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© Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
Former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight Champion Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, along with six of his fellow seven contestants in the May 19 Cruiserweight Prizefighter tournament scheduled for Earl’s Court, attended a press conference held by the promoter of the series, Barry Hearn, aboard HMS Belfast moored on the River Thames in London.
Scott’s six fellow combatants were ex-Commonwealth Champion Darren Corbett, 27-4-1, former British and European Champion Terry Dunstan, 20-2, ex-British, Commonwealth and European Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Francis, 30-3-1, British Champion John ‘Buster’ Keeton, 26-16, former British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Neil Simpson, 26-18-1, and British Southern Area Champion Micky Steeds, 12-4.
The proceedings were entertainingly opened by Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sports, who praised the fighters sat each side of him before saying “Boxing in some ways has lost its way and gone a bit stale. Prizefighter tries to turn the situation around by making it very easy to understand. Eight great fighters, eight former champions coming together for seven fights in one night.
“One thing about Prizefighter is it’s exciting; these guys get in there and are going to be doing a job we would all like to do, but it’s the loneliest job in the
world. I’ve not seen a bad Prizefighter fight. I’ve seen one or two fighters try to nick it and get beaten but never a bad fight.
“This is basic entertainment boxing and bringing in a crowd that normally goes to boxing. It’s a cross between professional boxing, UFC, a little bit of the
contender thrown in and a bit of 20/20 Cricket – it’s all action.
“Each one of these fighters is a main event fighter and the crowd at Earl’s Court are going to be entertained. When the bell goes it’s going to be carnage
because they don’t know any other way.
“I thought the first Prizefighter Heavyweights was always going to be a cracker but this promises to be even better. Everyone is a puncher and that’s what makes Prizefighter interesting so these guys pick themselves.
“I think this will be pound-for-pound the best Prizefighter show we’ve ever done and I’m excited about this like never before.”
No sooner had Barry Hearn finished than the first questions were asked of the fighters and it came as no surprise that they were directed at possibly the most famous name, besides the eminent Mr Hearn, seated there, the ever likable and entertaining London-based Jamaican, Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott.
Bruce was asked, “you haven’t fought in three years, will you be ready?” to which he replied, “It depends on which way you look at it. I’ve been training hard with the excellent John Rooney. I’m training very hard, very very hard. Training harder than ever in my life.”
The next question asked was where he is training for the tournament, to which Bruce replied, “I’m training near London Bridge, I’m at Gleason’s Gym”.
All nice and tame stuff, but those gathered aboard the historic warship knew as soon as the third question was asked things were going to start getting a bit more lively as Bruce was asked about his fellow contestants.
The mischievous Jamaican smiled before launching his first shot across the bow of his opposition, “I’ve knocked some of them out. I’m not worried about them. They know who they are. I’m not joking, I’m coming for it.”
Bruce’s second salvo was directed at Terry Dunstan, who was sat next to him, when asked if they had sparred when both were training at the same gym, “No, he was to scared to spar me,” said Scott.”No, he wouldn’t spar with me. I had just come from Jamaica then, I was raw. You can ask him, he didn’t want to spar.”
A shell-shocked Terry responded, “Scott must have a better memory than me or I must be punch drunk.”
Bruce fired a range-finding tracer, “He has the fastest knockout in England I think, yeah the European Championship I think. I think it’s the only person he knocked out, as my daughter punches harder than him”
Terry spins round and let’s off his own quick-fire salvo, “Scott says I can’t punch and he says I ain’t knocked anyone out . If he says I ain’t knocked anybody out, either he’s punch drunk or I’m punch drunk.”
Darren Corbett decides it’s time for him to to lock Bruce into his sights before firing a warning shot in the Jamaican’s direction, “Bruce, you say that you knocked people out. The referee stopped our fight in the tenth. I was ahead after three rounds. I hope we meet in the first round because…”
But before Darren could get another word out, Dunstan steams port side of the Irishman and diplomatically suggests, “Save it for the 19th.” to prevent a full scale battle breaking out.
As the fog of war subsided, Dean Francis decided it was time to declare his position, “For me this is a last-ditch attempt to fulfill my dream of winning a world title. I’m going in there to beat everyone. If Bruce Scott thinks he will beat me, then he has got another think coming. I’m a cruiserweight, but a lot of these guys are heavyweights having to lose the weight.”
Micky Steeds diplomatically saved further battle cries by saying, “It’s a good competition and you can see that by the names in it. If you go all the way you can get three good names on your record all in one night, and that may normally take a couple of years. It’s fast and furious but I’m the youngest and prettiest here.”
Continuing on the lighter theme, late arrival John Keeton, who will be celebrating his birthday the night of the Prizefighter tournament, raised the biggest laugh of the day when he said, “It’s absolutely fantastic and I’m proud to be in it. There are a lot of old faces who have done a lot of damage in the past to me.
“But, it’s an honour to have this opportunity of boxing in Prizefighter. This gives everyone a boost to their careers.”
Directly after the entertaining press conference, Scott walked the short distance to Gleason’s Gym and got straight back to work preparing for the Prizefighter tournament.
The Prizefighter series is a knock-out boxing tournament created by boxing promoter Barry Hearn and aired on Sky Sports. The format has an initial eight fighters compete in four quarter-finals with the chance of fighting their way into a final fight for a chance to win a main prize of £25000. All contests take place on the same evening and consist of 3 x 3 minute rounds.
Prizefighter 7: The Cruiserweights will be held at Earls Court in West London on Tuesday, May 19 2009.
Tickets cost £25 (unreserved) and £50 (reserved, ringside) and are available by calling 0870 264 3333 or 01277 359900.
