By Danny Wright: Former WBA light welterweight champion Gavin Rees chalked up three unanimous points decisions along the way to taking the Prizefighter title, and £32,000 in cash, at Olympia, London. Rees, part of the Calzaghe stable, met former European title holder Colin Lynes in the final after beating Ted Bami and Jason Cook earlier in the night. Rees looked in full control of all 3 bouts, and in the final landed twice as many punches as Lynes, who struggled to cope with the speed and ferocity of Rees’s attack..
In the UK, interest in the Prizefighter series has been mushrooming since Audley Harrison resurrected his career by winning the Heavyweight event in September. That was perhaps more about personalities than quality boxing, but tonight’s Prizefighter at Welterweight featured the best lineup yet, including a former world champion in Rees and a former European title holder in Lynes.
For those unfamiliar with the Prizefighter format, it features eight boxers who compete in three x three minute rounds. There is a minimum ten minute break between each bout for the fighters to catch their breath.
According to promoter Joe Calzaghe, Rees, who will move back down to Light Welterweight for his next fight, will have another world title shot next year, with Amir Khan, Devon Alexander, Juan Urgangi and Timothy Bradley all possible opponents.
*Bout 1*
Jason ‘The Power’ Cook (Maesteg, Wales) beat Michael ‘Spicey’ Grant (Tottenham, London). TKO round 3
This was Cook’s second win since he came back from a four year hiatus, due to injury. The former IBO world lightweight champ looked sharp, and was throwing big bombs rather than combinations at Grant.
The fight was stopped at 2.12 in round 3 due to a bad cut for Grant, which looked like it could have been caused by a clash of heads. Cook has still got a great punch, but he was wrestling Grant, who is beginning to look like a decent boxer. Let’s hope he doesn’t cut too easily in future.
*Bout 2*
Gavin Rees (Newbridge, Wales) beat Ted Bami (Brixton, London). Points, Unanimous decision
Joe Calzaghe was at ringside to see his stable mate Gavin Rees start to claw his way back to a world title shot. The former WBA light welterweight champ has only one fight since losing the belt to Andriy Kotelnik
Ted Bami’s last fight back in March resulted in a TKO loss in round six to Matthew Hatton, and he lode a little spent against Rees, despite some powerful shots. Knowing he was behind on points going into the last round, he started to unload a few, but too little too late.
*Bout 3 *
Colin Lynes (Hornchurch, Essex) beat David Barnes (Manchester). Points, Split Decision
Former European champ Lynes came into this bout on the back of three defeats, and was definitely the busier, but Barnes, who returns after a 18 months out with hand injuries, looked the classier. This one went to the judges, who were split, but Lynes’s work rate edged it.
*Bout 4*
Young Muttley (West Bromwich) beat Barrie Jones (Newbridge, Wales), Points
Jones has lost four of his last five fights, albeit to decent opposition including Souleymane M’baye and Kell Brook. Former British champ Muttley, who was knocked out in his last fight on the Froch/Dirrell undercard in October, put Barry Jones down in the first round, and was in full control of this last quarter final bout.
*Semi Final On*e – Gavin Rees beat Jason Cook. Points, unanimous decision
A cagey all welsh affair with Rees’s work rate. accuracy and pressure deciding things. Rees was ahead by all three judges, and showed that attack is the best form of defence in Prizefighter, which suits his fast start style down to the ground.
*
Semi Final Two* – Colin Lynes beat Young Muttley. points, Split Decision
These two have met back in 2007, when Lynes stopped Muttley in the 8th round for the European light welterweight title. This bout was close, going to a split decision, and although the judges went for Lynes, presumably for a false knockdown in round 3, Muttley boxed well in his two bouts.