DAVID PRICE was celebrating one of the greatest performances in the history of British Olympic boxing today – thanks to his coach’s lucky Everton shirt!
Super-heavyweight Price demolished world bronze medallist Islam Timurziev in two rounds in Beijing and now has Lithuanian Jaroslav Jaksto standing between him and a medal.
The Salisbury ABC star is a big Liverpool fan, but Solly coach Alan Lynch is a Blue and he told the Echo today: “I wore an Everton shirt in Australia when David won the gold medal, just out of devilment really because David’s such a big Red.
“But I had it on again yesterday under my shirt and David’s told me now I’ve got to wear it on Monday when he boxes in the quarters.
“It’s just a bit of superstition but we hope it works.
“The Lithuanian beat David a couple of years ago but this is a different David Price. He is stamping his authority on every fight now and to stop the Russian the way he did was an outstanding performance.”
Price is one win away from emulating the best boxing performance at an Olympic Games by a Scouser.
Jim Lloyd returned home to a hero’s welcome in 1960 after claiming bronze in Rome, that feat was matched by Tony Willis and George Turpin in Moscow in 1972 and then Runcorn’s Robin Reid struck bronze in Barcelona in 1992.
But if Price is to match Audley Harrison’s Sydney achievement of a gold medal he will have to do it the hard way.
If he can overcome Jaksto he is likely to face gold medal favourite Roberto Cammarelle in the semis.
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