The draw for the Prizefighter Heavyweights 2 tournament has been made with a host of intriguing fights due to take place next Friday at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
Sam Sexton, the youngest man in the competition, will be involved in the first contest of the night against veteran Pele Reid. Home hope David Ferguson will be next up and the crowd at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle will be hoping he defeats Derbyshire’s Luke Simpkin. Chris Burton, tipped as joint favourite by the bookmakers, faces rank outsider David Ingleby, while the last first round match sees Lee Swaby up against Darren Morgan.
The event, will be held on September 12 and four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final will be held in one action-packed night, with each contest lasting a maximum of three rounds.
Chris Burton (Darlington), David Ferguson (Wallsend), David Ingleby (Morecambe), Darren Morgan (Swansea), Pele Reid (Birmingham), Sam Sexton (Norwich), Luke Simpkin (Swadlincote, Derbys) and Lee Swaby (Lincoln) are all aiming to win the £25,000 top prize.
The event will be broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports 1. The draw was conducted by Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn and current British Heavyweight Champion Danny Williams.
Williams believes Burton, who is undefeated from his 11 professional contests with six knockouts, will be celebrating next Friday.
“Burton is for me the best Heavyweight prospect in Britain,” said Williams. “He’s a really good fighter and I believe he is going to have a great future. I’m tipping him to win the whole tournament.
“But that’s the exciting thing about this; you just don’t know what’s going to happen. Prizefighter is great for heavyweight boxing and you have three rounds so no pacing yourself, you go out there and have a tear up.
“It’s exciting for the viewers but for the fighters winning a tournament could instantly make their name in boxing. You just have to give your heart and give everything you’ve got because it could change your whole career.
“It’s similar to amateur boxing and at the ABAs you could box two or three times. People say it’s about pacing yourself but I think the best tactic is to go out there and give everything. If you don’t then you could lose and go home.”
Tickets cost between £25 and £75 (ringside) and are available now by calling 0844 493 6666 or by visiting www.theprizefighterseries.com
