Nicky Piper runs the rule over the four quarter-finals and thinks we're in for another classic!
Middleweights have the right mix for a classic, says Piper
Nicky Piper will be part of the
Sky Box Office line-up for Ricky and the Prizefighters on Saturday night. As the British Board of Boxing Control's marketing director he says that Barry Hearn's Prizefighter tournament has been a joy to behold - and expects more of the same from the middleweights...
I do think we've been spoilt by the first two heavyweight contests, but I have a feeling this one will be every bit as good.
Middleweight should really be the perfect division for this format; they've still got that bit of power that means knockouts are always a possibility and they have the speed of the smaller guys as well.
Of course though, they have to be wary of knockdowns because if you lose two points in a three, three-minute round fight, you are playing catch up and there is just not enough time.
Anything can happen and that is what makes this such an exciting format. And that is why it has been so well received by the boxing public and indeed, the British Boxing Board of Control.
I am the marketing director for the Board and this sort of thing is a dream. That is why the Board were keen to back Barry Hearn on Prizefighter: they realised the threat of UFC and mixed martial arts and realised that people might not want to watch the longer fights, but this was ideal to take the sport back to the masses.
The success of the first hevayweight tournament, won by Martin Rogan, set the ball rolling and this week all eight fighters were awarded the Board's Sportsmanship award at the annual dinner for the way they all conducted themselves before, during and after fight night.
The standard was set and although it may have dipped a little last time out, I do think we could be in for another classic.
There is the usual mix of old, experienced pros, younger fighters and unbeaten fighters and as usual it is extremely hard to pick.
Martin Murray is the betting favourite and I wouldn't disagree with that, but I would love to see Paul Samuels win it for old times' sake.
He's got the experience of fighting with two of Britain's best recent middleweights, Richard Williams and Wayne Alexander, and that should stand him in good stead. Plus he's an old-timer and he's from Wales, which is good enough for me!
Max Maxwell v Steve Ede
Maxwell is a good boxer. He had a good amateur career and is now being trained by Richie Woodhall and his dad Len, which means good experience in he corner. He is 29, but still a fit lad.
Ede is, by all accounts, a fitness fanatic and the fittest of the eight. He has been British Masters champion so is used to going 10 rounds, as is Maxwell. But this is back to the old amatuer format, which is a sprint not a marathon and whoever can revert back to their earlier days will win what promises to be a close fight.
Cello Renda v Danny Thornton
Cello Renda is a young lad at 23 and has a reputation as a big puncher. But at the same time he does leave his chin out there and is susceptible himself, so he really is a classic prizefighter. Renda is the exciting package of the eight on show and I would expect this to end early, either way.
For his part, Thornton is a former Central Area champion and has boxed at higher level, including facing Brian Magee and Scott Dann, so he will have the edge in experience. But this is your classic young pup v old dog clash and it might not make the three rounds if Renda's repuation is justified.
Danny Butler v Paul Samuels
This is a good fight. There is 14-year age difference and if experience counts, you have to side with Samuels. He has been in with Wayne Alexander and Richard Williams and although he is 35 and a lot of people will consider him past it, I think he could well be the surprise package.
Butler is unbeaten, but only has three KO's in 13 fights, do does not look to be a big hitter. But he had a decent amateur career but he is untested against this level of opponent.
Joe Rea v Martin Murray
Murray is the betting favourite and is a tough, tough fighter. I know he's been training very hard for this and is a very capable fighter. He knows the game having boxed from a very young age and was a welterweight champion as a junior. At senior level he is unbeaten in nine and is trained by Amir Khan's old trainer, Oliver Harrison, so has good backing in his corner.
Rea could be another dark horse. He is a bit of a puncher and has trained with Goody Petrenelli and Irish Micky Ward, and if he's anything like Micky, he'll love this. Says he has struggled for motivation in the past, but surely £25,000 can fix that!
