Prizefighter weights; Carl Froch to make first live draw
WBC Super-Middleweight champion Carl 'The Cobra' Froch will perform the first ever live fight-night draw at tomorrow’s sold-out Prizefighter Light-Middleweights II at Bethnal Green’s York Hall. Live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, the Nottingham star will lead the eight contenders to the ring with none of the fighters knowing who they will face in the quarter-finals.
The line-up is led by former two-weight World champion Takaloo (26-7) who returns after three years out of the ring. Peterborough’s JJ Bird (6-5-2), who finished fourth in the last series of Big Brother, will bank on support from flatmate Aston Merrygold of pop group JLS as he returns to the ring after two years out of action.
A lot of smart money is going on Peter ‘The Raging Bull’ Vaughan (3-0-1), full of confidence after outpointing previously unbeaten Phill Fury on the Tyson Fury vs. Dereck Chisora undercard at Wembley Arena in July.
Hampshire fighter Wayne Goddard (9-0) takes his unbeaten record into the tournament as does Brentwood’s Kris Agyei-Dua (3-0) and Liverpool's Nick Quigley (7-0), who boxes in London for the first time.
Fans of 29 year-old Steve Harkin (5-1-2) began a campaign on Twitter that helped the Liverpuddlian become the seventh name in the mix. Last, but certainly not least is Blackpool’s Jeff Thomas (9-6-2), a regular poster on the BoxRec forum, completes the line-up and will be heavily supported at the York Hall.
Before the seven lots of three-threes tourney gets underway, debutant Ryan ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor takes on Trowbridge's Dan 'Dirty Dan' Carr (1-17) over four threes in the first 'Prizefighter Prospect' bout. The 23 year-old lightweight, who fights out of Tony Sims’ gym alongside Darren Barker and Lee Purdy, has won numerous titles and fought in New York’s prestigious Golden Gloves tournament - one to watch.
Prizefighter Light Middleweights II: Weights
Kris Agyei-Dua (11st 1lb 4oz)
JJ Bird (11st 1lb 13oz)
Wayne Goddard (11st 1lb 3oz)
Steve Harkin (10st 13lb 3oz)
Nick Quigley (11st 1lb 7oz)
Takaloo (11st 1lb 5oz)
Jeff Thomas (11st 1lb 8oz)
Peter Vaughan (11st 14oz)
Reserves:
Robert Lloyd-Taylor (11st 2lb)
Nathan Weise (10st 13lb 3oz)
The doors at Bethnal Green's York Hall open at 6.30pm, with the action live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.00pm.
Images: Carl Froch & Ryan 'Crash Bang' Taylor (Harold Meaker)
Peter Vaughn (Lawrence Lustig)
