THE SPIT BUCKET - NOW I'M A BELIEVER!

Is it just me or is there a recognition 'in the air' that David Price has come of age after beating John McDermott in such devastating fashion?

Going into the fight, the 6'8" heavyweight, with his Olympic bronze medal and 11-0 (9) record, was undoubtedly seen as a 'prospect' by fans and pundits – but the sense that there were unanswered questions lingered. John McDermott was identified as the fighter who would ask those questions.

'Big Bad' John came to the ring with excellent credentials – if not the body of a Greek god. With his 'fleshy' physique, John looks, to the casual fan, like a guy who would rather be in the pie shop than a prize ring but those 'in the know' knew different – McDermott can fight.

The UK's unluckiest boxer, according to Frank Maloney, had previously 'lost' hugely contentious decisions to former British champ Danny Williams, and current domestic king Tyson Fury, but was entering the Price contest as the Southern Area ruler after demolishing Larry Olubamiwo in just 75 seconds. Additionally, in a perfect irony, Olubamiwo's Herculean frame couldn't be more of a contrast to that of McDermott's but their encounter highlighted that, in boxing, it's not looks that count but quality.

Against McDermott on Saturday at the Liverpool Olympia (January 21), David Price needed just over a minute to park his tanks on the lawns of many a top heavyweight. Fired up and knowing his only chance of victory was to 'get inside' on his long-limbed opponent; 'Big' John flew at the Scouse giant from the opening bell but immediately hit the same brick wall nine previous Price victims had crashed into. Down three times and on unsteady legs, referee Howard Foster hardly had time to draw breath before he was calling the whole thing off – and fight fans were accepting that, yes, 'Pricey' does look the real deal.

Of course, allow me to immediately pre-empt any accusations of 'getting carried away' by acknowledging that John McDermott is no Klitschko and there's a long way to go yet, but David's ruthless dismantling of an opponent who most agree (apart from referee Terry O'Connor!) once had the better of the reigning British champion seems to have been the 'tipping point' for many a doubting-Thomas.

That Price so emphatically crushed the Horndon man who, during the first of their two fights, was easily able to get close to Fury and land the overhand right seems to have converted plenty of Price sceptics. If the question was previously in the boxing ether it has now, after the McDermott demolition, acquired traction amongst boxing fans i.e. 'if McDermott had Tyson in trouble with the right hand - as have Nicolai Firtha and Neven Pajkic in Fury's last two fights - what would the outcome be if Price landed his sledgehammer back-hand on the same chin'?

Like no other sport – boxing is unpredictable. In the prize ring, when the leather is flying about, anything can happen – and often does. When it comes to the heavyweights, anyone can get knocked out – just ask Lennox Lewis. In boxing, there are no 'sure things' but, after his latest victory, David Price goes forward in his career with more gravitas – and a few less unanswered questions.

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