Prizefighter: The Heavyweights II
Its Prizefighter time again tomorrow, and the heavyweights take centre stage as Barry Hearn rolls his three-round format back into York Hall. There are plenty of familiar faces in one of the most high-profile Prizefighters yet and it should be a right old tear-up.
Here is a rundown of all the competitors:
Ali Adams
Every Prizefighter has someone like Ali Adam. He has a mediocre record of 9-2-1 and is looking to make a name for himself; sometimes fighters like him take the chance and sometimes they skulk back to whatever club they came from, it’s the essence of Prizefighter really.
At 29 years old Adams is one of the younger fighters in this particular tournament. The Baghdad-born fighter could be well suited to this format, he has a decent chin and is solid enough, however he has a hard opening fight in the form of Matt Skelton, though if he gets past him anything is possible.
Franklin Egobi
It’s possible that Franklin Egobi could be an outsider for this competition. The biggest problem for “Prince” is that he has been inactive fro two years so this is a bit of a baptism of fire on his return.
He started his career well going 12 fights without defeat before coming undone against Petr Sedlak and losing his way with three defeats in his next six. One to watch.
Danny Hughes
Anyone who regularly watches Prizefighter will be well aware of Danny “Boy” Hughes. Despite the fact the 24-year-old Sunderland fighter only has ten professional fights to his record this is his second appearance in Prizefighter.
Last time out Hughes got to the semi-final only to be stopped by the Audley Harrison success machine. He has another Harrison victim in the form of Michael Sprott in the first round and he will be hard pressed to get past one of the tournament favourites.
Kevin McBride
It’s difficult to mention Kevin McBride without prefixing “The last man to knock out Mike Tyson” on to it. It was of course a washed up shell of Tyson there in body just for the money, but it’s still Tyson.
McBride is not exactly on fire, he has lost his last three, and notably his last fight was a massively lop-sided unanimous decision against journeyman Zach Page. These days McBride lives in Brockton Massachusetts which is of course where Marvin Hagler learned his trade. He will need some of Marvellous Marvin’s raw power if he wants to win tonight, but the sluggish Irishman is unlikely to suit the three round format and could be an early high profile casualty.
Michael Sprott
Had Michael Sprott beaten Audley Harrison in their European title match in April would he be fighting David Haye for a world championship? Probably not. The Reading man was on course for the win until he felt the full force of a career saving A-force zinger to leave him on the deck.
Still if you can’t beat them join them must have been Sprott's philosophy as he follows Harrison’s lead by going into the same Prizefighter tournament that re-launched the former Olympian’s career.
Sprott was supposed to be in the Harrison Prizefighter but withdrew with injury. He is a vastly experienced slugger who was comfortably European level at his peak, a well round boxer whose best days may be behind him but is certainly a tournament favourite.
Matt Skelton
The veteran former kickboxer Matt Skelton is normally wheeled out by Frank Warren in an emergency. At one stage he looked like he would be the heavyweight future for the UK but often his fights were slow and uninspiring.
He is a tough nut to crack and arguably possesses the best knockout punch of the tournament. Despite the fact he had a world title tilt two years ago Skelton is on awful form with four defeats in his last six and an early elimination here could be the last we see of the Bedford man.
Shane McPhilbin
With just three fights to his name there’s no doubt this will be a huge step up in terms of experience for McPhilbin.
Not much is known the Nottinghamshire fighter; he is the smallest in the competition and by far the least experienced, but has had some hype around him. It would be a major shock if he won, but that’s what Prizefighter is all about. The rank outsider though.
Declan Timlin
Mr Dark-horse himself, Declan Timlin looks to be in best condition of anyone in Prizefighter and has youth and hunger on his side. With an unblemished seven victory fight record, he’s put it all on the line to make a name for himself at York Hall.
The short fight format should suit his athletic style and Saturday night could see the rise to prominence of the Galway fighter.
Fight 1: Kevin McBride v Franklin Egobi
Fight 2: Matt Skelton v Ali Adams
Fight 3: Michael Sprott v Danny Hughes
Fight 4: Declan Timlin v Shane McPhilbin
Semis
Winner of fight 1 v Winner of fight 2
Winner of fight 3 v Winner of fight 4
Predictions: Michael Sprott
It’s easy to look at this Prizefighter and select Michael Sprott or Matt Skelton to win it as they are by far the most experienced and the bigger names. However Prizefighter history has frequently shown that underdogs can prevail and for that reason Declan Timlin and Ali
Adams can’t be ruled out.
However Sprott is the one to beat, he is in last-chance-saloon time, is the most experienced and a very good all-round fighter.
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