat trick of stoppage wins since turning pro late last year features on Saturday night's Hennessy Sports event which is live on ITV4. Top of the bill at the Aston Arena sees Wayne Elcock defend his British Middleweight title against local rival Matthew Macklin.

Fury though is already looking to the future and the possibility of renewing rivalries with one time amateur foe David Price. The Liverpudlian won a Bronze medal in last years Olympics but Fury believes that he's destined for failure in the pro game. Price is set to make his pro bow later this month but former amateur rival Fury says he's wasting his time.

"How can you have any chance in the pros as a heavyweight if you don't have a chin?" questioned the outspoken 20-year-old. "Every time you hit him he's on the floor and that was in the amateurs, imagine what he's going to be like in the pro's with no headguard and smaller gloves.

"I fought him when I was 17 and had just 10 amateur bouts total," recalled Fury. "He was a double ABA champ and Commonwealth Gold medallist at the time. I put him down in the second round with an overhand right and it wasn't even that good a shot. He got up and held on for dear life for the rest of the fight and got it on points.

"I sparred him after that and had him in all kinds of trouble straight away. They stopped the spar after a minute and they never let me spar him again. I believe that he was their golden boy and the amateurs were protecting him for the Olympics but it meant I didn't get a fair crack at qualifying."

Fury though believes that having got a head start on Price in the professional ranks their paths are unlikely to cross again. "The pros is a different ball game. In the amateurs he only had to avoid getting tagged on the chin for 4 two minute rounds and he couldn't even manage that a lot of the time.

"In the pros the rounds are longer and the distances are longer so he's no chance. I'd love to fight him because it'd be lights out as soon as I hit him but he won't get as far as a fight with me, someone else will spark him out before then. He's going to find out pretty quick that a decent chin is a lot more useful than a bronze medal in the pros."

Alongside Fury the undercard for "The Battle of Brum" at the Aston Arena features Adnan Amar defending his English Welterweight title against Tom Glover. Also in action are Chris Male, Quinton Hillocks and Callum Archer. Tickets are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.