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Photo © Lawrence Lustig
Dean Francis believes he is fighting for his boxing future in the next Prizefighter tournament.
Francis, 35, is one of eight cruiserweights competing in the next phase of Barry Hearn’s hugely popular Prizefighter Series on Tuesday, May 19.
The event, which will be screened live on Sky Sports, comes from the Earls Court in London and tickets are selling fast.
Francis, an ex-European Champion at super-middleweight and former British and Commonwealth title holder at light-heavyweight, insists he will quit the sport if he underperforms.
“If I don’t win this I will retire,” said Francis. “After my last fight [a shock draw against unheralded Joey Vegas in February] I thought that if I didn’t start doing things properly then I’ve got to retire.
“This is a hard sport and not easy having a fight like I had last time and then coming back from that. In my last outing I was terrible and I feel I have to prove myself again but it’s not unusual as I’m always having to prove myself.
“I was overweight and way too heavy, so this time I’ve been in the gym losing weight and I’m a stone and a half lighter. The criticism was inevitable and I gave myself criticism as it was a disgusting fight.
“If I don’t do well in Prizefighter I will retire as there will be nowhere for me to go. But I expect to take home the prize money then fight for the British title then fight for a world title.
“What tells me I’m still good enough to win a world title is that in training people are stopping and standing around watching me.”
Francis, who hails from Basingstoke but trains in Finchley, will take home £25,000 if he wins Prizefighter and the event promises to be the best yet with a host of big names from the cruiserweight division.
The eight fighters have between them held two European belts, four Commonwealth Championships and six British titles.
Four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final will all take place inside a frenetic three-hour period on Tuesday, May 19.
The draw will be made on Thursday, May 14 and Corbett is hoping to gain some early revenge from a painful defeat in his career.
The full list of contenders are: Darren Corbett (Belfast), Terry Dunstan (Vauxhall, London), Dean Francis (Basingstoke), John Keaton (Sheffield), Mark Krence (Chesterfield), Bruce Scott (Hackney), Neil Simpson (Coventry) and Micky Steeds (Isle of Dogs, London).
Tickets are £25 for Unreserved, £50 for Reserved and are available by calling 0870 903 9033 24 hours a day or online at WWW.SEETICKETS.COM or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
FOR more information about The Prizefighter Series, please visit www.theprizefighterseries.com
