Prince Arron, 22, clinched the £32,000 top prize with a thrilling victory over Brett Flournoy in the final of Barry Hearn’s latest Prizefighter event at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London. Droylsden-based Arron floored Flournoy in the third round of the final and that proved critical as Arron claimed a unanimous points victory by 29-28, 28-27, 29-28 margins. Arron, who only made the 11st 2lb weight limit at the second attempt in Thursday’s weigh-in, was the tallest in the competition. He used his 6ft 3in frame to his advantage with points victories over George Hillyard and former Commonwealth Champion Bradley Pryce in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
“I’m over the moon. I came here to win and I’m just buzzing,” said a delighted Arron.
“I boxed George Hillyard’s head off, then I boxed Bradley Pryce’s head off and Brett Flournoy was a bit awkward but I managed to get the knockdown.
“The fight was close at the time but I was just doing enough to steal the rounds landing more jabs and with my good work rate..
“In the third round I stepped up a gear and I wanted to win more than he did.
“With my height and my reach I was made for this competition and the fighters will tell you how awkward I am.
“After beating George Hillyard I was confident but after beating Bradley Pryce I thought to myself ‘I’ve got this won’ as I had just beaten the favourite.
“All respect to Bradley Pryce, he was a really good fighter but maybe he is on his way down and after the first round I was beating him up.
“Winning Prizefighter will give me a big boost and will open doors for me. I’m one of the best light-middleweights in the country and I’ve just proved that tonight.
“People may say I’m tall, gangly and can’t punch but I won my first two fights with one hand. Hearing those criticisms makes me want to prove people wrong and I’ve done that. I’m a good fighter and now everyone will know that.”
Flournoy, who nearly quit the sport a couple of years ago to run a pub in Merseyside, reached the final with triumphs against Danny Butler and Steve O’Meara.
Pryce, the pre-competition betting favourite, had made the semi-final with a hard-fought win over former British Champion Neil Sinclair, while O’Meara defeated Martin Concepcion in the other quarter-final.
PartyCasino.com Prizefighter Light-Middleweights
Quarter-Finals
1. George Hillyard lost to Prince Arron– PTS 27-30, 27-30, 27-30
2. Neil Sinclair lost to Bradley Pryce– PTS 28-29, 29-28, 28-29
3. Brett Flournoy beat Danny Butler – PTS 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
4. Steve O’Meara beat Martin Concepcion – PTS 30-27, 30-28, 30-27
Semi-Finals
5. Prince Arron beat Bradley Pryce – PTS 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
6. Brett Flournoy beat Steve O’Meara – PTS 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Final
7. Prince Arron beat Brett Flournoy – PTS 29-28, 28-27, 29-27