No Prizefighter since may

[josh fg]

anyone know why this is? There is no football on tele so you'd think this would be a good time to get a couple of dates in I just checked the website and nothing is comming up ether.

[rhino222]

perhaps they are re-evaluating the product, its been proved that only middleweight and upwards provides the power that makes the format more exciting.

[jap]

think it needs a break , too many in quick time , think viewing may of gone down . 4 a year would be good

anyone know why this is? There is no football on tele so you'd think this would be a good time to get a couple of dates in I just checked the website and nothing is comming up ether.

[oliverfennell]

It's a strange time to "re-evaluate" given that PF is coming its most exciting tournament yet.

[phil5555]

heavweights in october

[anay]

Personally, I think the novelty has worn off and only the first one was truly innovative and had any excitement. I think Sky should re-evaluate this whole Prizefighter thing.

Look at some of the winners so far, the likes of Rogan (Beaten by Sexton), Oakey (Beaten by Francis and Cleverley) and Lomax was bashed up by Kell Brook. Does this not tell us something about it?

The Scottish one was bordering on crooked and bad cuts were being patched up in the name of cash and TV cameras being blocked from seeing the what the cutsman was doing, which if not the obvious skull duggery, might have been interesting for viewers. It soon became obvious that the Manager of most of the guys was the same person and he was doing all he could to take first and second place. It stunk.

For me I don't want to see any more. It's making the sport look bad and if new viewers think these guys are the best fighters out there, then surely they won't watch FFN or buy PPV will they? Think about it Sky, I might just have a point.

Do we really want to see, with all due respect, 'has beens' trying to nick one last payday before retirement? The last one was shocking. Once proud but now old men like Bruce Scott being humilated in the name of cash was very sad to see.

Surely if Sky are committed to Sport then they should draw a line under it and release the funds to let us see good quality title fights and build up the next big star of the future.

This whole Prizefighter thing is oppressing the opportiunities for the talents of the future so, if it continues and without any other TV outlet interested, where will our sport be in say three years time?

So if the Heavyweights are next, who can possible be in it who hasn't already been in the last two. There isn't that many Heavyweights out there and the best in the country are not going to be interested in this type of circus are they?

Perhaps Harrison might want to come back and earn £25k and try and resserect his career. Trouble is, no one cared when he was on top so are they gonna turn on to see him now?

Real boxing has a history and big fights draw crowds and interest. Unless Prizefighter can be re-invented and go up-market by using decent level fighters on top of their game, for a massive purse then I am afraid the concept is already looking very tired.

Imagine the scenario, the Lightweights featuring Khan, Thaxton, Murray etc or, in the past, the Light-Middleweights Farnell, Alexander, Moore, Roberts, Williams etc.

The tournaments don't go on the records and no titles are at risk and all battling for a massive purse. Then the format would be interesting.

Until it does, can we park it up please and go back to basics?
Otherwise perhaps you will now consider replacing Super-Sunday Football with that 5-a-side masters show?

Same difference!

[Autobarn]

yeah perhaps it's worn off.

it must be tempting for the promoter as it's not like he has to pay a lot to the fighters, is it?

[martin_g91]

The Prizrfighter nights have never been more than a York Hall size event. To be fair, when the Contender series came to the UK the other year, it needed the Newcastle Arena. I would love to see that back over here.

[leforge]

The crusierweight one was entertaing night at Earls court and for £50 quid ringside I would go again. I think by getting international boxers in there it could be improved.

[Autobarn]

what, get guys to come from different countries for a winner takes all night of boxing?

would it be worth the trip over?

[leforge]

The prize money might increase.

[telboy66]

To say Rogan was beaten by sexton is a bit much yes sexton got the stoppage but Martin was far from beaten & was only one punch from stopping Sexton & anyway those taking part don't need to be world class for it to be an entertaining nights boxing I have been to a few of these & especially at York hall you could not beat the atmosphere.
I think Matchroom have injected some much needed interest into the scene I have spoken to a few people at these event who have not been boxing fans but have gone along out of curiosity & been converted, any new fans to our sport can only be a positive. personally I can't wait for the next one at whatever weight

[funso banjo baby]

prizefighter is great

there are more than enough HWs atm

add a few grand to the pot...and have it at the royal albert hall

theres...

scott gammer

michael sprott

mark krence

tom dallas

danny hughes

larry o

carl baker

chris burton

[Autobarn]

The prize money might increase.

increase money, pay travel expenses...pushing it a bit, IMO.

how about having brighter ring lights as well and cameras swooping up and down on louma cranes and new shirts for johny, nicky, clarkie et al?

would the promoter and broadcaster fork out the money for all this, for anything more than the usual?

[alexpaterson]

It only works with the heavyer weight classes more excitiment with there power

[josh fg]

Personally, I think the novelty has worn off and only the first one was truly innovative and had any excitement. I think Sky should re-evaluate this whole Prizefighter thing.

Look at some of the winners so far, the likes of Rogan (Beaten by Sexton), Oakey (Beaten by Francis and Cleverley) and Lomax was bashed up by Kell Brook. Does this not tell us something about it?

The Scottish one was bordering on crooked and bad cuts were being patched up in the name of cash and TV cameras being blocked from seeing the what the cutsman was doing, which if not the obvious skull duggery, might have been interesting for viewers. It soon became obvious that the Manager of most of the guys was the same person and he was doing all he could to take first and second place. It stunk.

For me I don't want to see any more. It's making the sport look bad and if new viewers think these guys are the best fighters out there, then surely they won't watch FFN or buy PPV will they? Think about it Sky, I might just have a point.

Do we really want to see, with all due respect, 'has beens' trying to nick one last payday before retirement? The last one was shocking. Once proud but now old men like Bruce Scott being humilated in the name of cash was very sad to see.

Surely if Sky are committed to Sport then they should draw a line under it and release the funds to let us see good quality title fights and build up the next big star of the future.

This whole Prizefighter thing is oppressing the opportiunities for the talents of the future so, if it continues and without any other TV outlet interested, where will our sport be in say three years time?

So if the Heavyweights are next, who can possible be in it who hasn't already been in the last two. There isn't that many Heavyweights out there and the best in the country are not going to be interested in this type of circus are they?

Perhaps Harrison might want to come back and earn £25k and try and resserect his career. Trouble is, no one cared when he was on top so are they gonna turn on to see him now?

Real boxing has a history and big fights draw crowds and interest. Unless Prizefighter can be re-invented and go up-market by using decent level fighters on top of their game, for a massive purse then I am afraid the concept is already looking very tired.

Imagine the scenario, the Lightweights featuring Khan, Thaxton, Murray etc or, in the past, the Light-Middleweights Farnell, Alexander, Moore, Roberts, Williams etc.

The tournaments don't go on the records and no titles are at risk and all battling for a massive purse. Then the format would be interesting.

Until it does, can we park it up please and go back to basics?
Otherwise perhaps you will now consider replacing Super-Sunday Football with that 5-a-side masters show?

Same difference!

I quite like the events and don't see how you think they are damaging to ttthe sport, you have guys who are just starting out and have a few wins but haven't been tested (a la Rogan, Carl Dilks etc) who suddenly find them selves in competitive fights and it's sink or swim and often the better figters swim, it also gives some older fighters comming off a couple of losses a chance to resurect their carrers a la oakey. I've been to a few of the events and have also been to a lot of other boxing match and they are good fun.

I sometimes think "boxing fans" can be bad for the sport with their hatered for anything new.

[oliverfennell]

Anay, you seem to be bending over backwards to be nagative!

the first one was truly innovative and had any excitement.

I haven't seen them all but the second heavyweight one was still exciting and the last one (cruiserweight) provided upsets and knockouts galore!

Look at some of the winners so far, the likes of Rogan (Beaten by Sexton), Oakey (Beaten by Francis and Cleverley) and Lomax was bashed up by Kell Brook. Does this not tell us something about it?

Not sure what your point is there. Nobody ever said it was of a minimum standard, but the names you mentioned have all at least competed in genuine title class.

For me I don't want to see any more. It's making the sport look bad

Why? Seven competitively matched bouts between eight guys trying their best to win a genuine incentive. How is that a bad thing?

and if new viewers think these guys are the best fighters out there, then surely they won't watch FFN or buy PPV will they? Think about it Sky, I might just have a point.

And since when has anyone claimed they're "the best out there", any more than is claimed for any other boxing show? Nobody expects every boxing match on TV will feature "the best", just as every football match on TV is not from the Premiership. And again, the majority of the boxers in PF (and certainly the winners) have either already been in significant title class or have gone on to it.

Do we really want to see, with all due respect, 'has beens' trying to nick one last payday before retirement?

Why not? Comebacks are among the great stories in boxing. Sure, Scott and Dunstan didn't do well, but McKenzie and Keeton did, and their upsets in the cruiserweight PF were huge stories and great to see!

This whole Prizefighter thing is oppressing the opportiunities for the talents of the future

How so? Do you think Rogan and Sexton feel oppressed?

So if the Heavyweights are next, who can possible be in it who hasn't already been in the last two.

See FBB's post.

Imagine the scenario, the Lightweights featuring Khan, Thaxton, Murray etc or, in the past, the Light-Middleweights Farnell, Alexander, Moore, Roberts, Williams etc.

Nice idea, but be realistic.

Otherwise perhaps you will now consider replacing Super-Sunday Football with that 5-a-side masters show?

Prizefighter is not replacing anything.

[boxingchat]

To be fair I think what he means is this is preventing other young fighters the opportunit yto shine on TV. In general Prizefighter is like the US contender series. Mainly fighters who are past their best, going nowhere or hard to deal with. A last chance saloon almost. The concenpt is taking TV slots and money from the budget and preventing real prospects from breaking through.

I see his point but the views are a bit blinkered. He's right, the first one was food but after that it's not been must see viewing.

[leforge]

I think prizefighter should be addtional to the other tv dates available. But I rather see a prizefighter than a commonwealth tilte v some dodgy African as usually they are competitive.

[Autobarn]

did allow martin murray and ryan brawley to make a statement, though

[Pill_85]

The lower weights can work but the right fighters need to be picked imagine,

Paul Ryan
Geoff McCreech
Andy Holligan
John Thaxton
Ross Hale
Karl Taylor
Jimmy Vincint
Jason Matthews


From the late 90s?

[oliverfennell]

To be fair I think what he means is this is preventing other young fighters the opportunit yto shine on TV. In general Prizefighter is like the US contender series. Mainly fighters who are past their best, going nowhere or hard to deal with. A last chance saloon almost. The concenpt is taking TV slots and money from the budget and preventing real prospects from breaking through.

I see his point but the views are a bit blinkered. He's right, the first one was food but after that it's not been must see viewing.

Decent argument. I dion't mind it at all and actually quite like it, although the very fact it IS being discussed in a critical fashion shows not everyone is happy. Perhaps it would be better served as an annual or twice-yearly event to retain interest and get the best possible bracket together.

[whicker]

Look at some of the winners so far, the likes of Rogan (Beaten by Sexton), Oakey (Beaten by Francis and Cleverley) and Lomax was bashed up by Kell Brook. Does this not tell us something about it?

Why?

It's not billed as a "best of the best" tournament, it's just a torunament for entertainment, after all.

As long as the boxers are fairly evenly matched, it can work well.

[whicker]

The concenpt is taking TV slots and money from the budget and preventing real prospects from breaking through.

Prizefighter is much much much more entertaining that the endless stream of prospects V journeymen "contests" that are on the undercard of Friday Fight Night.

The good thing about prizefighter is that it's decent entertainment, and watchable. Only the most die-hard fans will stay tuned in to Friday Fight Night after the live main event to watch highlights of prospects fighting.

[whicker]

I see his point but the views are a bit blinkered. He's right, the first one was food but after that it's not been must see viewing.

In all honesty, would you say that ANY of the recent Friday Fight Nights WERE "must see viewing?"

The big problem is that much of the output has all be so very boring recently.

To rank boxing, in terms of entertainment value:

1. Good Saturday night shows (Dodson V Quigley, Rogan V Skelton etc)
2. ITV4 Saturdays shows
3. Prizefighter
4. Friday Fight Night.