prize fighter returns tonight with light heavyweights

[boxasmash]

Prizefighter is back!
Light-heavyweights take their turn in the spotlight

Prizefighter is back on Sky Sports this Friday, with the light-heavyweights taking centre stage.

Barry Hearn has assembled another interesting collection of former champions, up-and-coming prospects, contenders and battle-hardened journeymen for what will be the fifth in the series.

Hotly-tipped pair Tony Oakey and Billy Boyle meet in what could be the tie of the opening round in Friday's light-heavyweight tournament at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

The draw | The fighters

Hampshire-based Oakey, 33, has previously held the British, WBU and Commonwealth titles, while Boyle, 32, who hails from Sheffield, is undefeated from 11 fights with seven of those victories coming by knockout.

That will be the second fight of the night after the show is started by bookmakers' favourite Courtney Fry against rank outsider Shon Davies, who, at 22, is the youngest of the eight men.

The four previous Prizefighter competitions have caused shocks galore and Davies, who is only priced at 25/1, will be aiming to cause a big surprise against former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Fry.

The third clash sees the other two undefeated fighters - Darlington's Bob Ajisafe and Liverpool's Carl Dilks - meet each other but which boxer will suffer the first defeat of their career?

The fourth fight of the night sees Oldham veteran Darren Stubbs, 37, take on Suffolk ****er Steve Spartacus, who has gained 11 of his 19 victories by knockout.

Either Fry or Davies will meet Oakey or Boyle in the first semi-final with Ajisafe or Dilks meeting Stubbs or Spartacus in the second semi-final.

The draw, which was conducted by former WBO Super-Middleweight Champion Chris Eubank at Claridge's in London, leaves open the prospect of an Oakey v Spartacus final. This would be a repeat of an epic British title contest back in May 2007 that Oakey claimed thanks to a 12th round stoppage.


The draw
QUARTER-FINALS
1: Courtney Fry v Shon Davies
2: Tony Oakey v Billy Boyle
3: Bob Ajisafe v Carl Dilks
4: Darren Stubbs v Steve Spartacus
SEMI-FINALS
5: Fry or Davies v Oakey or Boyle
6: Ajisafe or Dilks v Stubbs or Spartacus
FINAL
7: Winner of Fight 5 v winner of Fight 6

As in previous Prizefighter tournaments, two reserves - Ovill McKenzie and Ryan Walls - will be on standby and ready to step in if a victorious fighter is unable to fight in the next round due to an injury or cut.


The fighters
BOB AJISAFE
Age: 23
Home town: Darlington
Professional record: W6 (2 by KO), L0, D0 - Total fights 6
Achievement: Undefeated.

BILLY BOYLE
Age: 32
Home town: Sheffield
Professional record: W11 (7 by KO), L0, D0 - Total fights 11
Achievement: WSO International Champion, undefeated

SHON DAVIES
Age: 22
Home town: Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Professional record: W7 (3 by KO), L2, D0 - Total fights 9
Achievement: Welsh Area Champion

CARL DILKS
Age: 25
Home town: Liverpool
Professional record: W8 (3 by KO), L0, D0 - Total fights 8
Achievement: Undefeated

COURTNEY FRY
Age: 33
Home town: Liverpool
Professional record: W12 (5 by KO), L1, D0 - Total fights 13
Achievement: Never been stopped

TONY OAKEY
Age: 33
Home town: Havant
Professional record: W25 (7 by KO), L4, D1 - Total fights 30
Achievement: Former British, former WBU, former Commonwealth champion

STEVE SPARTACUS
Age: 32
Home town: Ipswich
Professional record: W19 (11 by KO), L5, D0 - Total fights 24
Achievement: Fought for British title, former English champion

DARREN STUBBS
Age: 37
Home town: Oldham, Lancashire
Professional record: W17 (7 by KO), L4, D0 - Total fights 21
Achievement: British Masters Champion

RESERVES
OVILL MACKENZIE
Age: 29
Home town: Derby
Professional record: W14 (5 by KO), L8, D0 - Total fights 22
Achievement: Former Commonwealth Champion

RYAN WALLS
Age: 29
Home town: Slough
Professional record: W14 (4 by KO), L6, D0 - Total fights 20
Achievement: Former WBF International Champion and former Southern Area Champion (both at super-middleweight)

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here are the odds for you if you like a bet.

ODDS



Bookmaker

Fry, C
2.87

Oakey, T
5.1

Ajisafe, B
7.6

Dilks, C
7.6

Boyle, B
8

Spartacus, S
13

Stubbs, D
25

Davies, S
40



I fancy tony oakey myself, the 2nd favourite.


i don't know why someone like roy jones doesn't have a tournament like this, 4 of these bum (ish) fighters fighting him on same night 3 rounds each scheduled, would be more fun than omar sheika and gives him 4 Ws.

[Southpaw16BF]

Should be a good night, Prizefighter seems to be doing pretty well in the UK, and is developing a good fanbase.

Some good names here, and some real expirenced fighters here, and some good unbeaten prospects, its a good mix.

My bet is on Liverpool's Courtney Fry, if he can come on form. He was a really good amature (Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and represented Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics before being put out in the first round.

And he Pro career has stalled, but has showed signs of what he is capble of in the Pro's.

But it won't be a easy night.

[The Surgeon]

I think Fry might win this one

[boxasmash]

hope you all put money on oakey like i said.

good win for him.

[Flab]

hope you all put money on oakey like i said.

good win for him.

I didn't, but I said he would win it.

[FeFist]

Stayed up till 5 am watching it with my dad. Fry got cheated. Don't see how you can have a mix up like that.

I didn't give the match to Stubbs anyway. Watching these fighters fight was annoying in so many ways, well fustrating lack of ability.