Former Champ, Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, Returns To The Fray In May
Hackney, London based Jamaican Cruiserweight, Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, (27
(18 KOs) wins - 9 (4 KOs) losses) , returns to the ring, on the 19th May
2009 at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, after a three year
sabbatical from the sport.
The former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight
Champion is in training, under the watchful eyes of eminent coach, John
Rooney Jnr. at Gleason’s Gym near Tower Bridge, in preparation for the
upcoming Cruiserweight knockout tournament which is part of the highly
acclaimed Prizefighter series.
After a grueling training session Scott spoke of his return and his future
Championship aspirations “I’ve been training hard for the Prizefighter
series. It’s an exciting format. Barry (Hearn) has made it a huge success.
It’s good for the fighters and the fans. I want to win it then go for the
British title again.”
Beaming at the thought Scott went on to say “Yeah, I want the British
title. Rob Martin (the current British champion) didn’t want to fight me
when I was champion so it would be great to get a match with him after I
win the Prizefighter. I’ll make this a great victory and have a lot more
coming. Maybe this could be the greatest comeback in British boxing
history. ”
Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott will be in action at the York Hall in Bethnal
Green, London on 19th May 2009 in the highly acclaimed Prizefighter
knockout tournament promoted by Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sports
organisation and aired on Sky Sports.
PHOTO CREDIT Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
As an amateur Scott had an impressive record of 57 fights, suffering only
four losses. ‘Lionheart’ won a silver medal in Caribbean competition and
became the Jamaican Light Heavyweight Champion. During this time Scott
represented Jamaica three times and was bestowed with the honour of being
named the captain of his national team.
At just 20 years old Scott, a product of the now defunct Dragon gym in
Montego Bay, left the balmy climes of his Caribbean home for the much
cooler temperatures of London, England in his quest to become a World
Champion.
Scott, who turned pro in 1991, gained his first professional championship,
the BBBofC Southern Area Cruiserweight Title, on the 21st April 1998 when
he stopped Dominic Nequs in the ninth round.
Five months later ‘Lionheart’ beat Darren Corbett to add the vacant BBBofC
British and the Commonwealth (British Empire) Cruiserweight belts to his
collection.
On 15th May 1999, Scott traveled to Sheffield to challenge WBO
Cruiserweight Champion, Johnny ‘The Entertainer’ Nelson, for his title.
After twelve hard fought rounds the judges unanimously that ‘The
Entertainer’ had retained his belt.
Just two months later, on the 17th July 1999, ‘Lionheart’ flew to
Dusseldorf, Germany to battle with the WBC champion, Juan Carlos ‘Black
Panther’ Gomez from Cuba. Just 15 seconds from the end of the sixth round
his dream again ended when the referee, Daniel Van de Wiele, stopped the
fight following a barrage of punches that had Bruce reeling.
Scott regained the BBBofC British cruiserweight title with a stunning
sixth round knockout of John Keaton at the Sheffield Arena on the 16th
December 2000. He then went on to secure the coveted Commonwealth (British
Empire) crown again after Garry Delaney quit at the end of the third round
at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on the 10th March 2001.
With both the British and Commonwealth titles firmly in his grip once
again Scott focused on securing another shot at a World title. His first
step in this quest was to secure the vacant WBU International title by
convincingly beating René Janvier at the Wembley Conference Centre on the
28th July 2001.
This magnificent victory earned Scott the right to face Welshman Enzo ‘Big
Mac’ Maccarinelli for the vacant WBU title at the Cardiff International
Arena, Cardiff, Wales, on the 28th June 2003. Things started well for
‘Lionheart’ as he sent ‘Big Mac’ to the canvas in the first round. The
Welshman got his revenge though by sending Scott to the deck three rounds
later with a barrage of punches. Scott’s World Championship dreams were
ended just 11 seconds from the end of the fourth round when veteran
referee Mickey Vann stepped in to stop the fight.
Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott retired in March 2006 after losing to Zimbabwean
Hastings Rasani in Newport, Gwent. Scott had only taken the fight to help
prepare for his upcoming challenge for the IBO Cruiserweight World Title
against Carl ‘The Cat’ Thompson.
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 8
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.
The Cruiserweight Prizefighter Tournament will be the seventh in the
series following on from the successes of:
Prizefighter 1: The Heavyweights, which took place at The York Hall in
April 2008 and was won by Martin Rogan.
Prizefighter 2: The Heavyweights 2, which was held at Telewest Arena in
Newcastle in September 2008 and was won by Norwich Heavyweight Sam Sexton.
Prizefighter 3: The Welterweights, took place at the York Hall in October
2008, amongst those taking part in this tournament were were former
European champion Ted Bami; English champions Nigel Wright and Ross
Minter; Former ABA champion Michael Lomax and Former IBO light
middleweight champion Steve Conway. At the end of the night it was the
former Amateur champ, Michael Lomax, that reigned supreme.
Prizefighter 4: The Middleweights, one month later in November 2008, again
at the York Hall in Bethnal Green and featured as part of the Sky Box
Office show featuring the Ricky Hatton fight with Paulie Malignaggi as the
main event, tournament favourite Martin Murray claimed the £25,000 prize.
Prizefighter 5: The Light Heavyweights, took place on the 20th February
2009 and former British champion Tony Oakley took the spoils of victory in
the final over Darren Stubbs.
Prizefighter 6: The Lightweights, took place at the Kelvin Hall in
Scotland on the 24th March 2009. Local boy Ryan Brawley emerged the winner
with victories over Ben Murphy, Paul Holborn and in the final Stephen
Burke.
See you at the Fights.
Thanks for your time.
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