Kickboxing career could be key to resurrecting big Matt's career
Prizefighter Matt Skelton believes he can kickstart his career on Saturday night - thanks to his kickboxing background.
The former British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion is, along with old foe Michael Sprott, the star attraction in the latest winner-takes-all £32,000 slugfest, live on Sky Sports HD.
Skelton, who faces Ali Adams in his first fight, believes the three-round format will suit him down to the ground, thanks to his career before boxing.
"It's a bit of a different concept to what I am used to fighting in the last four or five years with the three rounds then the break," he said.
"But I used to do that in Japan in a similar way with Kickboxing because there were a lot of tournaments that were like that, and even though it was a long while ago, I can still remember how to cope with that so I'll be using that on the night.
"Training is going really well, been sparring great and preparation is going well comparatively speaking. You have to put your foot on the gas from the first bell in Prizefighter which is why it is so exciting to watch and I'm really looking forward to the night."
Skelton knows winning Prizefighter can catapult him back into the spotlight.
The last three heavyweight winners Martin Rogan, Sam Sexton and Audley Harrison, have all gone on to win major titles and the latter of course has earned a crack at world champion David Haye.
"I really won't allow myself to get too drawn into what could happen after Prizefighter as it is such a true cliché that you have to take the night one fight at a time on the night," he said.
"I'm a realist though - Audley also has the fact that he's an Olympian too which is a rare thing and he's a big box office draw."
Disillusioned
At 43 Skelton is the oldest man on the bill at the York Hall, Bethnal Green and admits himself that even he thought his career was over after a run of four defeats in five.
It started with a brave bid for Ruslan Chagaev's world title in January 2008 and included a stunning loss to former Prizefighter champ Rogan 13 months.
But a low-key three-round stoppage of Lee Swaby in September and the invite to take part in Prizefighter have given him a new lease of life.
"After my last fight when I got knocked out in Germany, I made a conscious decision to call it a day and not fight anymore as I was a bit disillusioned with the way things were going," he said.
"It was really a chance meeting that started the possibility of me fighting again and I thought yeah, let's give it a go. I am enjoying it, still loving the training and that's the real challenge as there's a danger you can lose that hunger and that's when you can slacken off in the gym.
"I didn't think the [Lee Swaby] fight was going to go ahead because I was meant to fighting Carl Baker but that fell through - then I was told Lee had taken it on the Tuesday of the fight so it was all a bit late notice, but I had to get back in the ring in order to do Prizefighter."