David Price takes Olympic bronze to Anfield
Story by Richard Down
LIVERPOOL'S boxing titan will celebrate his Olympic medal success alongside his own footballing heroes at Anfield tonight.
David Price, 25, upset the odds by fighting his way past Russia's world number one, Islam Timurziev, to land bronze in Beijing.
And now Liverpool FC's super-heavyweight fan will show his medal to the fans alongside Argentinean double gold medal winner Javier Mascherano, and Brazilian bronze winner Leiva Lucas.
Liverpool City Council is also planning a civic reception for the boxer alongside Merseyside's other Olympic athletes.
David said: "I didn't go to the closing ceremony - it's not my sort of thing. But getting on the pitch at Anfield where my mates are watching - that means the world to me.
LFC spokesman Ian Cotton said: "From our point of view it is great for a huge fan, and such an important Liverpool figure, to celebrate his success at Anfield."
Speaking in his West Derby living room hours after his flight touched down, the former Cardinal Heenan School pupil said he was just glad to be home. His daughter, Katie, lounged on one of David's colossal arms as he talked. "I really missed her, didn't I?" The toddler promptly planted a kiss on his nose.
Katie woke at 7am yesterday, just eight hours after David walked through the door. But the keen family man was more than happy to get up and play in spite of heavy jetlag. "I like just being a normal lad and I found it hard without the people I knew around me," he said.
He has shed half a stone since leaving home. Some of that was due to the stress and responsibility of leading the British boxing team.
"I lost my appetite," he said. "For the first two days at the Olympic village, it was all right but it was just the same every day and it got monotonous. You were eating just to put fuel in the system.
"I filled out a questionnaire about the 2012 Games and I said there had to be more variety in the menu."
Last night he celebrated his return home with a special meal - a Chinese take-away.
The big man laughs: "They're nothing like what they have out there. We do it much better."
Once the celebrations have died down David will take a bit of time off from his city council job as a gas fitter to assess his options.
He said: "I'm very grateful to the council for the scholarship scheme but now I think I've repaid their faith in me.
"I'm going to get away for a bit, I think I deserve that. Going professional is something I'm thinking about, but then there's 2012 to consider.
"I'm going to have a few weeks off and then I will talk to the Amateur Boxing Association about staying amateur. If they can come up with something so I can lead a comfortable life, then it will be something to think about."
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