Former darts world champion Gerwyn Price will be making his boxing debut in Wales this April.
On Thursday, 'The Iceman' turned in one of the great Premier League displays en route to winning night three in Belfast - landing two nine-darters and a 170 finish to beat Michael Smith, Michael van Gerwen and James Wade.
The display revived Price's hopes in the tournament, after underwhelming displays over the first two nights in Cardiff and then Milton Keynes.
The 36-year-old's meteoric rise in the sport has widely been considered remarkable, given he only started playing pro events in 2015 after a rugby career with Neath RFC, Cross Keys, and then Pro-12 side Glasgow Warriors.
But now Price, who won his seldom PDC world crown by beating Scotsman Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final in 2021, pocketing the first prize of £500,000 in the process, will indulge in another sport.
He's revealed via his Instagram story that he will take on Rhys 'Cool Fly & Flashy' Evans at the Valley Tavern in Fleur De Lys on April 9, admitting he'll "need to drop 10kg for this."
The timing of the bout could be deemed as a risk to Price's Premier League hopes, given it comes just two days after a match with James Wade on night nine in Leeds.
Furthermore, just five days after he steps into a ring, Price will face reigning world champion Peter 'Snakebite' Wright on night ten in Manchester.
Despite his status as world no 1, Price has long assumed role as pantomime villain when on the oche, and hit out at fans at the Alexandra Palace after he was frequently booed during the PDC's showpiece tournament in December and January.
His exuberant celebrations, with a tendency to fist-pump and scream loudly, have at times irritated opponents, and he has also been accused of gamesmanship during matches.
However, he enjoys iconic status in his native Wales, and will be seeking to win over a new type of sporting audience when he dons boxing gloves.
And with the world talking about Saturday's grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook, it seems Price will be watching - if only to educate himself more on the sport.
“I don’t really know much about boxing so I don’t know why I’m getting in the ring," he told reporters this week.
“I have followed Amir Khan a couple of times and I don’t know much about Kell Brook but I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic fight."
