FightFranchise | Prizefighter Returns With Top Lineup

The London Olympia tomorrow night will host the next series of the ever popular Prizefighter series. It will be the 8th time Barry Hearn’s matchroom sport has organised the event of such where 8 contestants fight all on one night to try and with the Prizefighter trophy. It’s the first time however the boxing series has come to the light welterweight division and what an introduction it has in arguably the best line-up in Prizefighters short history. Boxers are listed in betting odds with the outsider at the top of the page:

Young Mutley (26-4-0) (13KO)

Former British light welterweight titlist and European challenger Young Mutley, from West Bromwich will be hoping he can get his career back on track through Prizefighter after his devastating knockout loss to Mihaita Mutu on the Carl Froch v Andre Dirrell undercard. Mutley, who is well known on the British boxing scene, is still a serious challenger to win the trophy despite being the rank outsider, having only lost 4 bouts and beating Michael Jennings on a split decision to win his British title in 2006. Jennings’s only other loss is to Miguel Cotto. Although Mutleys best days may be behind him.

Jason Cook (25-2-0) (12KO)

Jason “The Power” Cook continues his return to boxing in his second bout since his lay-off from the sport for 4 years. Cook who was a former European lightweight titlist and IBO lightweight titlist again comes in with a superb record of only tasting defeat twice. Cook’s return fight was against inexperienced Scott Jordan in the light middleweight division, it will be interesting to see if Cook will use his experience of fighting at heavier weights to his advantage.

Barrie Jones (16-3-0) (7KO)

Welshman Barrie Jones again is another boxer who comes into the tournament for Prizefighter to rekindle his career. After a streak of 15 unbeaten bouts Jones challenged for the Welsh Area welterweight title against Tony Doherty which he lost on points. He then got a shot at Kell Brook for the vacant British title which he lost by TKO in the 7th and then former light welterweight world champion Souleymane M’baye. Jones will be fancying his chances facing Young Mutley who may be down on confidence since his last fight against Mihaita Mutu.

Michael Grant (12-0-1) (1KO)

Grant steps into the ring on Friday knowing he is the only fighter in the tournament to yet face defeat. However with also having the last amount of bouts under his belt he also understands he will be the least experienced fighting only 12 times over 4 years. Grant is also yet to face any opposition of real threat, Prizefighter will show to him how good his skills really are and whether he can mix it at domestic level.

Ted Bami (26-5-0) (13KO)

Making his second appearance in the Prizefighter tournament is former European light welterweight titlist Ted “Dangerous” Bami. In his first try at the Prizefighter format at welterweight he lost a split decision in the final to Michael Lomax. Bami will hopefully be looking to go one step further and claim the Prizefighter trophy, particularly after losing his last fight against Matthew Hatton in March in an IBO welterweight title eliminator.

David Barnes (24-1-1) (11KO)

Highly rated, Manchester based David Barnes returns to the ring after over a year off from the sport when a hand injury nearly forced him to retire after defeating Barry Morrison for his British light-welterweight belt. Barnes revealed having to lose his British title effected him deeply, to win the Prizefighter tournament on Friday would certainly put him in contention to fight Lenny Daws for the British belt.

Colin Lynes (31-6-0) (12KO)

Colin Lynes is also a very highly rated boxer in the British scene. He successfully beat fellow challenger Young Mutley to win the vacant European title in 2007. After winning in his first defence against Juho Tolppola, Lynes has been unable to earn a W to his name, with losses to Gianluca Branco, Paul McCloskey and Souleymane M'baye. However Lynes is still seen as a threat by many as he enters the ring as the second favourite.

Gavin Rees (28-1-0) (14KO)

Gavin “The Rock” Rees is the only challenger on the night to win a world title at light welterweight and the favourite to win the tournament. Rees who defeated Souleymane M'baye in a unanimous decision in 2007 to earn the WBA world light welterweight champion before losing it Andreas Kotelnik by TKO in the 12th revealed to fight franchise that if he was to win the tournament that he plans “to move down to lightweight and fight John Murray in the New Year”.

The Prizefighter format as always is: an initial eight fighters, who compete in four quarter-finals of 3 x 3 minute rounds. The winners progress onto the semi final then onto the grand final where the winner receives £32,000 prize money along with, as many Prizefighter shows have shown in the past a higher profile in their division.

The draw was made last Friday night and again to promote the series, Sky Sports and Barry Hearn managed to get one of the greatest modern welterweights of all time Floyd Mayweather Jnr to conduct the draw:

Quarter Final:

1. Michael Grant (Tottenham, London) v Jason Cook (Maesteg, Wales)

2. Ted Bami (Brixton, London) v Gavin Rees (Newbridge, Wales)

3. Colin Lynes (Hornchurch, Essex) v David Barnes (Manchester)

4. Young Muttley (West Bromwich) v Barrie Jones (Newbridge)

Semi Final:

Michael Grant or Jason Cook v Ted Bami v Gavin Rees

Colin Lynes or David Barnes v Young Muttley or Barrie Jones

Official weights of the fighters:

Ted Bami 10st 2lb 14oz

Gavin Rees 10st 2lb 8oz

Colin Lynes 10st 2lb 4oz

Young Mutley 10st 2lb 2oz

Jason Cook 10st 1lb 12oz

David Barnes 10st 1lb 1oz

Michael Grant 10st 1lb 1oz

Barrie Jones 10st 1lb 10z

Reserves:

Peter McDonagh 10st 2lb 11oz

Jonny Rocco 10st 2lb 9oz

The first quarter final has some intriguing match ups. With the highlight being former world champion Gavin Rees v former European champion Ted Bami and former European titlist Colin Lynes v former welterweight and light welterweight British champion David Barnes. All of these fighters have good knockout ratios and all are top operators in the ring as their records show.

Prizefighter has continued growing in interest in the public ever since it first graced sky sports television screens. Audley Harrison was successful in the last tournament and many people thought he would have been facing Danny Williams in the final. Only for the former world title contender to lose in a classic Prizefighter brawl in his first fight against outsider Carl Baker. Again the format of 3x3 rounds doesn’t suit every boxer and undoubtedly be shocks on the night.

All the action can be seen live on Friday December 4th from 9pm on Sky Sports 1+HD1