Ferguson aims to win Prizefighter in front of home fans - 05/08/2008

PRIZEFIGHTER contender David Ferguson will be fulfilling a career ambition by fighting at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Wallsend-based Ferguson is one of the favourites to win the £25,000 top prize when the Prizefighter Series hits the North East on September 12.

Ferguson, 32, who reached the semi-finals of the first Prizefighter event in London in April, has set his sights on victory in front of his home fans.

“The Geordies haven’t had anything big in boxing for a long time but I’m going to go out and give them what they want,” said Ferguson.

“I can’t wait to walk out into the Newcastle Arena with all those people shouting for me.

“To fight there in front of my home crowd is the pinnacle and this will be a very big night for me.

“If I couldn’t get motivated for the thought of lifting the trophy in front of my home fans then I wouldn’t be in boxing.

“Even if I won the British heavyweight title, unless I fought at the Newcastle Arena, then it would not be the same as winning this.”

Prizefighter will see eight top British heavyweights compete in an action-packed evening of frenetic, exciting boxing.

Four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final will be staged in one night with each contest lasting a maximum of three rounds.

Ferguson, who trains in Sunderland, is one of only two fighters who appeared in the first Prizefighter and he believes that added experience will take him to glory.

“I’m looking forward to doing it again and hopefully winning it,” said Ferguson. “The first one was a lot harder than I thought it would be and every fighter will come for a war.

“It will be a battle of wits and fitness. But I’ve learnt not to go out like a maniac from the start.

“You think as it’s only three rounds you will walk it but it’s completely different when you get in there.

“I’m going to do a lot more running in training this time. I’ve been on a number of runs and been running 25 to 30 miles a week, while before the first one I was doing short sprints.

“The other guys will not realise how tough it will be and boxing an eight-round fight compared to three lots of three-rounds is very different.
Barry Hearn, chairman of promoters Matchroom Sport, believes Ferguson has a great chance of victory.

“He put up a great show in the first Prizefighter,” said Hearn. “David is here on merit and put up a cracking performance in London in April.”

Prizefighter tickets cost between £25 and £70 and can be bought from www.theprizefighterseries.com or by calling 0844 493 6666.

The fighters are all British and consist of a mixture of experienced professionals and young prospects.

The list is Chris Burton (Darlington), David Ferguson (North Shields), David Ingleby (Morecambe), Ian Millarvie (Hamilton, Scotland), Darren Morgan (Swansea, Wales), Pele Reid (Birmingham), Sam Sexton (Norwich) and Lee Swaby (Lincoln).

Danny Hughes (Sunderland) is one of the reserves with the second to be announced shortly.

The event will be shown live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports and also broadcast around the world.

TO find out about broadcasting any of the Prizefighter Series events, contact Karen Manzi, Matchroom Sport’s Head of Television Sales, on +44 1869 340940.