Photo credit; Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
Former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight Champion
Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, along with six of his fellow seven contestants in
Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament, that takes place at Earls
Court on Tuesday 19th May 2009, were all together for the first time in
one place when they attended a press conference held by the promoter of
the series, Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sports, aboard HMS Belfast moored on
the 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 the
misfortune of being stuck in a traffic jam on the infamous “car park”
laughingly called the M1 Motorway) were Commonwealth Champion Darren
Corbett (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 and
Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Neil Simpson (26-18-1) and British
Southern Area Champion Micky Steeds (12-4).
The proceedings were entertainingly opened by Barry Hearn, Chairman of
Matchroom Sports, who praised the fighters sat each side of him before
saying “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 to
understand. Eight great fighters, eight former champions coming together
for seven fights in one night.
One thing about Prizefighter is it’s exciting; these guys get in there and
are going to be doing a job we would all like to do – but it’s the
loneliest job in the world. I’ve not seen a bad Prizefighter fight. I’ve seen one or two fighters try to nick it and get beaten but never a bad fight.
This is basic entertainment boxing and bringing in a crowd that normally
goes to boxing. It’s a cross between professional boxing, UFC, a little
bit of the contender 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 Earls
Court are going to be entertained. When the bell goes it’s going to be
carnage because they don’t know any other way.
I thought the first Prizefighter Heavyweights was always going to be a
cracker but this promises to be even better. Everyone is a puncher and
that’s what makes Prizefighter interesting so these guys pick themselves.
I think this will be pound-for-pound the best Prizefighter show we’ve ever
done and I’m excited about this like never before.”
No sooner had Barry Hearn finished than the first questions were asked of
the fighters and it came as no surprise that they were directed at
possibly 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?” to
which he replied, “It depends on which way you look at it. I’ve been
training hard with the excellent John Rooney. I’m training very hard, very
very hard. Training harder than ever in my life.”
The next question asked was where he is training for the tournament, to
which Bruce replied, “I’m training near London Bridge, I’m at Gleason’s
Gym”
All nice and tame stuff but those gathered aboard the historic warship
knew as soon as the third question was asked things were going to start
getting a bit more lively as Bruce was asked about his fellow contestants.
The mischievous Jamaican smiled before launching his first shot across his
oppositions’ bows, “I’ve knocked some of them out. I’m not worried about
them. 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 to
him, when asked if he had sparred with him when they were both training at
the same gym, “No, no he was to scared to spar me. No he wouldn’t spar
with me. I had just come from Jamaica then, I was raw.” He said, before
earnestly adding “You can ask him, he didn’t want to spar.”
A shell-shocked Terry responded, “He (Scott) must have a better memory
than me or I must be punch drunk.”
Bruce fired a range-finding tracer, “He has the fastest knockout in
England I think, yeah the European Championship I think.” quickly followed
by a double barrel shot “I think it’s the only person he knocked out
(Scott laughs) as my daughter punches harder than him. (Scott Laughs
again, 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) says
I can’t punch and he says I ain’t knocked anyone out . If he (Scott) says
I 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 sights
before firing a warning shot in the Jamaican’s direction, “Bruce, you say
that you knocked people out. The referee stopped our fight in the tenth. I
was ahead after three rounds. I hope we meet in the first round (of the
Prizefighter Tournament) because...”
But before Darren could get another word out Terry Dunstan steams port
side 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 declare
his position, “For me this is a last-ditch attempt to fulfill my dream of
winning a world title,” before firing his own warning shot over his
opponents’ collective bows, “I’m going in there to beat everyone. If Bruce
Scott thinks he will beat me then he has got another think coming. I’m a
cruiserweight but a lot of these guys are heavyweights having to lose the
weight.”
Micky Steeds diplomatically saved further battle cries by saying, “It’s a
good competition and you can see that by the names in it. If you go all
the way you can get three good names on your record all in one night, and
that may normally take a couple of years.” before lightening the
proceedings further when he added, “It’s fast and furious but I’m the
youngest and prettiest here.”
Continuing on the lighter theme late arrival John Keeton, who will be
celebrating his birthday the night of the Prizefighter tournament, raised
the biggest laugh of the day when he said “It’s absolutely fantastic and
I’m proud to be in it. There are a lot of old faces who have done a lot of
damage 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 short
distance to Gleason’s gym and got straight back to work preparing for the
Prizefighter tournament. One thing is clear although he may have said “I’m
coming 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 boxing
promoter Barry Hearn and aired on Sky Sports. The format has an initial
eight fighters compete in four quarter-finals with the chance of fighting
their 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 minute
rounds.See you at the Fights.
Thanks for your time.
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