British boxer who tackled then bit opponent admits 'I was out of order'

Moment of tooth...Kash Ali on top of David Price. Photo / Getty Images

Top heavyweight David Price was left with a bite mark on his stomach after his opponent — a former sparring partner — lost the plot during a bout in Liverpool.

Price, who once floored Anthony Joshua, was the victim of a bizarre attack.

Previously unbeaten Kash Ali, who was disqualified in the fifth round, has apologised after biting Liverpudlian Price and also tackling him the ring.

Ali was pelted with objects by the incensed Liverpool crowd and Price immediately turned down the request for a re-match saying: "I don't want to share the ring with an animal like that."

Birmingham's Ali had also been docked a point for hitting Price on the back of the head, and afterwards Price indicated he had been bitten three times.

Kash Ali, after his fifth round disqualification. Photo / Getty Images

The 35-year-old Price, an Olympic bronze medallist and former British champion, said: "I thought he had lost his head completely. I hurt him to the body just before the final bite he took."

Ali said: "I think just the build-up to the fight- It's my first time boxing on a big stage, I was so pumped up I just wanted to fight. The street mentality just kicked in, it was stupid.

"As mad as it sounds, when I ended up on top of him, boxing went out the window.

"I just thought, 'This is a fight now.' Stupid. I've got nothing else to say, just it was out of order and I apologise to him."

Ali faces a long ban and former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew told Sky Sports that authorities should go even further.

"(He is) a disgrace … he shouldn't be allowed back in a boxing ring ever again," Bellew said.

"He should not be paid for the fight – give the money to grassroots boxing and help develop amateur boxing. Biting a man when he's on the floor… there aren't many things lower."

Price became a major part of the build up to last year's world title clash between world number one Joshua and Kiwi Joseph Parker in Cardiff. The Parker camp highlighted a 2011 sparring incident when Price knocked down Joshua.