BRITISH heavyweight boxing champion David Price has said he would not play rugby league because the sport is ‘so tough’.

The 29-year-old watched the Warrington Wolves first team train at the University of Chester on Crab Lane in Fearnhead on Monday.

Known for his explosive punching power, David praised the hard-hitting of Super League.

He said: “I’ve been getting into it as a fan recently and I‘ve caught a few games on tv.

“Boxing and rugby league are completely different sports, but they are both so tough.

“People laugh when I say it’s too tough for me, but I wouldn’t play rugby league.

“It’s different getting into a boxing ring and taking punches.

“I don’t like the idea of all those cold mornings, getting trodden and stamped on, it just doesn’t appeal to me.”

The unbeaten 6ft 8ins fighter said there are some similarities in training for boxing and rugby league.

“I wouldn’t be running around a field throwing a rugby ball about, just like these guys wouldn’t be standing and taking punches.

“But I have to work on my endurance and stamina, and do weights in the gym.”

David, a bronze medallist at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and former ABA champion, also paid tribute to Wolves forward Paul Wood following his Grand Final injury.

“The nature of the injury surprised me, but the fact he just carried on anyway really surprised me.

“It just shows how hard you have to be to play this sport.”

And the Liverpool FC fan, who has won all of his 15 fights so far, backed any Wolves players thinking of a career change.

“Rugby players could look at coming into boxing, and it’s been done before with people like Sonny Bill Williams.

“They are strong, physical athletes, who could do ok in boxing.”

The Liverpool FC fan, who stopped Audley Harrison inside a minute in October, is now looking forward to his fight this weekend.

He takes on American and two time world title challenger Tony Thompson on Saturday night at the Liverpool Echo arena.