Prizefighter preview - The FA Cup of boxing
A sell out York Hall crowd will witness the latest instalment of Prizefighter tonight as eight heavyweights contest for the first prize of £32,000 and possible further top flight opportunities courtesy of promoters Matchroom.
Now in it’s 14th edition, the one night tournament offers quick fire action with it’s three round format, of eight men, seven fights and one winner. It’s all crammed into an electric evening and has proved to be a top contender with fans.
I liken this event to the fairytales of the FA cup because form can go out of the window one night and the hot favourite can roar home on another. As with several of the recent shows, picking a winner for this is no easy task.
Do you go for men like Matt Skelton or Michael Sprott who between them have landed Commonwealth, European and British titles but are now both past their best?
A stoppage victory of Mike Tyson is Kevin McBride’s claim to fame who squares off with Nigerian Franklin Egobi, a former sparring partner of Lennox Lewis. Despite his night of glory McBride has done little else throughout his career and has recently returned to the sport after nearly three years away but has lost his last three so no smart money here.
Egobi has never been stopped but hasn’t fought for two years. Will his inactivity be his eventual downfall? If it’s not he could be the surprise outside choice.
The remainder of the contestants are largely unknown outside of the trade die-hards but it doesn’t mean they haven’t got a fighting chance if they can deal with the big crowd, bright lights and TV cameras.
Iraq-born Ali Adams opens his account against Matt Skelton as a huge underdog, but has an effective jab which has proven to be a vital asset for some previous Prizefighter victors, with the winner set to face McBride or Egobi in the semi final.
Galway’s Declan Timlin and Nottinghamshire’s Shane McPhilbin have only had ten fights between them but those who possess a relatively fresh professional career have come out on top several times before.
The last Prizefighter heavyweight winner in February 2009, Audley Harrison is now just a month away from challenging David Haye for his WBA heavyweight crown having used his triumph as the platform to re-launch his fading career.
And the man he knocked out with a last round and last gasp, punch Michael Sprott returns to the ring for the first time since that dramatic and devastating European title clash as the pre-tournament favourite.
If Reading based Sprott has still got some fuel in his tank then his experience should be enough to see off Sunderland’s Danny Hughes in the quarter final and then take on one of the fresher faces in Timlin or McPhilbin.
Ironically Hughes is taking part in Prizefighter for the second time having lost to Harrison in the semi final stage last year and has only fought once since.
Sprott feels a good training camp has sufficiently prepared him “I know I can reverse the tables this time round, I’ve trained hard so I’m ready to take the title.”
At a push I see Sprott with Egobi in the final.
