British Scene: Prize Fighter - Light-Welterweights Preview
by A.F. on Dec 3, 2009 3:31 PM EST
in British Scene Previews
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The Prizefighter series is back, and this time the featured weight class is the 140 pound division. Dave Oakes has the preview.
The Prizefighter series returns this Friday with a mouth-watering line-up in the light-welterweight division. The show will be held at the National Hall, Olympia in London for the first time in the series short history. An impressive line-up includes fighters that have claimed one world title, three European titles and three British titles between them in their careers. The eight combatants are: Gavin Rees, David Barnes, Ted Bami, Colin Lynes, Michael Grant, Barrie Jones, Young Mutley and Jason Cook.
Some traditionalists aren’t keen on the purportedly crash-bang-wallop nature of the competition but no-one can deny its popularity with the punters. The series regularly sells out arenas, has good viewing figures and is one of the most popular events for betting on. Whilst the competition isn’t a true reflection of top class domestic title fights, it has helped generate a lot of interest from people who wouldn’t normally watch boxing, and that can only be good for the sport.
That fight sums up Cook’s career and life perfectly, he’s had many ups and downs, including serving six months in prison for fraud, winning the title, losing the title on the scales, before retiring through injury in 2005. He made his comeback in October this year and showed that his punch power is still there by heavily knocking out Scott Jordan in the fourth round.
Cook faces a tricky opening bout against Grant, whose slick style is bound to cause him problems. Grant, 12-0-1 (1KO), is a former ABA champion who has had a slow burning pro career so far, which wasn’t helped by a shoulder injury that kept him out for two years.
Grant hasn’t been tested thus far in his career and is taking a big jump up in class in this tournament. We’ve not seen how well he takes a punch or how he responds to being put on the back foot, his fight against Cook might provide us with the answers.
The winner of Cook v Grant will face the winner of the second bout of the evening, which features former world champion Gavin Rees versus Ted Bami.
Rees, 28-1 (14KO’s), has only fought once since he lost his world title to Andriy Kotelnik in March of last year - a fourth round retirement victory over journeyman Johnny Greaves three months ago. The proud Welshman should be well suited to the shortened fights in Prizefighter, his busy all action style could catch the judges’ eye in any close rounds.
Bami, 26-5 (13KO’s), is a former European champion but looks to be a fighter on the decline having lost three of his last six fights, one of which was against fellow Prizefighter David Barnes. The Barnes fight, over eighteen months ago, was the last time he made the light-welterweight limit; in his last fight he needed two attempts to make the welterweight limit.
He has the experience of fighting in the Prizefighter series before when he lost in the final against Michael Lomax up at welterweight. That experience should stand him in good stead against Rees.
David Barnes faces Colin Lynes in the second half of the draw. Lynes is a former British and European champion and is the more experienced championship fighter in the line-up. This is seen as his last chance to shine and get back into title contention after losing his last three fights, although, the split-decision defeat to Gianluca Branco in Italy was debateable to say the least.
Lynes, 31-6 (12KO’s) boxes in an upright style and can be a classy boxer when he gets into a rhythm, the only trouble being that it usually takes him three or four rounds to do so, which I feel will be a major factor here.
Barnes, 24-1-1 (11KO’s), is one of the most frustrating boxers in Britain; he has everything needed to be a world class operator but his lack of mental toughness, ambition and dedication has seen his career ebb away. He was once the hottest prospect in Britain, he blazed his way to the British welterweight title in just thirteen fights before seemingly falling out of love with the sport, he looked out of sorts when drawing against Ali Nuumbembe and suffered a stoppage defeat to Joshua Okine shortly afterwards.
He finally seemed to be getting his head together in March of last year when he out-boxed Bami to win the British title at a second weight, this time at light-welterweight. Everyone thought that victory would spur him on to greater things but he only defended the title once, a points victory over Barry Morrison, before a hand injury curtailed his reign. He hasn’t boxed in sixteen months, and whilst ring rust may be a problem, he’s undoubtedly the most talented fighter in the competition.
The winner of that fight will take on the winner of the fourth and final quarterfinal between Young Mutley and Barrie Jones. Mutley is hoping to show that he’s still got a future in boxing after suffering a shock third round knockout defeat to the unheralded Romanian Mihaita Mutu in his last outing. Mutley, 26-4 (13KO’s), is a former British welterweight champion who holds a win over Michael Jennings.
Like Bami, I feel Mutley will find it hard to make the weight having been a welterweight for most of his career and having fought at light-welter only once in the past four years.
Jones, 16-3 (7KO’s), is a tough fighter and will be a handful for anyone over the three round distance. He’s a southpaw but tends to get too involved to gain any advantage from the stance. I feel he doesn’t use his ability to its maximum potential; he has a lovely jab when he chooses to use it but can get haymaker-happy at times. His fight against Mutley is a close one to call but I sense that Mutley is on the decline and a fired up Jones can take the fight if he boxes well.
If I had to pick an overall winner I’d go for Barnes, on his day he’s on a different level to the others. I also believe that Barnes feels he’s got unfinished business in boxing. If his head’s right and the hunger is still there, then Barnes should be able to box and move his way to victory.
SBN coverage of Prizefighter: Junior Welterweights (Sky Sports)
| For live round by round coverage of this event, check out Bad Left Hook. |
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I like the British scene when it comes to boxing. Some hardcore sluggers right there!
Whatever the fuck you do in life, echoes in eternity! <----slightly edited
-Maximus[Gladiator]
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