PRICE (15-1, 13 KOS), ESPN’S 2012 PROSPECT OF THE YEAR, GETS DESTROYED BY HIS ELDER, THE 41 YEAR-OLD THOMPSON
The upset causes a huge shake up in the heavyweight division and boxing as a whole. The 6’8′ Price was being primed as a potential serious challenge to heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. One thing is for sure if you are a top prospect you don’t want to be named Dan Rafael of ESPN’s prospect of the year. It appears to be a curse. Of the last 12, only one lived up to the potential, 2002’s Miguel Cotto. 2003’s Jermain Taylor did manage to win the undisputed middleweight crown. However 2001 winner Francisco Bojoado(18-3, 12 KOs) was a disappointment as was 2008’s Victor Ortiz, 2005’s Joel Julio, 2006’s Andre Berto, and 2007’s Amir Khan. 2010’s Canelo Alvarez has had carefully selected opposition and 2011’s Gary Russell has yet to face a quality prospect or contender. If ESPN handed me the award I would just decline and hand it back!