Boxing Betting / Paul Moon / 13 September 2009 /

Some of the biggest (literally) names in British heavyweight boxing are currently in training for a bash at the £32,000 first prize. Paul Moon whets your appetite prior to the 2nd October fight night.

Instant gratification has replaced patience in recent years and it has manifested itself in all walks of life including food, communications and sport. The appetite is ravenous and global. Though it has been to the detriment of many things in life I fully acknowledge the word 'choice'.

Shortening the length of a sporting contest has become attractive to television time slots and this in turn engages the public. As a consequence this reduces people's attention span whilst increasing expectation. We have already witnessed Rugby Sevens, Twenty20 cricket and Turbo Tennis and now there is a new concept in boxing that is grabbing the media attention - Prizefighter!

On Friday 2 October 2009 at the Excel, Royal Victoria Dock, London, a competition called Prizefighter Heavyweights 3 takes place in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,000. There is £32,000 out of a total purse of £80,000 going to the winner as well as a glorious opportunity to use Prizefighter as a launch pad for a world title shot. With four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final, each lasting a maximum of three rounds it promises non stop action!

The competitors consist of eight British heavyweights including current British Champion Danny Williams (defeated Mike Tyson) and Olympic Games gold medallist Audley Harrison. Besides them there are three former British title holders in Scott Gammer, Michael Sprott and Michael Holden. The undefeated Danny Hughes and Coleman Barrett join them with Scott Belshaw completing the line-up.

You can see for yourself what's in store by clicking this link.

It cannot fail to deliver because of its primeval 'last man standing' format. Its compelling nature makes it car crash viewing with no idle seconds. It promises to be fast, brutal and mean!

Some traditional boxing purists may not like it in the same way that Twenty20 was initially regarded as a bun fight but there is evidence that shorter-formatted sport can raise the bar of traditional sport as well as improve individual skills. This competition has appeal and looks to have rooted itself into the boxing calendar. Incidentally it has not harmed the two previous winners - Martin Rogan (38) and Sam Sexton (25) who both went on to claim the Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship.

The Prizefighter format will ask different questions to these heavyweights. Some will struggle to adjust. There will be old scores to settle, different strategies and styles and some split second decision making. Concentration and intelligence will be important with little time to overcome a mistake. Although power and strength are prerequisite in heavyweight boxing speed and recovery will be vital, so the training for this event will be tailored accordingly. The training replicates time frames and intensity and whoever manages these uncertainties and stay injury free could win the day!

With excitement I have spent this week watching Jimmy Bromfield (responsible for four British champions) training Scott Gammer. He and manager Paul Boyce will emphasise the need for Gammer to score heavily doubling up his excellent jab whilst conserving energy as a balancing act is required and essential. Should they win their heat it is imperative to leave something in the tank for the next bout against a boxer that is probably better than your defeated opponent.

Promoter Barry Hearn has been delighted to announce the strongest line-up so far in the series with each of the fighters desperate to win this title. Despite the undoubted quality of the competitors most are drinking in the last chance saloon and need a good day if they are to continue earning serious money from the game. Apart from pocketing £32,000 it guarantees further pay-days for the winner, at least in the short term. This competition has raised my interest and it will be intriguing to see who copes with this format the best and how. Will it be a boxer, a puncher or a fighter?

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