At the MHP Arena, Germany, Price vs Teper ended not long after it began. David Price was in deep with highly aggressive Erkan Teper, and got knocked out with a single shot in the 2nd round. The shot connected clean to the chin of Price who’d been looking to stage a comeback. Unfortunately for the former British Heavyweight hope, Erkan’s left-hook offered a one-way ticket to the canvas. The referee rightly waved off the contest not long after.
If there were doubts surrounding the unbeaten Teper (15-0, 10 KO), they were quashed when Price became horizontal. The German fighter did a great job of pressuring Price, and looked the real deal as he walked down his man until the eye-catching finish. This guy was remarkably fearless, even against a fighter 4 inches taller than his 6′ 5″ frame.
For British fight fans who’d made the journey, it was not quite what they were hoping for. Price looked vulnerable from the onset, but has at least developed discipline and poise since his two defeats to Tony Thompson – a division veteran responsible for pressing Price’s ‘panic button’ in 2013.
Price’s jabs and short combinations simply weren’t enough to get Teper’s attention, or cause him to reset. Price has a monstrous right-hand, but it was largely redundant as he was pushed further back by his lively foe.
It will be very easy for the boxing fandom to pigeonhole Price as a fringe contender – and former hype job – in wake of the result. But that would be rather harsh, it has to be said. Teper, 6′ 5″, represents a serious threat to a lot of fighters north of 200 pounds, and would likely ask questions of other inexperienced fighters like Tyson Fury.
Did Price (19-3, 16 KO) take this fight a little early? The 32-year-old has been on a winning streak since Thompson, winning in his last four ‘confidence-building’ fights, and so Teper was naturally seen as the next step. Yes, Price could’ve opted for an easier fight, but he and his team seemed to relish the challenge, and, believe they had the answers to deal with a problem like Teper. It just so happened they didn’t.
No, the fight didn’t come too early. Teper was just all wrong for the Price, a Liverpudlian fighter looking to take home the European strap to his hometown. Price prefers to set his own pace, and Teper was too aggressive and lively from the onset. This is the ‘big boy’ division – and though not filled with talent – sooner or later Price was going to come across a fearless fighter like this.
Price vs Teper didn’t come too early for fight fans. But, for what it’s worth, it did come too early from a business perspective. The limited Price should have arguably stayed with former promoter Eddie Hearn. Under Matchroom, Price would have been fed easier, money-making fights against sub-par fighters like Derek Chisora. Price would have looked good, bagged big domestic wins, and been matched a heck of a lot more carefully.
Price vs Teper Live Round by Round
Round 1: Right-hand from Teper, very busy. Price holding on. Can Price maintain his composure? Teper fancies this, misses with a wild shot. Price throws a textbook one-two. Price in a real fight here, Teper lands solid jab. Price taking heavy blows, but holding his own. Teper coming forward, aggressive stuff. Good round for Teper. Price needs to find an answer and fast. Teper, 10-9
Round 2: Price on the jab again, moving well. Teper lands big left-hook upstairs, drops Price! Price almost outside ring, and he’s out for the count. This fight is over!
Result: Teper via 2nd round KO
Let us know your thoughts on Price vs Teper below, fight fans. Can Price rebuild – again? And what of Teper? How would he perform against the upper tiers of the Heavyweight division?
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