By Terence Dooley
Former WBA light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees, 29, is taking part in the next Prizefighter event, which will take place at Olympia's National Hall, London in December. The Welshman will be joined by Ted Bami, who took part in the welterweight version of Prizefighter, David Barnes, who is on a roll of seven wins, Jason Cook, Colin Lynes, who narrowly lost in an EBU title tilt to Souleymane M’Baye back in July, Barry Morrison, Young Mutley and Lee Purdy.
Bami, Cook and Lynes are former EBU title holders; Barnes, Morrison and Mutley have all held the British title; there is quality from the bottom to the top in this latest edition of the popular tournament.
However, Young Mutley was brutally KO’d in three-rounds by the unheralded Mihaita Mutu in Nottingham on Saturday night. Mutley went down heavily after taking a right hand at 0:30 of the round; he failed to beat the count and was wobbly upon rising – Mutley will have to raise his game, and his guard, for this tournament. Still, the West Bromwich man is a terrific puncher; he is a dangerous operator when fully switched on.
Promoter Barry Hearn believes that the event, which takes place on December the 4th, will match, or even surpass, the excitement generated by the Prizefighter: Heavyweights III tournament that took place earlier this month.
“Everybody keeps asking me what we can to better the heavyweight tournament won by Audley Harrison,” enthused Hearn. “There were record crowds, record television ratings and a brilliant night's entertainment, but all I can say is you ain't seen nothing yet!
“Our first ever light-welterweights Prizefighter brings together a field of competitors that would grace any top-line boxing promotion. It's amazing to get all this talent in one room for one night's boxing and even more amazing when they're going to battle down to one champion on one night. Prizefighter has been a breath of fresh air for professional boxing and I can't wait for December 4 — and neither can the thousands of fight fans queuing for tickets.”
Tickets cost £40 (unreserved) and £80 (reserved) and are available from See Tickets on 0870 903 9033, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.