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The draw for Prizefighter Heavyweights III has been made by boxing legend Mike Tyson.
“Iron Mike” conducted the draw at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas earlier today, alongside Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn.
“I’m looking forward to it and this is going to be very exciting, I hope I get to watch it,” said Tyson, the former undisputed Heavyweight World Champion.
“The Prizefighter is an exciting format and British fight fans are in for a big treat on October 2nd”
The first fight was drawn as Scott Gammer vs. Coleman Barrett with the second quarter-final being Danny Williams versus Carl Baker, who steps into the competition at short notice after Michael Holden was refused permission to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Holden, 41, had made an unconvincing return to the ring last Friday after six years out of the ring when he was floored against Czech fighter Tomas Mrazek.
Despite grabbing a draw from the four-round contest, the board did not sanction Holden being in Prizefighter Heavyweights III.
It means Sheffield-based 27-year-old Baker, who is known as “The Fridge” and is a former British Masters Champion, comes into the Prizefighter competition on October 2.
That leaves the potential of a Gammer vs. Williams semi-final, in what would be a rematch after the pair met in March 2007 which Williams won to claim the British title, a belt he still holds today.
Each fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and the third quarter-final sees two fighters who have a great deal to prove meet each other.
Former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison, who still believes he can become a World Champion, meets Scott Belshaw, a fighter looking to get his career back on track after a shock defeat against Tyson Fury in May.
Ex-British and Commonwealth Champion Michael Sprott is scheduled to be in the fourth quarter-final where he would meet undefeated Danny Hughes.
If Harrison and Sprott both win, that would give Harrison a chance for revenge in the semi-final after suffering a crushing third round defeat against Sprott in February, 2007.
A number of potential finals could see Williams and Harrison meet for the third time or Williams and Sprott fight for the fourth occasion.
Prizefighter Heavyweights III had originally been scheduled to take place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green but a huge demand for tickets saw it relocated to the ExCel, where it is expected to be a 5,000 sell-out on Friday, October 2.
The all-in-one-night event features eight heavyweights including current British Champion Danny Williams, former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison and two former British Champions, all vying for the £32,000 top prize.
Dancing group Nemisis, who reached the 2008 final of popular ITV programme Britain’s Got Talent, will be performing as part of the pre-show fun in what will be a thrilling night’s entertainment in and out of the ring.
Tickets cost £40 and £80 and are available from See Tickets on 0871 220 0260, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
The full list of competitors is Carl Baker (Sheffield), Coleman Barrett (Galway, Ireland), Scott Belshaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland), Scott Gammer (Pembroke Dock, Wales), Audley Harrison (London / California), Danny Hughes (Sunderland), Michael Sprott (Reading) and Danny Williams (Brixton).
Prizefighter Heavyweights III draw.
Quarter-finals: QF 1. Scott Gammer v Coleman Barrett, QF 2. Danny Williams v Carl Baker, QF 3. Audley Harrison v Scott Belshaw, QF 4. Michael Sprott v Danny Hughes.
Semi-finals: SF1: Gammer or Barrett v Williams or Baker, SF 2: Harrison or Belshaw v Sprott or Danny Hughes.
