CARL BAKER is the heaviest fighter for Friday’s PartyCasino.com Prizefighter Heavyweights III event. Baker, 27, weighted in at 20st 7lb more than four stone heavier than Coleman Barrett, who, at 15st, 13lb, is the lightest man of the eight. Prizefighter has caught the imagination of fight fans with 5,000 people expected to be at the ExCel Arena in London’s Docklands. The competition features current British Champion Danny Williams and arch rival Audley Harrison, who could meet in a mouth-watering final..
However, both fighters have to win two fights to get to that stage. Harrison take on Scott Belshaw in one of the quarter-finals and both fighters have a point to prove after underachieving recently.
Former Olympic Games gold medalist Harrison has lost four of his last eight contests, while Belshaw suffered an embarrassing second round stoppage defeat against Tyson Fury last time out.
“It’s a great draw for me and I’m really happy with it,” said 24-year-old Belshaw, who has won ten of his 12 professional fights.
“I have one of the favourite to win the competition and I’m not expected to win the fight but I have a nine-minute window to change my life.
“I wanted to fight either Danny Williams or Audley Harrison so can’t wait.
“If I had fought someone like Danny Hughes or one of the underdogs then it wouldn’t mean anything but if I beat Harrison it could turn my career around.
“I’ve been training really hard at the TKO Gym in east London and it’s been fantastic – I’ve not trained so hard in a long time.
“Harrison’s professional career has been a bit of an anti-climax from someone that won an Olympic gold medal.
“He’s a very talented boxer but just not delivered the goods. He’s delivered more with his mouth than in the ring but I will be expecting the best Audley Harrison on the night.
“I could finish his career and I’d be more than happy if I did – it would be a bit of history on my part.”
Prizefighter tickets are going fast but some are still available at £40 or £80 from See Tickets on 0871 220 0260, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. All the action will also be screened live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD 2 from 9pm on Friday.
The quarter-final draw is: 1. Scott Gammer (Pembroke Dock, Wales) v Coleman Barrett (Galway, Ireland), 2. Danny Williams (Brixton) v Carl Baker (Sheffield), 3. Audley Harrison (London / California) v Scott Belshaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland), 4. Neil Perkins (Birmingham) v Danny Hughes (Sunderland).
PARTYCASINO.COM PRIZEFIGHTER HEAVYWEIGHTS ODDS
(Odds to win the event – as on Skybet)
11/10 Danny Williams
6/5 Audley Harrison
9/1 Scott Gammer
20/1 Danny Hughes
25/1 Coleman Barrett
33/1 Scott Belshaw, Neil Perkins
40/1 Carl Baker
FIGHTER WEIGHTS
20st 7lb Carl Baker
19st 3lb Danny Williams
18st 11lb Danny Hughes
18st 1/2lb Audley Harrison
17st 11lb Scott Gammer
17st 9lb Scott Belshaw
16st 7lb Neil Perkins
15st 13lb Coleman Barrett
HUGHES: BIG NAMES IN PRIZEFIGHTER WILL FOLD UNDER PRESSURE
DANNY CONFIDENT OF CLAIMING GLORY ON FRIDAY
DANNY HUGHES believes the ‘big names’ in Friday’s Prizefighter Heavyweights III will ‘fold under pressure’.
Hughes, 23, is the youngest competitor in Barry Hearn’s latest eight-man, one-night tournament, which will be held at London’s ExCel Arena.
The event includes some of the best fighters in the division, including current British Champion Danny Williams and former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison.
However, Hughes believes the format of each bout lasting a maximum of three rounds will see one of the unfancied fighters claiming the £32,000 top prize.
“I’m not phased by any of the names and I think I can win it, said Sunderland-based Hughes, who is undefeated from seven fights.
“Most fighters fight better when they have less pressure on them so I think the big names will be folding under the pressure.
“I’ve sparred with most of the top fighters in the country, including some of the people in Prizefighter, and I think over three rounds I can definitely beat them.
“I think I can win it and I wouldn’t go in it if I thought I couldn’t.
“It’s not worth any amount of money to get beaten and you couldn’t pay me a million pounds to just go in there and get beaten.
“As an amateur I was ranked fourth in the UK and I’m a fast-paced fighter so this three-round format suits me. The other, more experienced fighters, are used to fighting ten or 12 rounders so they’re going to have to adapt.
“I’m more hungry than the top fighters that have been there and done it. I want to win Prizefighter more than anything in the world.”
Hughes, a 20/1 outsider to lift the Prizefighter trophy, was originally scheduled to meet former British and Commonwealth Champion Michael Sprott.
However, Sprott’s withdrawal after the death of his sister Ginette means Hughes now faces another undefeated prospect – Birmingham’s Neil Perkins.
“Neil is tough but it’s a fight I expect to win,” added Hughes. “I would then probably get Audley Harrison in the next round and I’m not phased by that at all.
“This will be the biggest Prizefighter yet and everyone in the country will be watching – it’s going to be dynamite.
“You have the current British Champion, an Olympic Champion and another ex British Champion (Scott Gammer) so you can’t ask for a better line-up. I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”