Whatever happened to Mark Prince?

IJK · Post by **IJK** » 19 Jan 2006, 12:16

You guys in the states, or anywhere else in the world bar the UK probably won't know who the hell Mark Prince is, but i remember back in 1997 some hype surrounding this new light heavyweight. He got as far as a WBO light heavyweight title challenge against Dariusz Michalczewski in 1998, but was knocked out. He then came back in '99 with a 1 round ko of one Kevin Mitchell. Why didn't he fight again? I know you're probably thinking "what the hell do we care, and why should you?", but you see, over here in the UK we don't get as many world beaters as in the US, and when we do get one (OK, OK, he lost to Dariusz!) they're eventual retirement is usually highly publicised. But this guy seemed to have simply vanished... anyone know why?

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 19 Jan 2006, 12:28

He was exciting with a big punch...can't remember too much about what saw him fall of the radar though.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 19 Jan 2006, 12:45

Didn't he become a born-again Christian or something similarly bizarre?

IJK · Post by **IJK** » 19 Jan 2006, 12:53

I know he was very religious. He was one of these "I wanna thank almighty God before i answer any of your questions" fighters.

JC · Post by JC » 19 Jan 2006, 12:55

IJK wrote:I know he was very religious. He was one of these "I wanna thank almighty God before i answer any of your questions" fighters.

So do you rekon ascended

IJK · Post by **IJK** » 19 Jan 2006, 13:00

Hey, maybe. Or..... Aliens?!

RobD · Post by **RobD** » 19 Jan 2006, 13:09

Deserter wrote:Didn't he become a born-again Christian or something similarly bizarre?

I believe this is true, and he gave up the sport.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 19 Jan 2006, 15:02

Didn't he get a detached retina? Or was that Jason Mathews?

Or I may be wrong on both counts.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 19 Jan 2006, 15:18

KOJOE90 wrote:Didn't he get a detached retina? Or was that Jason Mathews?

Or I may be wrong on both counts.

Mathews got locked up I think. I remember reading an interview with him and he came across as a really sound bloke - involved in social work in Hackney I think. But then I thought I read something about him beating up his ex-girlfriend pretty badly. Have I remembered right?

E · Post by E » 19 Jan 2006, 20:47

I loved the way Prince tried to be macho and told Dariusz emotionally to 'come on!'...... next punch michalczewski knocked him out....

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 20 Jan 2006, 04:54

E wrote:I loved the way Prince tried to be macho and told Dariusz emotionally to 'come on!'...... next punch michalczewski knocked him out....

Yeah he had balls, you gotta love that kind of attitude from a fighter. He looked very promising, but met one of the top 2 lightheavies of the decade in that fight. Still, I respect any fighter who goes for it all and doesnt simply fight to survive when he has his chance. Prince also had a hefty list of decent fringe contenders going into that fight, but not enough (imo) to prepare him properly.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 20 Jan 2006, 07:10

I would have been very interested in the proposed Prince vs Eubank bout that never happend on the "Full Monty" card in 1997. Eubank of course got a late call to fight Calzaghe instead.

Prince seemed a massive Light Heavy.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 20 Jan 2006, 09:23

Didn't Prince have a real up and downer with Michael Gayle? I think Prince prevailed in the fifth, one of my first good memories of being a Boxing fan that fight

E · Post by E » 20 Jan 2006, 12:12

Axe wrote:
E wrote:I loved the way Prince tried to be macho and told Dariusz emotionally to 'come on!'...... next punch michalczewski knocked him out....
Yeah he had balls, you gotta love that kind of attitude from a fighter. He looked very promising, but met one of the top 2 lightheavies of the decade in that fight. Still, I respect any fighter who goes for it all and doesnt simply fight to survive when he has his chance. Prince also had a hefty list of decent fringe contenders going into that fight, but not enough (imo) to prepare him properly.

Well I kind of meant I loved his comeuppance!

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 20 Jan 2006, 12:49

Prince was trained by Adrian Dodsons dad, Carly Carew.

Both Mark and Carly were lovely blokes whom are missed by many in the sport.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 20 Jan 2006, 19:20

steve689 wrote:Didn't Prince have a real up and downer with Michael Gayle? I think Prince prevailed in the fifth, one of my first good memories of being a Boxing fan that fight

Yes, Gale had him on the brink - surprised there was never a rematch and Gale never got a big fight again.