By James Slater – Thanks to invaluable boxing web site Boxrec.com, we have today been notified about two interesting bits of news regarding upcoming heavyweight action here in the U.K. The first piece of news is, unfortunately, of the frustrating variety – as it has been reported that unbeaten heavyweight hope David Price has been forced to withdraw from his schedule Nov. 19th battle with the experienced John McDermott..
According to the breaking news bit on Boxrec, Price, a 2008 bronze medallist at Beijing, hurt his ribs during training and had no choice but to pull out of the important bout. This will be especially bad news for “Big Bad” John, seeing how he was said to have been on fire in the gym; ready, willing and able to put on a career-best performance. We must now hope the rescheduling of the intriguing match will not take too long.
In better news, it has been announced how another unbeaten heavyweight hope will see action tomorrow night at York Hall in London. Mike Perez (from Cuba but now calling Cork, Ireland his home), will face tough, durable and ultra-experienced Zack Page of Ohio in a scheduled eight-rounder on the under-card of the Lee Purdy-Colin Lynes British welterweight title clash.
26-year-old Perez, known as “The Rebel,” has an impressive 16-0(12) pro record, and the southpaw was last seen winning “Prizefighter: The International Heavyweights.” Unable, his team claim, to get a big fight since the May triumph, Perez faces a possible test in the from of the rarely stopped Page, 21-36-2(7).
On his last trip to the U.K, 38-year-old Page lost a highly controversial decision to the then unbeaten Tom Dallas. Most fans thought the sneaky skills of Page had more than earned him the victory, but he went home empty handed. Before that fight, Page took the huge Tyson Fury the distance. It goes without saying how Perez, if he can flatten Page (who has been stopped just three times in almost 60 pro fights), will make something of a statement.
Last time out, Page lost a decision to unbeaten Dane Edmund Gerber. I think Perez, who may be a touch rusty after having had over six months out, will also have to go the full route to get his 17th pro win.