By Edward Chaykovsky
Olympic bronze medal winner David Price has placed a target on the back of IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16KOs).
Price (20-3, 17KOs) is hoping to get Joshua in the ring by the end of this year, but says he will need to raise his level of activity to shake off the rust and properly prepare for such a fight. Price snapped a 10 month layoff last month when he returned to the ring and stopped Vaclav Pejsar in two rounds on the undercard of Tony Bellew vs. Ilunga Makabu at Goodison.
Joshua is back in the ring this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. He makes the first defense of his IBF heavyweight crown against unbeaten American Olympian Dominic Breazeale.
Price is back in the IBF's top 15, securing a number 12 ranking in the way of last year's knockout loss to Erkan Teper, who tested positive for anabolic steroids in the aftermath of the contest. Teper was banned from the sport for a period of two years.
"There's definitely room for me," Price said to Sky Sports. "There will always be room for a 6ft9, 20-stone heavyweight who can knock people out with either hand. With my pedigree, there has to be room for me. I've been reinstated in the top 15 with the IBF which makes me eligible should Anthony Joshua make another defence this year.
"Realistically, it could happen this year if I get a move on and get a couple of fights because that's important. I need to keep people talking about me and keep my momentum going. I don't see anyone else in the top 15 who stands out more than me and he will probably see it as an easy fight because of my defeats. It's a big fight between two big British Olympic medallists but it's completely in the hands of the other side, it's not in my hands."
Besides Teper, Price was also stopped twice by veteran Tony Thompson in 2013. Thompson tested positive for a banned substance in a post-fight drug test related to the rematch.
"I 100 percent feel cheated - they're suspended for a reason, because they have used performance-enhancing drugs," he said. "Things might have turned out differently if those fighters hadn't been what they were on. I've still got a massive amount to offer," Price said.
