Pryce Taylor learning from sparring with Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi

In the era of super heavyweights, it’s good for boxers to know how to deal with opponents who may be even taller than them. 

Heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor has gained valuable experience after a pair of week-long training camps with former heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder and the undefeated Andrii Novytskyi.

Taylor, a 29-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, stands 6ft 4ins and came in at 275lbs for his most recent victory. He moved to 11-0 (7 KOs) after taking out the 9-2-1 James Evans in the fifth round on the February 22 undercard of Claressa Shields’ rematch with Franchon Crews-Dezurn (Taylor is also 20-10 in the one-round format of the Team Boxing League, formerly known as the Team Combat League).

Wilder, 44-4-1 (43 KOs), has been listed at both 6ft 6ins and 6ft 7ins. He is preparing for a clash on April 4 with Derek Chisora at London’s O2 Arena. Novytskyi, 15-0 (11 KOs), is 6ft 6ins and has a bout against the 21-5-1 (19KOs) Alexander Flores on March 27.

“When I’m invited to training camps, it’s because they need good sparring,” Taylor said. “Usually, I don’t train with them, but I did work out with Andrii, and Wilder would hang out with us [four sparring partners] after sparring him a few rounds, one of us right after the other. I learn better sparring, and eventually I’m going to fight guys like them who are tall and move fast. I learned how to get inside faster at these last two camps.”

The time with Wilder, and seeing the fruits of the “Bronze Bomber’s” time as one of the top heavyweight attractions of the previous decade, further inspired Taylor.

“His mansion had a gym, basketball court, lake and a ferry to cross it,” Taylor said. “I got to see what could eventually come from my career. I wasn’t surprised by what he had, but I was surprised by how cool he is. He hung out with us and gave us all a lot of good advice. He said he liked my style, and that was really cool to hear.”

Taylor, who is signed with Salita Promotions, could return on the company’s show on May 9 in Atlanta, Georgia. That event is headlined by Angelo Leo defending his IBF featherweight title against Ra’eese Aleem.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.