By Terence Dooley

David Price put aside the disappointment of John McDermott’s withdrawal from their British heavyweight title eliminator by tucking away fellow prospect Tom Dallas in two rounds at Liverpool’s Olympia venue earlier tonight in a fight that doubled up as a British and Commonwealth title final eliminator.

Price had trained for ‘Big Bad’ John, 6’ 3’’, only to have to switch tack ahead of a ‘clash of the undefeated’ with Dallas, 6’ 6’’.  Going into the Frank Maloney promoted contest, Price held a 10-0 (8) record, Tom rocked a 15-0 (11) slate. 

David, though, had looked like a Goliath when knocking out America’s Raphael ‘The Silencer’ Butler in Liverpool back in April.  In contrast, Dallas had struggled when posting a ten round decision win over Ohio’s Zack Page in Gillingham on May 13th. 

After McDermott withdrew from the mooted contest with a throat infection, promoter Frank Maloney moved quickly to make the often-discussed Price-Dallas meeting a reality.

David (244½lb) was punch perfect in the opening stanza, peppering Dallas (229½lb) with classy shots.  A left hook followed by an accurate right hand late in the second left dumped Dallas on the canvas. 

Unlike Bobby Ewing, there was to be no shock comeback for Dallas, referee Victor Loughlin calling a technical count out at 2:45 of the round to hand the Kent-based bruiser his first professional defeat.

“I think first and foremost (I want to say) how much I appreciated Tom Dallas stepping in at late notice.  It took real guts to do so.  But I still didn't expect to win in such spectacular fashion against such a tough man.  I think I did make a statement,” said Price when speaking to Sky Sports.

“I was just trying to stay switched on mentally, rather than throwing a hundred punches a round, and then see what he was going to bring to the table.  I could see the opening (for the right) as the fight was going on.  It's a good powerful punch – it always has been since towards the end of my amateur career.  I think it could take many heavyweights out if I land it right.”

Price moves to 11-0 (9), the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist will now bounce into a British title eliminator with McDermott, the winner of Derek Chisora versus Tyson Fury awaits the victor.

Dallas drops to 15-1 (11); he admitted that he took a chance by taking the fight at such short notice.  “I said when I came into this game that I was going to make as much money as possible and that I will fight anybody,” revealed the 26-year-old.

“I got paid a nice sum.  They offered me David Price and I said, ‘Yes’.  I would take it again tomorrow.  I might think about taking a fight again at short notice in the future.”

Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk