Heavyweight heaven
Glenn McCrory Posted 18th August 2009 view comments
Wow! That was my first reaction to the latest Prizefighter line-up.
To get Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and dear old Audley Harrison competing in the same competition is just amazing and you have to say well done to Barry Hearn.
Prizefighter has been great for British boxing and in turn, just having those three there will be great for Prizefighter. We've had some decent line-ups and some great nights in the series, but this one tops the lot.
Williams and Harrison: together again
Not only have you got the big three, you've got another former British champion in Scott Gammer, an old dog like Michael Holden coming back after six years, a journeyman like Scott Belshaw and the young, undefeated hopefuls like Danny Hughes and Coleman Barrett.
It's the perfect mix, the perfect Prizefighter recipe. But this is the heavyweights and they always deliver something extra.
We all know Danny Williams is not exactly a fast starter; he will probably need two, maybe three, whole Prizefighters before he's even warmed up - and that's if he's in the mood for it!
You've only got to look at the two notable absentees from the line-up to see that; Martin Rogan and Sam Sexton are otherwise engaged in a cracking rematch, which in itself is proof what winning this tournament can do for a British heavyweight.
Maybe Sprott and Williams won't shoot back to prominence if they win, but Audley's career could certainly do with a little kick up the backside, couldn't it?
All three of them are sort of bumbling along, never having quite made it all the way, so even they have got something to gain.
But you know what? I wouldn't be at all surprised if none of the big three won it.
That's the beauty of Prizefighter; it mixes things up, makes a mockery of the formbook and can be won by anyone - just look at Ovil McKenzie coming in as a replacement and winning the last one.
Those three I am talking about will not be used to the three-round format anymore. Harrison might well be more suited to it given his amateur success, but will have to change his pitter-patter careful-careful approach.
The likes of Belshaw and Hughes - who I have had sparring in my gym and can look after himself over three rounds - will come out firing. Can Audley do that any more?
Mouth-watering
Sprott and Williams are both seasoned championship fighters. They prepare for 12 rounds every time, physically and mentally. Neither of them is a spring chicken, so even if they can negotiate the first round, will they be able to pick themselves back up for another fight, possibly two more?
And we all know Danny is not exactly a fast starter; he will probably need two, maybe three, whole Prizefighters before he's even warmed up - and that's if he's in the mood for it!
The draw will be crucial, but just to take the eight as they are is mouth-watering enough.
This is boxing's equivalent of putting marathon runners into the 100m sprint. Who will be the Usain Bolt? Who will come flying out of the blocks and who will be left trailing, flat on their heels.
I am not even going to make a prediction at this stage - I have got every one of these wrong so far I think - but I do we are in for an entertaining night whatever happens.
And after all, boxing is the entertainment business... I just hope someone reminds Audley!
===
Should be interesting this.
Glenn McCrory Posted 18th August 2009 view comments
Wow! That was my first reaction to the latest Prizefighter line-up.
To get Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and dear old Audley Harrison competing in the same competition is just amazing and you have to say well done to Barry Hearn.
Prizefighter has been great for British boxing and in turn, just having those three there will be great for Prizefighter. We've had some decent line-ups and some great nights in the series, but this one tops the lot.
Williams and Harrison: together again
Not only have you got the big three, you've got another former British champion in Scott Gammer, an old dog like Michael Holden coming back after six years, a journeyman like Scott Belshaw and the young, undefeated hopefuls like Danny Hughes and Coleman Barrett.
It's the perfect mix, the perfect Prizefighter recipe. But this is the heavyweights and they always deliver something extra.
We all know Danny Williams is not exactly a fast starter; he will probably need two, maybe three, whole Prizefighters before he's even warmed up - and that's if he's in the mood for it!
You've only got to look at the two notable absentees from the line-up to see that; Martin Rogan and Sam Sexton are otherwise engaged in a cracking rematch, which in itself is proof what winning this tournament can do for a British heavyweight.
Maybe Sprott and Williams won't shoot back to prominence if they win, but Audley's career could certainly do with a little kick up the backside, couldn't it?
All three of them are sort of bumbling along, never having quite made it all the way, so even they have got something to gain.
But you know what? I wouldn't be at all surprised if none of the big three won it.
That's the beauty of Prizefighter; it mixes things up, makes a mockery of the formbook and can be won by anyone - just look at Ovil McKenzie coming in as a replacement and winning the last one.
Those three I am talking about will not be used to the three-round format anymore. Harrison might well be more suited to it given his amateur success, but will have to change his pitter-patter careful-careful approach.
The likes of Belshaw and Hughes - who I have had sparring in my gym and can look after himself over three rounds - will come out firing. Can Audley do that any more?
Mouth-watering
Sprott and Williams are both seasoned championship fighters. They prepare for 12 rounds every time, physically and mentally. Neither of them is a spring chicken, so even if they can negotiate the first round, will they be able to pick themselves back up for another fight, possibly two more?
And we all know Danny is not exactly a fast starter; he will probably need two, maybe three, whole Prizefighters before he's even warmed up - and that's if he's in the mood for it!
The draw will be crucial, but just to take the eight as they are is mouth-watering enough.
This is boxing's equivalent of putting marathon runners into the 100m sprint. Who will be the Usain Bolt? Who will come flying out of the blocks and who will be left trailing, flat on their heels.
I am not even going to make a prediction at this stage - I have got every one of these wrong so far I think - but I do we are in for an entertaining night whatever happens.
And after all, boxing is the entertainment business... I just hope someone reminds Audley!
===
Should be interesting this.
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