By Edward Chaykovsky
In recent weeks, David Price (20-3, 17KOs) has been gunning for a crack at IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs).
The two Olympic medal winners had a now infamous sparring session several years ago, and Price claims he knocked Joshua out and had him laying on mat face-first.
Price snapped a ten month layoff back in May, when he knocked out Vaclav Pejsar in two rounds at Goodison Park as part of Tony Bellew's big title winning card.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, says the options for Joshua's second title defense - which is slated for November 26 - include Kubrat Pulev, Bermane Stiverne and mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.
BoxingScene.com reported on Monday that the IBF will issue an order on November 9th which directs Joshua to fight Parker in a mandatory bout. Hearn says Price needs a little more seasoning and some additional wins before he secures a shot at Joshua's title.
Hearn told Sky Sports: "We have a lot of people to satisfy. We have the UK fight fans, worldwide fight fans and we have an American broadcaster as well. We're looking for credibility and those three men are ranked in the top 15 and we're looking for the right guy to test Anthony Joshua and progress him as a fighter. People are looking for that step up and I think those three have the credibility.
"Those three are likely. There are other guys. I don't feel David Price is in the mix just yet - I feel he needs that breakthrough performance but we want him to get one because all these domestic clashes would be great. It won't be Price for the November clash. Tyson Fury is waiting. Who knows what's happening with him. David Haye is due to announce a fight soon. We need these domestic fights to keep bubbling on but Pulev, Stiverne and Parker are the most likely opponents for November."
One possibility that gets Hearn's interest, is a possible co-feature between Price and Parker on Joshua's undercard. Parker is scheduled to fight again on October 1st against giant sized Alexander Dimitrenko.
"We've been having some good chats with Parker's team. They like to be active. Parker is still, as Joshua is, a work in progress. They're happy to fight on the Joshua card in November if he's not the opponent and one fight we'd be looking at is Parker v Price in a final eliminator. It's a wonderful fight. Parker is going to be in the mix one way or the other. We're already mapping out the next three fights and it could be Stiverne or Pulev, then Parker and then next summer the big one against a Haye or a Fury. In the meantime, we need all the credible guys to keep improving Joshua as a fighter and keep providing entertainment for the fight fans."
