HERBIE Hide will begin his quest for Prizefighter glory with a fight with Welshman Wayne Brooks. Hide, 38, is the favourite to win Prizefighter Cruiserweights II, which will be held on Friday at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London. Former WBO heavyweight world champion Hide is hoping to win Prizefighter and then fight for the WBC cruiserweight title. However, he needs to triumph at Prizefighter for that dream to become a reality and 23-year-old Brooks is the first of three potential opponents..
Brooks, a former amateur star who twice won the Welsh amateur title, is the youngest of the eight entrants and has won five of nine professional contests.
The winner of that could face former Commonwealth champion Darren Corbett in the semi-finals, as long as he beats Doncaster’s John Anthony in the third quarter-final.
A sell-out crowd is expected at the York Hall and the first fight of the night will be between Mark Krence, a two-time British heavyweight title contender, and inexperienced Zahid Kahut.
The second quarter-final sees two young prospects collide as Londoner Leon Williams meets Jon-Lewis Dickinson, the only undefeated fighter in the competition.
Four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final take place in one action-packed night with the overall champion claiming £32,000.
Each fight lasts a maximum of three rounds and a successful night in Prizefighter has catapulted previous winners to British, Commonwealth and European title fights.
Tickets cost £35 and £60 and are available from 01277 359900. All the action will again be screened live on Sky Sports 2 from 9pm.
Prizefighter Cruiserweights II
Friday, April 30
York Hall, Bethnal Green, east London.
Draw
Quarter-finals
1. Mark Krence v Zahid Kahut. 2. Leon Williams v Jon-Lewis Dickinson. 3. John Anthony v Darren Corbett. 4. Wayne Brooks v Herbie Hide.
Semi-finals
1. Winner of QF 1 v winner of QF 2. 2. Winner of QF 3 v Winner of QF 4.
Final.
Winner of SF 1 v winner of SF 2
The eight contenders
Name: John Anthony
Age: 35
Home town: Doncaster
Professional record: Won 7 (5 by KO), Lost 11, Drawn 0. Total 18
Achievement: Only been stopped twice
Name: Wayne Brooks
Age: 23
Home town: Cardiff, Wales
Professional record: Won 5 (2 by KO), Lost 2, Drawn 2. Total 9
Achievement: Fought for Welsh Light-Heavyweight Championship.
Name: Darren Corbett
Age: 37
Home town: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Professional record: Won 28 (16 by KO), Lost 5, Drawn 1. Total 34
Achievement: Former Commonwealth Champion.
Name: Jon-Lewis Dickinson
Age: 23
Home town: Birtley, County Durham
Professional record: Won 5 (0 by KO), Lost 0, Drawn 0. Total 5
Achievement: Undefeated.
Name: Herbie Hide
Age: 38
Home town: Norwich / Hamburg, Germany
Professional record: Won 48 (43 by KO), Lost 4, Drawn 0. Total 52
Achievement: Former WBO Heavyweight Champion.
Name: Zahid Kahut
Age: 36
Home town: Batley, Yorkshire
Professional record: Won 4 (0 by KO), Lost 1, Drawn 0. Total 5
Achievement: Never been stopped.
Name: Mark Krence
Age: 33
Home town: Chesterfield
Professional record: Won 24 (6 by KO), Lost 7, Drawn 0. Total 31
Achievement: Fought for British Heavyweight Championship.
Name: Leon Williams
Age: 26
Home town: Streatham, London
Professional record: Won 4 (2 by KO), Lost 1, Drawn 0. Total 5
Achievement: Never been stopped.