Boxing Betting / Alex Steedman / 08 February 2012 /

Alex Steedman wasn't convinced by the format when Prizefighter launched four years ago, but he has been won over by the sell-out shows, Rocky-style storylines and, of course, the betting opportunities...

Ask anyone who's ever had anything to do with Barry Hearn and they'll tell you the same thing; maroon him on a desert island alone, without a penny in his pocket and he'll turn up within the week a millionaire.

No surprise then that one of his most recent adventures, Prizefighter - now sponsored by Betfair - has been a roaring success and with suave, (too) handsome son Eddie now at the helm that looks set to continue this weekend.

Nearly four years on and 22 shows in, Prizefighter now sits more comfortable alongside the regular boxing covered by Sky Sports but there is little doubt that it has done its own bit for bridging the mainstream divide the sport so desires. Sell out shows, repeated again on Saturday in Wolverhampton, have become a regular feature of Prizefighter, as have the Rocky-like storylines. It is an event as well a blossoming brand and for punters there are developing trends.

The odd exception aside, each event pits rising stars with potential alongside supposed fading talents with a liberal sprinkling of the last chance saloon. Then there is the Rocky angle which you can poo poo from the comfort of your own sofa but Prizefighter does it even better than the real thing.

Mental fortitude

From the minute Belfast taxi driver Martin Rogan hustled and muscled his way to the very first event in 2008, the show was almost bound to work.

Rogan seemed to set the template for punters as well as the approach of the fighters themselves in the early days that industry over artistry would prevail. Given the three x 3-minute round format and that a trio of wins on the same night would be required to scoop the £25,000 and trophy, fitness as well as mental fortitude have been priorities when considering who to support.

Rogan, perhaps more than most, had the energy and application to surpass his skills and it took him to a Commonwealth title but it would be wrong to think that is the best or only way to get the job done.

Exposure

Sam Sexton succeeded Rogan as Prizefighter as well as Commonwealth champion at Heavyweight but he was more boxer than brawler and remember southpaw stylist Michael Lomax landed the third event back in 2008. Rogan and to an extent Willie Casey (a winner in 2010) were Cinderella stories for the show with the sheer will power to carry it through but both had ability and went on to win recognised titles too. And one thing Prizefighter carries is some clout as well as the TV connection to launch or revitalise careers.

It was a Prizefighter win which brought Audley Harrison back into our consciousness and thanks to some very clever Eddie Hearn chat and manoeuvres up front, Harrison earned himself a scarcely believable shot at David Haye's WBA belt.

Martin Murray took the first Middleweight event in 2008 as a young up-and-coming talent using the show as a platform for British title success. Murray only recently challenged and drew away in Germany for Felix Sturm's world title while Prince Arron found the confidence he needed thanks to Prizefighter and transformed himself into a formidable looking British title holder at light middleweight.

Prizefighter has always been a shop window for the sport as well as a way back in for the fading stars or the opportune-less former champions. Gareth Rees lost his world title in 2008 but he was Prizefighter champion a year later and then went onto win British and then European titles in successive years. He still had it and was back in the game. TV makes you look fatter so they say but it can thicken the wallet while energising careers in boxing and it repeats the trick in slightly different ways every single series.

Atmosphere

All those ingredients would probably make the show anyway but what helps it both on the box and if you're lucky enough to snap up a ticket is the atmosphere. Get yourself down to York Hall on a sweaty, sold out summer night and you'll know what I mean. It rocks.

That crackling interaction between the crowd, fighters and you at home is a big part of it because there are at least eight different sets of partisan fans ringside roaring on their man. Remember the Belfast brickies' burning the air for Rogan and last October the Mongolian hoards (mostly London acolytes) with headdress and clappers providing carnival for Choi. The 40-year old horseman from Ulan Bator couldn't fail with that in his corner and he duly provided Prizefighter with another Hollywood ending.

When Prizefighter burst onto our screens nearly four years ago I must confess I really wasn't sure. I'm a boxing fan, I love the sport and I viewed this potentially smelly cousin with some disdain. But it works and it works for boxing in ways I simply couldn't have imagined. At the end of the day you may see two guys tearing into each other for nine minutes and we might win a few bets along the way but the bonds forged between boxing and Prizefighter are strong now; as close perhaps as the sacred ones between fighters themselves.

On Saturday night I'll be transfixed once again.

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