Matchroom Boxing: Scott Vows To KO Keeton Once Again

Bruce Scott has vowed to knockout John Keeton for the third time in his professional career during Tuesday’s Prizefighter Cruiserweights competition.

The pair are two of the eight contenders in Barry Hearn’s latest televised all-in-one-night Prizefighter tournament at the Earl’s Court, London, where the winner collects £25,000.

Scott stopped ‘Buster’ Keeton in the second round back in 1994 and then knocked him out in the sixth in December 2000 when the vacant British Championship was on the line.

But the Prizefighter quarter-final draw, made on Thursday aboard the HMS Victory in Portsmouth, has brought the two fighters together again and Scott insists the result will be the same.

“Ah, Buster, bless him. I’ve already knocked him out cold already, twice,” said 39-year-old Scott, a former British and Commonwealth Champion.

“Then again maybe it will be third time lucky for Buster? No. It will be third time lucky for me. I’m in good shape and intend to knockout old Buster again.

“I want to knock them all out. I’m going to knock out anybody that comes in the ring with me and I’m going to let them know Bruce Scott is back.

“I’ve boxed for the World Championship three times and if I win Prizefighter I’ll get a shot at the British title again.

“I’ll get to fight Rob Norton and knock him out and then get to fight for a World Championship again.”

Scott, who is returning to the ring after a three-year sabbatical from the sport, has been taking his preparations for Prizefighter very seriously.

In addition to securing the services of trainer John Rooney, Scott has also been sparring with current British Heavyweight Champion, Danny Williams.

The eight men in Prizefighter Cruiserweights have all previously held or fought for either a European, Commonwealth or British title so the competition will be fierce.

The quarter final draw is Dean Francis v Neil Simpson, John Keeton v Bruce Scott, Terry Dunstan v Ovill McKenzie and Micky Steeds v Darren Corbett before the semi-finals and final take place later in the night.

Whoever wins Prizefighter Cruiserweights will pocket £25,000, the runner-up goes home with £12,000, losing semi-finalists earn £8,000 with those defeated in the quarter-finals collecting £4,000.

The full list of contenders is: Darren Corbett (Belfast), Terry Dunstan (Vauxhall, London), Dean Francis (Basingstoke / Finchley), John Keeton (Sheffield), Ovill McKenzie (Derby), Bruce Scott (Hackney), Neil Simpson (Coventry) and Micky Steeds (Isle of Dogs, London).

Tickets cost £25 (unreserved) and £50 (reserved) and are available by calling 0870 903 9033 (24-hours), online at www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. The whole show will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm.

For more information about The Prizefighter Series, please visit www.theprizefighterseries.com or www.matchroomsport.com/boxing