David Price didn’t make a big deal about it. There was no rush to social media for extra likes or to slide it into a promotion. He simply reminded the boxing community of a harsh truth—a reality that’s both chilling and easily forgotten: the most frightening puncher he ever faced is now just a whisper in the corridors of boxing history, and sadly, clinging to life.
In a conversation with Daily Star Sport, Price shared, “I sparred once with a Russian named Denis Boytsov in Germany. He tagged the top of my head, and even that glancing blow carried immense power.”
A hook, an uppercut, the usual suspects didn’t strike him. Yet, just one shot to the crown from Boytsov left an indelible impression on Price’s memory. This from a man who has faced punches from the sport’s most formidable hitters—it speaks volumes.
Let’s be real. Price’s career, in hindsight, seemed more like an opportunity for others to shine rather than his moment in the sun. He has been knocked down by fighters whose titles and image deals deck walls and screens. But if you ask who really made an indelible impact on him, it wasn’t any of the headliners.
It was Boytsov.
These days, his name scarcely gets a mention.
Imagine a boxer with a record of 36-1, who had the momentum, the fists, and was right at the doorstep of a world title shot. Then, without warning, it all evaporated. In May 2015, he was discovered unconscious between two train stations in Berlin, with a fractured skull and swollen brain. He spent seven weeks in a medically induced coma.
The authorities called it an “accident.”
Berlin police had the audacity to label it an accident, while Boytsov’s personal website pointed to years of threats, and his wife hinted at mob retaliation. David Price didn’t hold back: “He got absolutely battered by a gang of Russian guys and was left for dead. He didn’t fight again.”
And so it was.
Boytsov came out of the hospital 30 kilos lighter. Lost his ability to talk and walk. After initial treatment in Berlin, he moved to a rehab clinic in Hamburg, and by August 2021, he returned to Russia for further care. He remains under constant supervision, unable to communicate and requiring help for even the basic tasks.
All the while, the boxing world continued as if he’d never been part of it.
The limelight shifted to those considered less risky. Championship belts were passed on to the names guaranteed to sell tickets. The global audience never got a chance to witness the peak of Boytsov’s potential. His career, shrouded under a system that kept him miles from a title shot, was effectively erased.
No triumphant return. No stories of redemption. No teary-eyed press conferences declaring how he overcame tough times. He simply vanished.
So, when discussions arise about who hit the hardest—Tyson this, Wilder that—remember David Price’s answer.
It wasn’t the expected stars. It was the talent who never got his chance.
And we’ll always wonder what heights he could have reached.
It’s a tragedy and a profound waste.
