By Edward Chaykovsky
During a recent interview with Sky Sports, domestic heavyweight David Allen (9-1-1, 6KOs) claimed to have signed a contract to fight David Price (21-3, 18KOs) on October 15th in Liverpool as part of the Tony Bellew vs. BJ Flores undercard.
Then a day later, Price's trainer Dave Coldwell, denied Allen's claim and said there was no interest in facing Allen, and that Price very much focused on landing a showdown with Joseph Parker on November 26th in Manchester.
Last night in Germany, Price picked up a quick stay-busy knockout win in two rounds over journeyman Ivica Perkovic (22-31, 17 KOs), as part of the Juergen Braehmer vs. Nathan Cleverly undercard.
If Price is unable to secure Parker - who is the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Anthony Joshua, who headlines the November card, then the Olympic bronze medal winner will be looking to face an opponent who is highly ranked and hopefully someone on the level of Parker.
Parker is in deep talks to face Andy Ruiz on December 10 for the vacant WBO title - if Tyson Fury is stripped of the belt by the sanctioning body.
Coldwell told Sky Sports: "It's all news to us [regarding David Allen]. We're fighting on the Germany bill on Saturday and then waiting to see what's happening with Joseph Parker. Last we knew, if AJ doesn't fight Parker next then we're fighting Parker on the bill on November 26. That's a big fight. We've been pushing hard to be on the Germany bill first and Pricey's management and promotion have worked hard to make it happen. That'll be a six-rounder then hopefully it's Parker.
"We're not thinking about Dave Allen. We're thinking about this weekend and then a world name on the AJ bill. Those are the only two things we're thinking about. If AJ fights Parker himself then that scuppers us fighting Parker. No disrespect to Dave Allen, but Price wants to fight world-level fighters and he wants to fight the mandatory challenger for a world title to earn the right to face AJ."
Things have now changed, because Price himself has confirmed that Allen, who lost a decision to Dillian Whyte in July, is most likely his next opponent on the October 15th date.
"In two weeks apparently [is when I will fight again]. I'm waiting for confirmation to fight in two weeks and then go again. It’s looking like it will be Dave Allen, according to my management. So let’s see what happens," Price said to IFL TV.
"I don't know it will propel me to the next level. I don't know if its going to do anything for me on the world stage as far as making a statement. It’s a fight that I take seriously. It’s a meaningful fight on the domestic level. I’ve got something to gain from it, as Dillian Whyte couldn’t get him out of there. So there’s something to gain from it from that sense and I'm taking this fight as serious as the next."
Price still has his eyes set on Parker, who destroyed Alexander Dimitrenko in three rounds on Saturday.
"I havent see it yet. I will take a look at it. It was a good result to take Dimitrenko out in three rounds. I don’t think he is what he was, Dimitrenko, three years ago. He went at it with Pulev for eleven rounds and pushed him all the way. I wouldn’t have expected him to take him out in three rounds," Price said. "I'd love to [fight Parjer]. It's a fight we'd like and it’s a fight we've been interested in for a while. We got offered it. Whether it can happen now, we don’t know."
