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VISITORS to Liverpool this weekend may feel like they’ve stepped into the opening chapters of Gulliver’s Travels as the city’s big men take centre stage.
With the Premier League on hold due to international fixtures, the ECHO Arena hosts a smashing sporting double-header featuring the giants of Merseyside sport.
On Saturday the biggest professional boxing show to hit the region in more than 10 years features the pro debut of Olympic super-heavyweight star David Price.
Then on Sunday afternoon, Everton Tigers take on Newcastle Eagles in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table British Basketball League clash.
Not surprisingly, the career paths of Beijing bronze medallist Price and Tigers power forward Olu Babalola – who came head to head in the boxing ring yesterday – could easily have crossed long before.
As schoolboys both men were directed into one another’s chosen professions, Price through his PE teachers at Cardinal Heenan while, down in London, Babalola had family connections to the ring.
“My father boxed, professionally I think,” says the 27-year-old who has been playing in the BBL since 2006 after completing High School and College basketball scholarships in the States. “His nickname was ‘The Chief’.
“It was when I was quite young, before I was born even, so I don’t remember going to any fights or anything but I’ve always liked boxing.”
So much so that he even ventured inside the ropes in his younger days.
He added: “I went to boarding school growing up but for a couple of years, whenever I was home, I would go boxing.
“I would train in some amateur clubs around North London, but it was nothing serious.”
Likewise, Price admits that while he was encouraged to stand beneath the hoop he never really fancied life on court.
Price, 25, revealed: “Being big naturally people think you would be keen to play basketball because it’s a sport that is associated with tall men, but it never really appealed.
“I played a lot of footy like most Liverpool lads but once I found boxing my mind was made up for me.”
Babalola agrees.
“I liked football, athletics, swimming, you name it, but I first picked up a basketball at 14 and knew then that this was what I wanted to do with my life.”
Bizarrely, Babalola’s current mentor, Tigers head coach Tony Garbelotto, was the first man to put him on the road to a career in basketball.
He explains: “Tony first saw me play very early on, when I was like 14. I asked him where I could play more regularly, where I could get some coaching but he shrugged me off initially.
“Then somebody told him that I was just 14 years old and he couldn’t help me enough.
“He put me in touch with a guy called Joe White who steered me towards my scholarships in the States. I was 16.
“Now here I am ten years later, playing for Tony and bidding for the BBL title. It’s like fate.”
Babalola has enjoyed a brilliant first season with the Tigers, quickly becoming a favourite with the fans down at Greenbank Academy.
Now Price will aim to do something similar when he makes his professional bow on Saturday night.
Already hugely popular on Merseyside following his heroics in Beijing, Price is the most exciting heavyweight prospect the city has produced yet is determined to live up to his full potential starting this weekend.
Price says: “I’ve been counting down the days until the Arena show and, to be honest, I can’t wait for it to come and go now.
“Back when I first announced I was turning pro in February I was worried that eight weeks wouldn’t be enough time to convert my style for the pro game, but after a fortnight I was ready to go.
“I’ve been dreaming of this night since the first time I laced up the gloves and this is the biggest night of my career so far so I can’t wait to get in there.
“I’ve got a good opponent lined up, he’s not someone who is looking to get paid and lie down, he comes to fight so expect fireworks from the off.
“But you’ve only seen a small part of what I am capable of. Being a pro suits my style so much more.
“I’m not being asked to dance around like a middleweight and tippy-tap my punches to pick up points like in the amateurs.
“Now I’m planting my feet and letting the power shots go and that’s what I plan on doing on Saturday night.”
Babalola, who arranged to work-out and possibly even spar with Price during the close season, admits he is gutted he won’t be at ringside on Saturday.
But he will be watching Price’s career closely over the coming years.
He finished: “We have a massive occasion on Sunday ourselves when we take on Newcastle in what I believe is the key to winning the BBL title.
“We play them here on Sunday afternoon and then in Newcastle on Tuesday night and whoever comes out on top will be in control of the championship.
“But I will be eager to catch up with David’s result and fancy him to score a debut knockout.
“Being a big guy I only really enjoy heavyweight boxing but apart from David Haye and the Klitschko brothers the sport is pretty boring right now. Hopefully, David can help shake it up a little bit.”
Price finished: “I’m a lifelong Liverpool fan but I’m definitely backing the Tigers to do the double over Newcastle this week and then go on and win the championship.
“Then I’ll hold Olu to his word and get him and the rest of the lads down here during the summer for some sparring. After all, they’re the only men in the city that match my size.”
l David Price debuts on the Hayemaker 6 bill from 7pm on Saturday night while the Tigers take on Newcastle Eagles at 3pm on Sunday. For tickets details ring the box office on 0844 8000 400.
