Dodson prepared to put friendship aside to fight Bellew

Since its inception, ‘Prizefighter’ has been the launching pad for many a career. Martin Rogan went from unknown to Commonwealth champion; Martin Murray set himself on the road to his new champion status, Audley Harrison earned himself the European title shot opportunity that led to his world title shot, all by winning this event. All in all ‘Prizefighter’ has gone from being an event that people sneered at, to being one of the staples of our fight calendar, and something that good fighters who are without titles look to for their next big break.

On January 29th, Tony Dodson (24-6-1 12KO) will step in the ring to compete in the light-heavyweight instalment, and hopes that this will be the opening of the next chapter in his long career. Dodson will be venturing into new territory here, having campaigned at super-middleweight (where he is an ex-British champion) throughout his fighting life. It will also be the first time he has stepped into the ring since his failed attempt to win the British title against cross-city rival Paul ‘Smigga’ Smith. Dodson lost a bloody encounter on the judges’ scorecards, but feels that his inactivity didn’t help him.

“The best way I can put it Martin, is take Wayne Rooney, playing the best football of his life, banging the goals in for fun. Then put him on the sidelines for twelve months, no football. After that, throw him into the Champions league final. How do you think he would play? Would he be at his best? That’s what happened with me."

Still, there is still a feeling in his mind that he could have done a little more during the scrap. “I tell you what, I felt disappointed. I felt fresh at the end, like I could do more. But all the way through the fight I was thinking in the back of my mind what happened against Quigley. I was a mile up on the scorecards and I gassed out. I didn’t want that to happen to me again after I had started well, but at the end I felt I still had more to offer.”

However, despite these issues, Tony has nothing but respect for his conqueror. “I lost that fight, in my opinion by about two rounds. Some of those rounds were scrappy and could have gone either way. But my god, Paul was excellent. I defy anyone to have a cut that requires fourteen stitches and still be able to execute their game plan in the way he did. He is a true warrior and a great fighter.”

Soon after, Dodson was scheduled to appear in the super-middleweight ‘Prizefighter’. His body however, was not willing to go along with him for this particular adventure. Seemingly it had been crying for mercy for longer than any of us knew.

“The morning of the weigh-in for the Smith fight I was weighing 12st 9lb, I had to get off 9lb that day. I managed to do it and put in a decent performance, but it was like my body was saying ‘no chance Tony’. It was nothing to do with my camp, I had the best one ever, and I live the life as you know. Two weeks previously I had walked out of the gym at 11st 11lb. Afterwards I tried to go in for Prizefighter but by then I was pissing in the wind, it was time to step up.”

Free of these weight making issues, Dodson feels himself a fighter reborn.

“I don’t have any stress these days. My whole life used to be about making the weight, I just wasn’t comfortable training. Now I can enjoy what I’m doing, the running and all that. It has become so much easier. As they always say, a happy fighter is a good fighter.”

So now it is time for Prizefighter. Eight men, one night, one winner. The format, quarters, semis and final excited Tony more than anything he has seen in a long time.

“I just can’t wait. I have always watched it and I have always been a fan. Lots of fights don’t live up to the hype, due to styles clashing and all that. This is why Prizefighter is good, you just get in there and have a scrap over three rounds. Then you get a change of opponent, it can’t fail to be a cracking night.”

Looking at the names in this instalment, most would give Dodson a huge chance of picking up the winner’s trophy and the cheque at the end of the night. Men like Billy Slate and Michael Banbula are hardly what you would call ‘household names’. Tony however is not going to be taking anyone lightly.

“Over three rounds anybody can beat anybody else, everybody is dangerous. 32 grand is a lot of money and people are going to be going all out for it. And to some of these guys, I would be a big name on their record. Look, I have been though all the shit talking in the past and it means nothing. Everyone wants it, and I don’t want to bust their bubble but it’s gonna happen, Dodson is coming out the champ.”

It does seem a new Tony Dodson. Maybe not a new one, but certainly a little older, a little wiser. One suspects that this could be a bad thing for his opponents. At the age of thirty all his fire seems to be geared towards the fight itself. This scouse hurricane will not be blowing itself out, not this time.

So where does the future lie for Tony Dodson? Can this be a stepping stone to bigger and better things? Dodson certainly hopes so. And one name seems to be on the end of a lot of people’s tongues when future opponents are mentioned.

“Hey, I wouldn’t mind winning this, then moving up to Cruiser and winning that too! But a lot of people are talking about me versus Tony Bellew (Commonwealth champ and British contender). Me and Bomber are great mates but I read what he said on Sky Sports, that maybe the powers that be would make us an offer we couldn’t refuse. I would want to sit down and have a chat with him. This is a business and we both have families to feed, we all have to make a living. It would break my heart to fight him, and there would be no bad words, we are that close. Would just have to wait for the bell to go and do our thing. But first he has to beat Ovill Mckenzie for the British title, I’m sure he will have learned from his mistakes, and I have to win this. ”

There is genuine feeling in his voice as he talks, and one envisages that it would be with a heavy heart that the contracts were signed. Would the Liverpool public like to see it? Of course.

First up its Prizefighter. One can never tell how a pugilist will react to a period of inactivity, coupled with a step up in weight. I do suspect however, that any man who defeats Tony Dodson will win the title. And I. for one, am not so sure that that man exists.