**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, in the East End of London, Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sports hosted another episode of the "Prizefighter Series". This time it was the turn of the welterweights as eight boxing hopefuls lined up for the tournament-style competition that would propel them in to the limelight and earning the winner a £25,000 cheque and the coveted silver trophy.

The York Hall was packed to capacity as the evening's entertainment got under way. The crowds enjoyed the scantily clad girl-group followed by some expert drumming by four uniformed guardsmen, before the ring-girls, one assigned to each of the eight boxers, did a choreographed flag-wave in the ring. Once the silver trophy had been ceremoniously handed over to the British Boxing Board of Control officials along ringside - the boxing could commence.

First to take to the ring was the favourite, Dangerous Ted Bami, as he faced Andrew Ferrans. Ferrans was the reserve who had been brought in to take the place of over-weight George Hillyard.

Brixton's Bami had a bit of a scare when Ferrans came out fired-up and landed in the first minute but Bami landed a couple of great rights and a very wobbly Ferrans was stopped in one minute and 43 seconds of round one. Flipping in the air to entertain fans with his trademark somersault - Bami bounced out of the ring to await his semi-final match-up. More...

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Tonight, at the famous York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sports hosts another 'Prizefighter Series' - and this time it's the welterweights!

Raising a lot of interest - these tournament style boxing contests see eight fighters slug it out over the course of three round bouts. The two that make it through all three contests will fight for the £25,000 prize in the final the same night.

Earlier this week, the draw took place to decide the first round match-ups, which will see:

Ted Bami vs. Andrew Ferrans, who stepped in after George Hillyard failed to make the weight
Steve Conway vs. Mark Lloyd
Michael Lomax vs. Craig Dickson
Ross Minter vs. Nigel Wright

It is sure to be another entertaining and exciting night of boxing !

There were two shows of note last night, at University Arena in Limerick, Ireland and one Merseyside at the Olympia in Liverpool, England.

At Limerick, local hero Andy Lee, 16-1 (13), returned home after a disastrous first loss, to Brian Vera in America last March, and regained his form by dramatically stopping Philadelphia boxer Willie "The Gladiator" Gibbs, 20-4 (16), at the end of the tenth and final round of their bout.

Lee put his height advantage and southpaw stance to good use, keeping the American at arm's length for most of the night and rattling off crisp combinations that generally found their mark.

The veteran Gibbs tried to make up what was clearly becoming a ever widening points gap by winging big shots but his faulty defense led to a near knockout loss in the middle rounds as he was battered pillar to post by the Irishman.

Gibbs survived the ordeal and simply couldn't get to Lee until the last round when he connected with over rights that had the Limerick lad in deep water. A referee telling off of Gibbs for use of the head gave Lee time to clear the cobwebs and he was soon hammering Gibbs to the canvas. More...

Andy Lee and Willie Gibbs will weigh in for this Saturday's Ladbrokes.com Fight Night today in Limerick prior to their final pre fight press conference.

Also on hand will be all the undercard boxers including the unbeaten Paul McCloskey and English Champion Nigel Wright, who square off in the chief support bout at the University Arena on Saturday night. More...

Paul McCloskey is hoping that an impressive win over English Champion Nigel Wright on the Ladbrokes Fight Night at the University Arena in Limerick, Ireland on July 19 will land him the title shot which he desperately craves.

The County Derry stylist is unbeaten in 16 pro fights and he says he’s ready for a title shot be that on the British, European or World stage.“I feel I’m ready for anyone right now,” said the Dungiven native. “I’m 28, so I don’t have any time to waste and I’d jump at the chance of fighting for a major title.” More...