Giant British heavyweight prospect David Price takes a huge step up in class when he squares off against three-time British heavyweight title challenger John McDermott at the Olympia in Liverpool on Saturday night. 6'8" Price has looked increasingly impressive during his short career, and last time out he blew away fellow prospect Tom Dallas in just two rounds. In McDermott he faces a very dangerous opponent who is hot off a sensational first round knockout win of his own over Larry Olubamiwo.

Price vs McDermott will be screened live on Sky Sports 1, the action starts at 8 PM.

Liverpool's 28-year-old David Price [11-0, nine KOs] turned professional in March 2009 after a sterling amateur career that saw him win three ABA super heavyweight titles [2003, 2005 and 2007], a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and win a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Under the expert guidance of promoter Frank Maloney, the man who took Lennox Lewis to the world heavyweight title, Price has made rapid progress, and should he dispose of McDermott in style and then go on to win the British and Commonwealth titles from arch-rival Tyson Fury in what would be a huge domestic clash, he would be knocking on the door of a world title fight.

For his part, 31-year-old McDermott [26-7, 17 KOs] still believes that he is the main man on the British heavyweight scene, and would love a third crack at the 6'9", 22-year-old Fury. McDermott was written off by some boxing experts following four consecutive losses, two against Danny Williams for the British heavyweight title and two versus Fury in clashes for the English heavyweight title. However, the two Williams fights and the first bout with Fury were extremely close, and he was ahead on points in the rematch with Fury before being KO'd in the ninth.

In terms of physique, Price could be the long-lost younger brother of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, with his imposing height and muscular frame. Against Tom Dallas last June, Price weighed a rock solid 244 lbs, and has stayed in the 240's for all of his 11 pro fights.

The 6'6'' Dallas and Price are good friends outside of the ring and had sparred together often, and many fans were expecting a cagey, drawn out affair. Dallas was the aggressor from the opening bell but Price was patience personified as he scored with hard jabs and measured his opponent for the picture-perfect right cross that ended the fight in round two. It was the best performance thus far from Price, who had also impressed previously with a one-round destruction over one-time US prospect Raphael Butler.

Essex boy McDermott can also bang, and aside from his blowout over Olubamiwo, has 16 KOs on his pro record, 12 inside two rounds. He weighed in at a whopping 263 lbs for the Olubamiwo fight and was clearly looking for an early night. Despite Olubamiwo's fearsome reputation as an explosive puncher in his own right, McDermott single-mindedly walked right through his opponent and unloaded with the left hooks that ended the fight.

McDermott is vastly more experienced than Price, and aside from his fights against Williams and Fury, he has mixed with top domestic opposition. He stopped Pele Reid in two rounds in 2008, and also outpointed former British heavyweight champion Scott Gammer in 2007. He was TKO'd in three rounds by Matt Skelton in a 2005 British heavyweight title fight and was also stopped early on in his career by Russian Nikolay Popov.

The 6'3" McDermott is now entering his 12th year as a pro, and firmly believes that he is hitting his peak. Many fans and experts didn't give him a prayer of defeating Olubamiwo, but he did so emphatically, scoring perhaps the most impressive victory of his twelve year career.

Price was put on the canvass several times as an amateur, and his chin is yet to be tested in the pro ranks. He often carries his left hand low and semi-extended – a remnant of his amateur days. He could be vulnerable to McDermott's big punches in the opening rounds, but his left jab is a ramrod and as witnessed against Butler and Dallas, his right cross is a world-class.

McDermott's best chance will be to try and blow Price away early as he did against raw and inexperienced Olubamiwo, but the big difference is that this time he is fighting an extremely well schooled opponent with an outstanding amateur pedigree, and who has sparred with the likes of David Haye and Derek Chisora. Price proved against the dangerous punching Tom Dallas he has a Klitschko-esque calmness and patience in the ring, and that he is prepared to box cagily and look for the openings to land his big shots.

I see McDermott once again trying for a quick KO, but leaving himself open for Price's jab and right cross. As three stoppage losses would suggest, McDermott's chin far from impregnable, and will surely be tested on Saturday night.

I feel that David Price will win this fight impressively and send out a warning signal to the rest of Europe's young heavyweights. I would not be surprised if it ended in the first round, but I believe that by the third Price will put McDermott down for the count with another of his trademark straight rights, throwing down the gauntlet for a summer clash with Tyson Fury.

Big Fight Odds: David Price 1/8, John McDermott 9/2 bet365