Boxing News Boxing News
Jack “13” Morris is the final boxer to join the line-up for Prizefighter Light-Heavyweights II at Olympia in London on January 29.
The 28 year-old has four wins and one defeat fighting out of Blackfriars, and after a nervous wait over Christmas to find out if he would be in with a shot at the title and £32,000 winner’s cheque live on Sky Sports and in 3D for the first time, Morris can now step up his training as the eighth fighter in the hunt.
“I had my fingers crossed that I would be the last fighter in there when we made the calls around Christmas so it was a nervous wait but I’m thrilled to be in there and raring to go,” said Morris, who lives in Ramsgate, Kent. “Prizefighter is a massive event and winning it would change my career so much, and I know I can do it.”
Morris works as a personal trainer with Cityboxer at The Ring Boxing Club in Southwark, where he also trains with manager and trainer Mark Burford, and says that his work is perfect to set him up for victory in the 16th edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight-man, one-night tournaments.
“We get the high profile bankers in so it pays well and helps me to keep up with my own training too,” said Morris. “I’ve also started up a Sports Management company on the back of the people I’ve met through work. I’m always in terrific shape and mentally sharp so I am going to be at my best on the night.”
Morris, who has also worked as a model, has not fought since a points victory over Adam Wilcox at The Troxy in east London back in November 2009. By entering Prizefighter, Morris gets a chance to launch himself into the public eye but also to gain revenge for his solitary loss, a debut defeat to fellow Prizefighter contender Michael Banbula.
“That fight taught me all I needed to know – that I needed to get a proper base in London and stay up during the week, and put more effort in,” said Morris. “So if anything I should be thanking him, even though I thought I won the fight.”
Morris completes a line-up that is headed by former British super-middleweight champion Tony Dodson returning to the fray on the back of two high-profile tilts at retaining the title in Liverpool against local rivals Paul Smith and Tony Quigley.
St. Albans boxer Joe Smyth will be aiming to build on a 7-1 record and is joined by Surrey fighter Banbula, the Pole who enters in the best run of form in his 40 fight career, currently unbeaten in his last five fights including a win over previous Light-Heavyweights champ Tony Oakey and a draw against Tony Jeffries that halted the Sunderland Olympic bronze medallists winning streak.
Four young unbeaten fighters are aiming to grab their big chance to leap to the top of the queue for title shots in the division. 22 year-old Travis Dickinson – younger brother of Cruiserweights II winner Jon-Lewis – has three knockouts under his belt from his seven wins so far, with his first victory coming against Super-Middleweights champ Patrick Mendy when the pair made their debuts back in March 2009.
Former Wales amateur captain Llewellyn Davies has five wins to his name with three KOs, 26 year-old Kent fighter Menay Edwards has four wins from his first four fights with one knockout and popular Romford man Billy Slate in undefeated after his opening two fights as he kicks off his career at 28.
Tickets for the Prizefighter Light-Heavyweights II are on sale now, with tickets starting at £20 and £30, ringside tickets at £40 and £50, and VIP packages at £120 – tickets are on sale at SeeTickets.com or through Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
