Audacious Heavyweight Hughes Plans To Topple Giants Of British Boxing

Danny Hughes believes the ‘big names’ in Friday’s Prizefighter Heavyweights III will ‘fold under pressure’.

Hughes, 23, is the youngest competitor in Barry Hearn’s latest eight-man, one-night tournament, which will be held at London’s ExCel Arena.

The event includes some of the best fighters in the division, including current British Champion Danny Williams and former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison.

However, Hughes believes the format of each bout lasting a maximum of three rounds will see one of the unfancied fighters claiming the £32,000 top prize.

“I’m not phased by any of the names and I think I can win it, said Sunderland-based Hughes, who is undefeated from seven fights.

“Most fighters fight better when they have less pressure on them so I think the big names will be folding under the pressure.

“I’ve sparred with most of the top fighters in the country, including some of the people in Prizefighter, and I think over three rounds I can definitely beat them.

“I think I can win it and I wouldn’t go in it if I thought I couldn’t.

“It’s not worth any amount of money to get beaten and you couldn’t pay me a million pounds to just go in there and get beaten.

“As an amateur I was ranked fourth in the UK and I’m a fast-paced fighter so this three-round format suits me. The other, more experienced fighters, are used to fighting ten or 12 rounders so they’re going to have to adapt.

“I’m more hungry than the top fighters that have been there and done it. I want to win Prizefighter more than anything in the world.”

Hughes, a 20/1 outsider to lift the Prizefighter trophy, was originally scheduled to meet former British and Commonwealth Champion Michael Sprott.

However, Sprott’s withdrawal after the death of his sister Ginette means Hughes now faces another undefeated prospect – Birmingham’s Neil Perkins.

“Neil is tough but it’s a fight I expect to win,” added Hughes. “I would then probably get Audley Harrison in the next round and I’m not phased by that at all.

“This will be the biggest Prizefighter yet and everyone in the country will be watching – it’s going to be dynamite.

“You have the current British Champion, an Olympic Champion and another ex British Champion (Scott Gammer) so you can’t ask for a better line-up. I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”

Prizefighter tickets are going fast but some are still available at £40 or £80 from See Tickets on 0871 220 0260, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. All the action will also be screened live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD 2 from 9pm on Friday.

The quarter-final draw is: 1. Scott Gammer (Pembroke Dock, Wales) v Coleman Barrett (Galway, Ireland), 2. Danny Williams (Brixton) v Carl Baker (Sheffield), 3. Audley Harrison (London / California) v Scott Belshaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland), 4. Neil Perkins (Birmingham) v Danny Hughes (Sunderland).