THE PRIZEFIGHTER SERIES: LIGHT-WELTERWEIGHTS
BY: Peter Mann
Here we go fight fans, the 23rd edition of Matchroom Sports Prizefighter Series, sponsored for the first time by betfair, will be witnessed in the one night of 11th February at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall, and boy is the field looking good. Right through from the bookies favourite in the unbeaten Tyrone Nurse, to the rank outsiders in Dean Harrison and Mark Lloyd, all eight challengers stand a chance of becoming Prizefighter champion.
With the eight competitors gunning for not only the £32,000 prize money on offer, there is also the honour of the Prizefighter trophy. Prior to the first fight that of Kell Brook and Matthew Hatton will enter the ring and make the draw for the night’s proceedings. All of this will take place not only in front of a sell-out crowd but also Sky TV cameras (Sky Sports 1, HD 1 AND 3D).
Tyrone Nurse is one of only two unbeaten entrants in the competition and goes in with a (20-0, 3 KO’s) record. The Huddersfield boxer is also the youngest in the field and his opponents come fight night are a step up in class for him. However, with his unbeaten record comes confidence and he collected five of those over 2011. Nurse’s last fight was a sixth round points decision over Ivan Godor in November. The other undefeated entrant is that of Alfreton’s Dale Miles and, after he defeated Mihaita Mutu in his last fight with a sixth round TKO , has a (12-0, 9 KO’s) record. That Mutu victory was the 8th TKO of his twelve fight career, including a debut one against Karl Taylor back in 2006.
The most experienced of the boxers comes in the shape of local lad, Young Mutley. From nearby West Bromwich, Mutley enters with a (29-6, 14 KO’s) record and is looking to go at least one step further than his last showing in the Prizefighter Series, when he was a semi-finalist back in December 2009 (won by Gavin Rees). May 2011 saw Mutley lose at London’s O2 Arena against Frankie Gavin for the then vacant WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight title.
The other local lad on the card is Wolverhampton’s own, Dean Harrison. The 28 year old will come in as the crowd favourite and look to add more victories to his current (16-6, 5 KO’s) record. Some even say that Harrison is a fighter in decline so even some success on the night would kick-start his career. Harrison enters Prizefighter having suffered five defeats in seven over the past 2 and a bit years, including his last three against Nigel Wright, Mike Alvarado, and more recently, William Warburton.
Along with Young Mutley (31), that of Mark Lloyd (36) and Barry Morrison (31) are two of three over 30’s participating, with Lloyd being the long shot for success. Telford-based Lloyd is the eldest on the card and, like Mutley, is a beaten semi-finalist, but in the first Welterweights contest in October 2008. This could be a step too far this time, especially as he was fighting in the middleweight division back in 2010 and arrives with a (15-4, 3 KO’s) record. All this adds to the fact the bookies have Lloyd down as one of the competition outsiders. His last fight though came some 10 months ago when he lost in Italy to Luciano Abis.
The only Scotsman on the card, Barry Morrison, has a (19-5, 8 KO’s) record and could make the semis if he gets the right fights. A former British title holder (2007) could this be a swansong for him, or a step back onto the ladder. Morrison’s last fight was only last month when he beat Daniel Micallef in Glasgow on points.
The two remaining fighters come in the shape of Adil Anwar, known as ‘The Platinum Kid,’ is quite possibly the tournaments dark horse with a (13-1, 7 KO’s) record but looks like he is a star in the making who can read the fight and has that added speed and power. Anwar is the current English Welterweight title holder that he gained with victory over James Flinn back in November. Victory here could propel Anwar to much greater things and has to be the main threat to Nurse’s favourite’s tag.
Finally there is the highest ranked boxer on the card (according to Boxing News). John Watson has been touted as a potential winner and quite a few people wouldn’t be surprised if he emerged as the victor on the night. He has been in the wilderness for over 12 months though and this would be a challenge for the boxer who comes in with (13-2, 5 KO’s) record. His last two fights, both for the then vacant British Lightweight title, were defeats. The first against Gavin Rees (former Prizefighter winner) in November 2010, then against Anthony Crolla in February 2011, in what was Watson’s last fight.
Also on the card is the small matter of the two unbeaten Matchroom Sports Prospects in Tommy Ghent and Ryan Aston featuring in bouts on the undercard.
The official fighters weigh-in results (courtesy of prizefighter.co.uk) –
Adil Anwar (10st 2lb 13oz), Dean Harrison (10st 2lb 15oz), Mark Lloyd (10st 2lb 9oz), Dale Miles (10st 14oz), Barry Morrison (10st 2lb 10oz), Young Mutley (10st 1lb 5oz), Tyrone Nurse (10st 2lb 15oz), John Watson (10st 2lb 3oz)
Reserves: Danny Connor (10st 1lb 15oz), Jerome Wilson (10st 1lb 8oz)
Statement from Betfair and Matchroom reads as follows –
RISING star Adil Anwar looks set to add Betfair Prizefighter winner to his growing list of honours, according to punters on the betting exchange. The 24-year-old, who will vacate his English welterweight title to take part in Saturday’s tournament, is the current 3.75 (11-4) favourite to pocket the £32,000 prize cheque at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton this weekend.
Despite being the current favourite to lift the Betfair Prizefighter trophy, Anwar faces stiff competition from undefeated duo Tyrone Nurse and Dale Miles, both available at 4.5 (7-2). Boasting a record of 20 fights without defeat, it’s clear that Nurse must be taken seriously. The 22-year-old has previously sparred with Anwar and will have some idea of what to expect from the market leader.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich’s Young Mutley will be making his first appearance in the ring since his defeat to Frankie Gavin in May last year. The former British Welterweight champion will surely be hoping to use Prizefighter as a springboard to bigger things. But odds of 10 (9-1) suggest that the 35-year-old’s hopes of a return to past glories will come up short.
Other boxers in the mix at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton are Liverpool’s John Watson, Barry ‘The Bizness’ Morrison, 36-year-old Mark Lloyd, and local lad Dean Harrison.
To win Prizefighter Light-Welterweights II – Betfair bet: 3.75 (11-4) Adil Anwar, 4.5 (7-2) Tyrone Nurse; Dale Miles, 6.5 (11-2) John Watson, 7 (6-1) Barry Morrison, 10 (9-1) Young Mutley, 11 (10-1) Mark Lloyd, 12 (11-1) Dean Harrison
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