Boxing Betting / Alex Steedman / 09 February 2012 /

The 23rd edition of the Betfair-sponsored Prizefighter hits our screens on Saturday night; Alex Steedman previews the boxers and selects a few for the future plus his best bet of the evening.

With a format that lends itself to crash, bang, wallop entertainment, it's easy to think that Prizefighter requires effort above ability. But while Rocky style stories have been part of the show's journey from the start, history also tells us that genuine talent usually finds a way through.

Martin Murray in 2008 and Prince Arron two years later are examples of young fighters who were destined to go on from Prizefighter to better things while the class of Gavin Rees was telling in 2009 as he sought a way back in from losing his world title. The interesting thing about this weekend's Betfair sponsored renewal in Wolverhampton is there are niggling doubts about the fighters with those profiles which makes this event particularly open.

The Murray win nearly four years ago is a good example of an emerging talent having the necessary skills to overcome raw energy and persistence. Murray won the final in a give and take affair with Cello Renda who for a period a few years back was one of the most entertaining fighters on the domestic scene. Renda could whack too which always helps in Prizefighter and a year later he was involved in an extraordinary double-knockdown against Paul Samuels (You Tube that if you can) but he was relatively limited and against Murray that eventually told.

If there is a lurking Martin Murray in this crop then Tyrone Nurse - available to back at [5.0] for this Saturday's contest - is probably it with Dale Miles ([5.2]) and Adil Anwar ([3.8]) in behind. Nurse and Miles are the only unbeaten fighters in the line up while Anwar's sole defeat came in his second pro outing more than four years ago. If I'm brutally honest, I don't think any of the trio is a budding star of tomorrow but any of them could use a win here as a prospective platform and I have no doubt that of the three, Nurse has the most natural talent.

Standing close to six feet, Nurse has quick hands, a beautiful jab and lovely movement; you sense if he can control himself in the Prizefighter atmosphere he could stand out from the rest of the crowd. My worry with the 22 year old from Leeds is that he doesn't use those skills as best he might and because he stands in range he gets hit. Under Chris Aston, who took Gary Sykes to a British title, Nurse is also taking a massive step up in class having beaten largely journeymen. But, he has the skill set to get it right and if he puts it all together, Nurse can win this.

Miles is tough, improving and on paper comes into this on the back of a career best result so he ought to be confident. The Midlander will bring a stack of fans too and they were noisy when he became only the second man to stop resilient Frenchman Mihaita Mutu last October. The Sky team were raving about that performance and eye-catching KO but I thought at 35, Mutu was a walking target. Miles took plenty of time to get him too and is not your archetypal southpaw slickster either but he does throw a variety of punches and he'll keep at it which you want when you're punting. It's difficult to know how good he is but Miles is something of the dark horse and a player.

Anwar is the favourite but for my money doesn't stand out. He does move well and throws punches from angles from his loose stance but that low hands style is potentially dangerous in this event and I'm wondering how his body will find the drop down from Welterweight. Anwar is English champion at the bigger weight and has stopped each of his last four but at the prices, not for me.

Barry Morrison ([7.8]) has the style and back form to do well in this but he's had one four round fight in 16 months while Young Mutley ([11.0]) is a terrific puncher but at 35 you think he, like Morrison has probably had his time. Some will say the same of John Watson ([6.6]) but for me he is the Renaissance man to follow in the steps of Gavin Rees. The Merseysider is the most complete boxer in the competition and the most likely who, if he wins, will go onto to fight for titles. Watson has already come up short in two attempts for the British Title but he gave Gavin Rees a torrid time in 2010 and last February it was no disgrace in losing to Anthony Crolla, the most improved fighter on these shores.

Admittedly Watson was stopped in both those fights and he has been off for a year but he competed particularly well and lost only to two world class fighters. That level of competition is light years beyond some of the more fancied boxers here. If Watson can get through his quarter final I can see him controlling the destiny of the competition and providing Prizefighter with another story of heroic redemption.

Fighters to watch: John Watson, Tyrone Nurse
Dark horse: Dale Miles
Recommended Bet: John Watson @ [6.6] - 1 pt win (scale 0-10)

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