Former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight ChampionBruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, along with six of his fellow seven contestants inPrizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament, that takes place at EarlsCourt on Tuesday 19th May 2009, were all together for the first time inone place when they attended a press conference held by the promoter ofthe series, Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sports, aboard HMS Belfast moored onthe River Thames close to the iconic Tower Bridge in London.
Bruce’s six fellow combatants, all former champions, as is the seventh,Mark Krence (who failed to make the press conference having had themisfortune of being stuck in a traffic jam on the infamous “car park”laughingly called the M1 Motorway) were Commonwealth Champion DarrenCorbett (27-4-1), British and European Champion Terry Dunstan (20-2),British, Commonwealth and European Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Francis(30-3-1), British Champion John ‘Buster’ Keeton (26-16), British andCommonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Neil Simpson (26-18-1) and BritishSouthern Area Champion Micky Steeds (12-4).
The proceedings were entertainingly opened by Barry Hearn, Chairman ofMatchroom Sports, who praised the fighters sat each side of him beforesaying “Boxing in some ways has lost its way and gone a bit stale.Prizefighter tries to turn the situation around by making it very easy tounderstand. Eight great fighters, eight former champions coming togetherfor seven fights in one night.
One thing about Prizefighter is it’s exciting; these guys get in there andare going to be doing a job we would all like to do – but it’s theloneliest job in theworld. I’ve not seen a bad Prizefighter fight. I’ve seen one or twofighters try to nick it and get beaten but never a bad fight.
This is basic entertainment boxing and bringing in a crowd that normallygoes to boxing. It’s a cross between professional boxing, UFC, a littlebit of thecontender thrown in and a bit of 20/20 Cricket - it’s all action.Each one of these fighters is a main event fighter and the crowd at EarlsCourt are going to be entertained. When the bell goes it’s going to becarnagebecause they don’t know any other way.
I thought the first Prizefighter Heavyweights was always going to be acracker but this promises to be even better. Everyone is a puncher andthat’s what makes Prizefighter interesting so these guys pick themselves.I think this will be pound-for-pound the best Prizefighter show we’ve everdone and I’m excited about this like never before.”
No sooner had Barry Hearn finished than the first questions were asked ofthe fighters and it came as no surprise that they were directed atpossibly the most famous name, besides the eminent Mr Hearn, seated there,the ever likeable and entertaining London-based Jamaican Bruce ‘Lionheart’Scott.
Bruce was asked “you haven’t fought in three years, will you be ready?” towhich he replied, “It depends on which way you look at it. I’ve beentraining hard with the excellent John Rooney. I’m training very hard, veryvery hard. Training harder than ever in my life.”
The next question asked was where he is training for the tournament, towhich Bruce replied, “I’m training near London Bridge, I’m at Gleason’sGym”
All nice and tame stuff but those gathered aboard the historic warshipknew as soon as the third question was asked things were going to startgetting a bit more lively as Bruce was asked about his fellow contestants.The mischievous Jamaican smiled before launching his first shot across hisoppositions’ bows, “I’ve knocked some of them out. I’m not worried aboutthem. They know who they are. I’m not joking, I’m coming for it.”
Bruce’s second salvo was directed at Terry Dunstan, who was sat next tohim, when asked if he had sparred with him when they were both training atthe same gym, “No, no he was to scared to spar me. No he wouldn’t sparwith me. I had just come from Jamaica then, I was raw.” He said, beforeearnestly adding “You can ask him, he didn’t want to spar.”
A shell-shocked Terry responded, “He (Scott) must have a better memorythan me or I must be punch drunk.”
Bruce fired a range-finding tracer, “He has the fastest knockout inEngland I think, yeah the European Championship I think.” quickly followedby a double barrel shot “I think it’s the only person he knocked out(Scott laughs) as my daughter punches harder than him. (Scott Laughsagain, as does everyone in attendance)”
(For the record Terry Dunstan has 4 KOs and 8 TKOs in his career)
Terry spins round and let’s off his own quick-fire salvo, “He (Scott) saysI can’t punch and he says I ain’t knocked anyone out . If he (Scott) saysI ain’t knocked anybody out either he’s punch drunk or I’m punch drunk.”
Darren Corbett decides it’s time for him to to lock Bruce into his sightsbefore firing a warning shot in the Jamaican’s direction, “Bruce, you saythat you knocked people out. The referee stopped our fight in the tenth. Iwas ahead after three rounds. I hope we meet in the first round (of thePrizefighter Tournament) because...”
But before Darren could get another word out Terry Dunstan steams portside of the Irishman and diplomatically suggests, “Save it for the 19th.”to prevent a full scale battle breaking out.
As the fog of war subsided, Dean Francis decided it was time to declarehis position, “For me this is a last-ditch attempt to fulfill my dream ofwinning a world title,” before firing his own warning shot over hisopponents’ collective bows, “I’m going in there to beat everyone. If BruceScott thinks he will beat me then he has got another think coming. I’m acruiserweight but a lot of these guys are heavyweights having to lose theweight.”
Micky Steeds diplomatically saved further battle cries by saying, “It’s agood competition and you can see that by the names in it. If you go allthe way you can get three good names on your record all in one night, andthat may normally take a couple of years.” before lightening theproceedings further when he added, “It’s fast and furious but I’m theyoungest and prettiest here.”
Continuing on the lighter theme late arrival John Keeton, who will becelebrating his birthday the night of the Prizefighter tournament, raisedthe biggest laugh of the day when he said “It’s absolutely fantastic andI’m proud to be in it. There are a lot of old faces who have done a lot ofdamage in the past to me.” before adding after the laughter had died down,“But it’s an honour to have this opportunity of boxing in Prizefighter.This gives everyone a boost to their careers.”
Directly after the entertaining press conference Bruce walked the shortdistance to Gleason’s gym and got straight back to work preparing for thePrizefighter tournament. One thing is clear although he may have said “I’mcoming for it” in a light hearted manner, the reality is he means it 100%.
The Prizefighter series is a knock-out boxing tournament created by boxingpromoter Barry Hearn and aired on Sky Sports. The format has an initialeight fighters compete in four quarter-finals with the chance of fightingtheir way into a final fight for a chance to win a main prize of £25000.All contests take place on the same evening and consist of 3 x 3 minuterounds.
Take note now so you don’t kick yourself afterwards. Prizefighter 7 - TheCruiserweights is a don’t miss event and will be held at Earls Court inWest London on Tuesday 19th May 2009
Tickets cost £25 (unreserved) and £50 (reserved, ringside) and areavailable by calling 0870 264 3333 or 01277 359900.
