Maloney challenges Britain’s heavyweights to take on Price

Frank Maloney has challenged any heavyweight in Britain to face his prospect David Price. Liverpool’s Price will take on Belarusian trialhorse Raman Sukhaterin at The Troxy this Saturday and Maloney is already preparing to step up the heavyweight’s level of competition in 2011.

“I will match David with any British heavyweight apart from David Haye. If I was offered a fight against Dereck Chisora I would take it in a heartbeat, and expect David to win,” began Maloney.

“People have been critical of David, but there will be no complaints about the opponent I am hoping he will face in January or February. The deal is being finalised and I hope to be able to announce it in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

Olympic bronze medallist Price (7-0) hopes to become the first man to stop Sukhaterin on the undercard of Sam Webb’s British title defence against Martin Concepcion to send a warning to his domestic rivals. Sukhaterin, 35, has gone the distance with Pele Reid and Henry Akinwande, but has won only six of his 21 fights.

Maloney added: “I am not going to name them, but a couple good British heavyweights turned down this job. One didn’t want to know and the other one fancied the fight, but wanted another contest first. It is about making the right fights at the right time for prospects and David will become a serious British title contender early next year.”

The British heavyweight crown, currently the property of Dereck Chisora, could become available if Chisora elects to vacate to concentrate on his audacious attempt to dethrone WBO and IBF king Wladimir Klitschko in December.

If so, Price's name would be thrown into the British title mix alongside the likes of English champion Tyson Fury, former Commonwealth ruler Sam Sexton and Maloney's other heavyweight prospects, Tom Dallas and Hackney's dangerous Larry Olubamiwo.