Prizefighters: Meet the middleweights who will be scrapping for success in Blackpool

There will be no love lost on Valentine's Day as eight middleweights gather in Blackpool for Prizefighter.

Five undefeated fighters are among the pack of aspiring punchers who will scrap for success before Brian Rose and Carson Jones headline the evening at the Winter Gardens.

First up, here is the draw, and then who else but Jamie Moore to give us his take on a north-west night that will see someone scoop £32,000?

The draw
Liam Conroy v Cello Renda
Jack Arnfield v Mick Hall
Luke Keeler v Luke Crowcroft
Craig Cunningham v Tom Doran

Jack Arnfield

Record: 17-0 (KO 4) 
From: Blackpool 
Age: 25
Nickname: 
Twitter: @JackArnfield

Sky Bet odds: 5/2 second favourite

Arnfield hasn't stepped into the ring since November 2013 but will return from that lengthy lay-off in front of his home crowd in Blackpool. A perfect 17-0 record includes just four stoppages. so don't expect Arnfield to blitz through Saturday evening – his last two victories have been 10-round decisions (the last of which in the Winter Gardens) so his adjustment to this shorter format is something to look out for. 

Jamie says: I've known this lad for years, ever since he turned pro - and I sparred a lot with him, too! He is very capable, a very tall and rangey lad and having boxed at light-middleweight, I have a feeling moving up to middle will be a big advantage. He's had time out with injuries, so he could well have grown into this division and we could see the benefits. I have a feeling Arnfield will do well here because he will be hard to work out in that first round - and that is always crucial.

Liam Conroy

Record: 7-2 (KO2) 
From: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria 
Age: 22 
Nickname: The Terminator
Twitter: @LiamConroy92

Sky Bet odds: 20/1 outsider

Since his 2012 pro debut Conroy has fought all nine of his bouts in Bolton and Manchester so it might be his first trip up the road to Blackpool, but he'll be recognisable to local fight fans. The Cumbrian has never been scheduled for more than six rounds so Prizefighter's short format may suit him. The Terminator has only managed a pair of knockouts so far but did stop his most recent opponent Haider Sadiq in December.

Jamie says: I used to see him in Dave Coldwell's shows and he was a really good pressure fighter but he did need to tighten up that defence only to lose one. He then switched to Johnny Roye's camp and that has made him more of a box-mover and that seems to suit him. It might not make Liam as exciting as he used to be but he is harder to hit and he boxes more these days. He can always stand and trade if he has to, and does have a chance.

Luke Crowcroft

Record: 8-1 (KO2) 
From: Doncaster, Yorkshire 
Age: 20 
Nickname: The Beast
Twitter: @lukecrowcroft

Sky Bet odds: 18/1 outsider

Boxing outside of Doncaster for the first time, the youngster comes to Blackpool well adjusted to short matches having never fought beyond 12 minutes. Crowcroft will drop down from his usual super-middleweight division for this opportunity, and he is the youngest Prizefighter on show. A pair of November wins should hold him in good stead as he comes into this tournament with some form behind him.

Jamie says: One of the usual suspects because his record is good but we haven't heard too much. The one thing I've noticed is that most of his fights have been at super-middle so will the weight be an issue on Saturday night? We'll find out. He is only 20 and Prizefighter is a massive learning curve but we rarely see them this young, so I want to see what he's got. He is a bricklayer by trade so he is going to be hard and right up for this.

Craig Cunningham

Record: 11-0 (KO2)
From: Birmingham 
Age: 26
Nickname: 
Twitter: @9Craig

Sky Bet odds: 8/1 contender

A regular in the West Midlands boxing scene, Cunningham puts his perfect record on the line as he fights outside of his home region for the first time. His southpaw stance will bring a different dynamic to the ring and may cause particular problems for some of the less experienced contenders. Cunningham has slowly progressed to a 10-round fight in his last outing in December so must be wary not to treat Prizefighter as a marathon rather than a sprint.

Jamie says: He is the only southpaw in the competition although he is going in against Doran, who used to be one, and being a southpaw myself when you go in against one, you kind of know what to expect; well more than usual. It will be fascinating to see. Cunningham's another one who doesn't seem to bang hard and maybe that might be the one problem in that first round. The thing is, there are five unbeaten fighters, so who knows how good they are going to be?

Tom Doran

Record: 11-0 (KO2) 
From: Connahs Quay, Wales 
Age: 27
Nickname: Dazzlin'
Twitter: @dazzlindoran

Sky Bet odds: 8/1 contender

Aside from the other seven Prizefighters, Doran's biggest opponent this weekend may be his own inactivity. His last fight was back in May, and prior to that he hadn't fought since two outings in 2011. The Winter Gardens tournament will be a harsh return to the ring for the Welsh super-middleweight, but one he couldn't resist making.

Jamie says: He's another one who I have sparred with. He used to come down to Oliver's gym years ago and he actually used to be a southpaw but the last time I saw him, he was orthodox. so I don't know whether he's switched. I do know he's got a very good left hook and is very heavy-handed and given the fact he can be too easily hit, I guarantee he is going to be in an entertaining fight. Craig Cunningham will find out, that's one thing I can predict! 

Luke Keeler

Record: 7-0 (KO5)
From: Dublin, Ireland 
Age: 27
Nickname: Cool Hand Luke
Twitter: @luke_keeler

Sky Bet odds: 15/8 favourite

The Irishman may be the one to watch if you're hoping for devastating stoppages. A busy 2014 for Keeler featured four fights and three knockouts to further extend his impressive undefeated career. But Keeler has never wrapped his hands outside of Ireland and the boisterous Blackpool crowd will have their own local favourites.

Jamie says: He is the favourite and rightly so. The Pascall Collins camp is buzzing right now, with Jono Carroll winning the last one and on top of that, Luke is talented enough to go on and win this Prizefighter. He will be confident and even though Pascal will be down in Wolverhampton and brother Steve taking control, I don't think that will have too much impact over the three rounds. He's more of a back-foot fighter but he can go forward and he is good at adapting.

Mick Hall

Record: 11-0 (KO1) 
From: Preston, Lancashire 
Age: 28
Nickname: The Hammer
Twitter: @mick_hall_

Sky Bet say: 14/1 outsider

Since a pro debut stoppage win, Hall has reeled off 10 consecutive decision victories which indicates he might not be arriving in Blackpool looking to smash through the pack. But his knack for winning on points has most recently been in six-rounders, so the short Prizefighter format may suit.

Jamie says: He's one of those unbeaten fighters but he doesn't seem to have boxed anyone of great note and he has only stopped one of those 11 opponents. But he trains with Carl Ince so I know him well and I know he is a good trainer so I am assuming Mick will be good. He's not a puncher but he will be fit and well-schooled so who knows? If he gets past Jack Arnfield, then we'll know he is a serious contender. A bit of an unknown quantity. 

Cello Renda

Record: 25-10-2 (KO11)
From: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Age: 29
Nickname: Dangerous
Twitter: @Cellorenda85

Sky Bet odds: 7/1 third favourite

By far the most experienced of the eight middleweights, Renda has 37 career fights under his belt so shouldn't be fazed by the prospect of Prizefighter. Nearly half of his wins have been via knockout and he has been stopped six times himself, so the Peterborough puncher could steal the show, one way or the another.

Jamie says: He's no spring chicken but the one thing that is the last to go is your punch power and we all know what he can do! I can still remember him wobbling Martin Murray all those years ago and I know he is going to be a danger. Going into Prizefighter is a new thing and a weird thing but to have experienced it already, Cello will know what he needs to do and will have the advantage, simply because he knows what to expects.

Moore's prediction

Jamie says: Cello is not one of the favourites but I wouldn't be surprised if he won it second time of asking, but my pick is Jack Arnfield. He's got the height, the reach, and although he has been out with injuries, I know he has been sparring a lot. He's always in with Brian Rose and that is good company, that's for sure. A local lad will always get the support but I know how good Arnfield can be and his skill level and his physical advantages will put him in good stead. It's almost impossible to predict a Prizefighter winner this far out, but I am definitely sticking a tenner on this lad!

Prizefighter: The Middleweights III is on Saturday at 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD but don't miss the draw, live on Morning View, Thursday, on Sky Sports News HQ.