Cruiserweight Prizefighter III - Tournament Preview

By Dave Lockey @BoxingViper

This Saturday, 14^th May, sees the return of the ever evolving Betfair Prizefighter tournament. This time it’s the return of the Cruiserweights in what promises to be another exciting show brought to us by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotions.

The format is simple; Eight fighters, seven fights, one winner. The fights are based on three 3 minute rounds with the winner progressing through each stage until ultimately being crowned Prizefighter champion.

The contestants for this tournament are not short of talent by any means. The 8 warriors who will step into the ring on Saturday night are as follows;

BoxingOpinions Interview: Shane McPhilbin talks Cruiserweight Prizefighter

This weekend Prizefighter returns with 8 well-known British cruiserweights going head-to-head for the winner's rights and the £32,000 prize money at York Hall, Bethnal Green. One man enters the tournament for a second time, this time with even more at stake and more to prove. That men is Bulwell's Shane McPhilbin.

'The Block' (8-6, 5 KO's) got his first break after just 3 fights in the Heavyweight Prizefighter back in 2010. He only reached the semi-final but still became a better and more known fighter from it. Just over a year later his big break came when he defeated Leon Williams in spectacular and dramatic fashion, picking up the British title. However, since that career-high, things haven't quite gone to plan. The 27-year old suffered a controversial loss to Enzo Maccarinelli in his first defense and has also suffered three consecutive defeats since then too. But the motivated fan favourite refuses to give up and has vowed to BoxingOpinions that he will come back strong in this Prizefighter tournament on Saturday night.

Here is what he had to say: 

Matt Skelton Vs John McDermott II - Fight Preview

By Jack Sumner @Jack_Sumner_

A warning to all boxing purists: There’s going to be a slugfest.

That’s surely the only outcome when you put ‘The Bedford Bear’ Matt Skelton in the ring against ‘Big Bad’ John McDermott.

This Friday at the York Hall in Bethnall Green, the two veterans of the British heavyweight scene will meet for a second time, with each man bidding to get back into the domestic picture after setbacks in 2012.

Both Skelton and McDermott were early knockout victims of David Price in the last calendar year and with their Liverpudlian conqueror looking to vacate his British & Commonwealth titles in the near future – targeting redemption on the world scene in the wake of his own early knockout defeat – the winner of Friday night’s clash will be in the mix once again for national honours, as both men have remained mainstays of the heavyweight division in this country.

'Super Frank' does it again!

'Super' Frank Buglioni had yet another early night on Friday (September 14th) as he made light work of Joe Rea, finishing him in just two rounds.

It was a slight step up for Buglioni who has still now only had six fights but he did exactly the same to the Irishman that he did to the rest of the guys he has been fighting so far. Buglioni showed composure and just waited for the knockout to come as he was very confident that it would. He had Rea down in the first and then just dominated him in the second before the ref was forced to stop the fight.

There are still people moaning about the level of opposition that Buglioni has faced, like there is with most up and coming fighters, but what most people seem to forget is that he has only had six fights, there is no need to rush this guy. He seems to be improving every time we see him and has a bright and exciting future ahead of him. He's the type of guy he will be in exciting fights over and over again because he has a style that the fans want to see.

Billy Joe Saunders to make first defence of title...

Saunders after winning the title at the Royal Albert Hall. (April 28th).

On the 1st June 2012, Billy Joe Saunders will make the first defence of his Commonwealth middleweight title against former light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce. The fight is set to take place at the best small hall in Britain, York Hall in Bethnal Green.

In his last outing Saunders blitzed through his opponent Tony Hill with a barrage of non-stop heavy punches and stopped him in just 30 seconds. This was the main event of the show, on boxing's return to the Royal Albert Hall. This fantastic performance on such a big stage has made him confident that he has what it takes to compete with the best and go far in his career.

Welshman Bradley Pryce.

"I made a big impact with my performance against Tony Hill at the Royal Albert Hall and I'm ready to be in action again so soon and this time headlining London's other famous fight hall - the York Hall." said the 22-year old from Hatfield.

"I had a first round stoppage against Tommy Tolan before Hill as well and I'm not expecting Pryce to go as quick, but with the way I'm punching at the moment who knows?... He's a hard fight and he's had over twice as many fights as me against a lot of top men in Britain around the weight so this is without a doubt my toughest fight yet."

Saunders' promoter Frank Warren also believes that this will be a tougher test for his young fighter: "Billy surprised everyone with his speed and power and how quick he stopped Tony Hill last time out, even me. Pryce is very tough and has some good wins on his record so Billy will have to be on the ball against him."

The undercard will also feature a lot of young talented prospects. The two confirmed so far are Liverpool super-featherweight Stephen Smith and unbeaten super-middleweight Frank Buglioni.

Tickets are available for £40 or £60 from Frank Warren's promotion box (01992 550 888) or from www.frankwarren.tv. It looks like it's going to be a great night of boxing. Well, it always is at the York Hall, and with the likes of Buglioni and Saunders there with there army of fans it will be a cracking atmosphere.

Danny Connor interviews Erin Arif for iFilm London about upcoming Prizefighter!

@IFILMLONDON

Matt Skelton wants a 3rd fight with John McDermott

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Matt Skelton vs John McDermott II - Press Conference at TKO Gym

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