Northern Irish European super-middleweight champion Brian Magee has offered the ultimate incentive to tomorrow night’s Prizefighter Super Middleweight fighters – lift the trophy and get a shot at my title.
The Prizefighter Super Middleweights take over York Hall in Bethnal Green live on Sky Sports on Wednesday evening and on top of the £32,000 for the winner, the possibility of a title fight with 35 year-old Magee is on the cards..
“Brian will be watching tomorrow night’s action with great interest,” said manager Pat Magee. “He’s a big fan of Prizefighter and there is huge potential for him to take on the winner in his first European title defence.”
Along with Magee’s offer, a fight with Commonwealth super middleweight champion George Groves could also happen after his manager Adam Booth told the Steve Bunce Boxing Hour that the 22 year-old Londoner would be interested in fighting tomorrow’s champion.
Olympic gold medallist James DeGale will be an interested spectator at ringside tomorrow night and the man he defeated to claim the WBA International super middleweight title Sam Horton kicks-off the night against Patrick Mendy, the 19 year-old who becomes the youngest boxer in Prizefighter history.
Daniel Cadman and Eddie McIntosh battle in the second quarter-final to face the winner of that opener, while unbeaten Welsh fighter Jeff Evans takes on Sheffield’s comeback man Peter Fedorenko.
The winner of that fight will face either Sheffield-based Northampton fighter Paul David and Carl Drake, the Plymouth man who takes the place of Tony Salam, who has been forced to withdraw through personal reasons.
“I’m absolutely buzzing at getting a chance for Prizefighter,” said Drake at the weigh-in at the Crowne Plaza London Hotel in Shoreditch. “I know Paul is a top fighter and well-fancied for this but I am going to give it everything and I’m so up for it.”
Tickets for Prizefighter Super Middleweights are available on the door from 7.30pm and are priced £35 (unreserved) and £60 (ringside) with VIP tickets now sold out.
QUARTER-FINALS (with weights):
Patrick Mendy (12st 1lb 9oz) v Sam Horton (12st 1lb 12oz)
Daniel Cadman (12st 1lb 10oz) v Eddie McIntosh (12st 1lb 13oz)
Jeff Evans (12st 1lb 6oz) v Peter Fedorenko (11st 13lb 10oz)
Carl Drake (12st 0lb 10oz) v Paul David (12st 2lb)
Reserves:
Eder Kurti (11st 13lb 9oz) and Anthony Fitzgerald (12st 1lb 13oz)
Paul David gunning for revenge in Prizefighter
Sheffield-based Northants fighter aiming to reverse Salam result
Paul David got the draw he wanted for Prizefighter Super Middleweights on June 30 at York Hall, Bethnal Green live on Sky Sports, taking on Tony Salam and earning the chance to avenge a defeat inflicted over three years ago.
The Sheffield-based Northampton fighter took on Salam in January 2007 in Essex in just his second professional fight and lost to the Stoke Newington southpaw on points. The pair will lock horns in the latest of Barry Hearn’s eight-man, one night tournaments and David’s trainer Dominic Ingle says his charge is delighted with the chance to gain revenge en route to claiming the £32,000 winner’s cheque.
“It was a close fight (against Salam) and to be honest Paul could’ve won it, he just got caught well with one that won Tony the fight but other than that I thought Paul was on top of him, so he’s relishing the return match,” said Ingle.
David and Salam tangle in the fourth quarter-final of the night and would face the winner of the third bout of the evening between unbeaten Welshman Jeff Evans and Sheffield’s Peter Fedorenko, who David has recently sparred with.
“I think who wins that fight gets a place in the final,” said Ingle. “It’s a good first fight for Paul because he’ll be fresh and he’s confident that he can beat tony. He’s sparred well, he’s in great shape and he wants revenge over Tony so he’s totally focused.
“Fedorenko is a tough guy although he hasn’t been very active recently of course, while you can’t say much about Evans’ record as he’s only fought three times but the Welsh lads are tough fighters and anyone who is trained by Gary Lockett is going to be good and tough even when they are raw. Either guy would be a hard fight for Peter but I think his experience would get him past whoever he faces.”
The opening fight of the evening pits 19 year-old Patrick Mendy against Dudley’s Sam Horton, the 24 year-old who recently fought James DeGale at Upton Park. Horton’s trainer Errol Johnson believes his fighter has a great draw, facing the winner of the second quarter-final between Daniel Cadman and Eddie McIntosh.
“I think he’s got the best half of the draw if he can get past Mendy of course,” said Johnson. He is obviously a very tough kid, but if Sam can stick to his boxing over the three rounds he’s got a great chance of getting through to the final.”
“He’s so relaxed about Prizefighter that I thought he was nearly asleep the other day in the gym to be honest!” said Johnson. “He doesn’t look at all worried or phased at all and he’s training very well.”
While the eight contenders and two reserve fighters are totally focused on a potentially life-changing night of boxing at York Hall on Wednesday, both trainers admitted they will be putting down the pads at 3pm on Sunday to watch England take on Germany in the World Cup.
“He can watch the game as long as he doesn’t do anything silly,” Johnson said of big Birmingham City fan Horton.
“Paul doesn’t doesn’t drink anyway so he can watch the England game, no problem,” said Ingle. “Nothing will get in his way before Prizefighter, he loves boxing, he’s sparred all over the world against the likes of Silvio Branco and Robert Stieglitz – these are great fighters who have fought for world titles. Salam hasn’t been the same fighter since he got knocked out by Courtney Fry and his last two opponents have been a bit of a soft touch, so he’s up against it fighting Paul as he wants revenge and he wants the £32,000 for winning Prizefighter.”
THE DRAW
Quarter-final one – Patrick Mendy v Sam Horton
Quarter-final two – Daniel Cadman v Eddie McIntosh
Quarter-final three – Jeff Evans v Peter Fedorenko
Quarter-final four – Tony Salam v Paul David
Tickets for Prizefighter Super Middleweights are available now at £35 (unreserved), £60 (ringside) and £100 (VIP) – call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.