by James Slater – Both UK fight fans and the boxers themselves are eagerly awaiting the latest edition of the Barry Hearn-promoted “Prize Fighter” series. The latest heavyweight instalment of the tournament that takes place this coming October 2nd has actually proven to be such a hit with the fans the venue has been changed, with the much bigger London ExCel arena taking over from the more intimate York Hall in Bethnal Green..
However, the venue is of no real concern to Michael Sprott, as he is simply looking forward to getting his hands on one rival fighter from the tourney in particular – Audley “A-Force” Harrison. These two big men have met before, of course, with underdog Sprott sensationally KO’ing the Olympian with a huge left hand in the 3rd-round back in February of 2007. Now, in “Prize Fighter,” Sprott is looking forward to doing the same thing again.
“He [Harrison] feels he’s got a point to prove, he thought that last time it was a lucky shot,” Sprott said recently to Sky Sports. “But I don’t believe that, I don’t think there is such a thing as a lucky shot in boxing. A boxer can get caught, whether he has his eyes closed or not he can get caught with a shot. And I want to prove a point that it wasn’t a lucky shot.”
A tough old campaigner, who has fought all over Europe as a pro and who has held the British, the Commonwealth and the European Union heavyweight titles, the 34-year-old from Reading has only won once since his KO of Harrison, yet he is sure he will repeat the feat in October.
Asked how he will do so, Sprott, 31-14(16) told Sky Sports he will set a fast pace from the first bell.
“I’ll take the fight to him, it’s going to be a fast approach,” Sprott said. “I will keep it up until I either knock him out or win on points. But I will definitely knock him out, yeah. But this time not with my left, it will be with my right (laughs).”
Of course, one thing Sprott should be wary of whilst attempting to hammer what will surely be the final nail into the coffin of the southpaw’s one ultra-promising career, is the fact that he could get caught himself whilst on the attack. Sprott was decked in the early going of their 2007 meeting, and big Audley can bang when he has to – just ask fellow “Prize Fighter” entrant Danny Williams!
Sprott’s aggressive-minded approach is sure to help make the October tournament yet another success, however – whether he wins it or not.