Seven Hopefuls on
Prizefighter's card on Sky Sports
June 23, 2010 Huge Photos
(JUNE 23) On June 30, 2010, there will be
ten boxers featured on the Prizefighter Super-Middleweights at York
Hall, Bethnal Green on Sky Sports began the countdown to the show with
today’s promotional shoot at Sky Sports studios in London. The
eight starters on the night were joined by the two reserves for a number
of promotional activities including Sky Sports interviews for the night
and promotional videos and pictures, all within tantalizing touching
distance of the Prizefighter trophy which will go to the winner of the
13th edition on Barry Hearn’s eight-man, one night tournament, along
with a cheque for £32,000.
“I’ve been laughing all day,
I’m so excited – it’s been amazing coming down here to Sky it’s such a
big thing for me and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Maidenhead’s
Patrick Mendy, who makes history as the youngest boxer to take part in
Prizefighter at the age of 19. “It’s made it more real being here and I
cannot wait to get into the ring now and show people what I can do.”
The contenders face the biggest night of their professional careers when
they take to the famous York Hall ring, but some of them found some
parts of the promotional day almost as daunting as a the boxing itself.
“It’s been a very good day – but I’m not sure about the make-up, I don’t
really like girls who wear too much!” said Tony Salam, the Stoke
Newington fighter who won the first public vote to take the final spot
in the show.
“I’ve never been around this sort of press attention but I’ve enjoyed
it, I won’t be telling the boys about the make-up, even though I could
do with it!” added Jeff Evans, the unbeaten Pontypool boxer who is
hoping to follow in the footsteps of Gavin Rees as a Welsh winner.
The conversation in the green room inevitably turned to the World Cup as
the fighters waited their turn to face the cameras – and the pre-fight
banter began in earnest.
“Tony has been talking about football and how Fabio Capello should sack
John Terry and Wayne Rooney and put in a bunch of League One players!
We’re like “are you crazy!?” So the banter has been pretty good in there
– it’s been a laugh,” said English champion Paul David, the
Sheffield-based fighter from Northampton.
“It’s been good to be around the boys like this too, you can get a bit
of banter going while you are waiting around and if someone starts
acting the big one, it’s something you can take into the ring on the
night,” said Waltham Abbey’s Daniel Cadman. “You don’t know who you are
going to be drawn against yet so you don’t wanting to be walking around
growling as it might come back and bite you but they’re good lads.”
One man who has experienced the big occasion is Sam Horton, the Dudley
fighter who took on James DeGale at Upton Park in May. “I’m used to it
now after the DeGale fight so this feels natural already which can only
be a good thing for me going into the night,” said the 24 year-old.
Tickets for Prizefighter Super Middleweights are available now at £35
(unreserved), £60 (ringside) and £100 (VIP) – call Matchroom Sport on
01277 359900.
The fighters
Sam Horton
Age: 24
Home town: Dudley
Professional record: Won 15 (2 by KO), Lost 2, Drawn 0. Total 17 fights.
Achievement: BBBofC Midlands Area super middleweight champion, fought
James DeGale for the WBA Super-Middleweight title.
Tony Salam
Age: 26
Home town: Stoke Newington
Professional record: Won 9 (5 by KO), Lost 1, Drawn 0. Total 10 fights.
Achievement: BBBofC Southern Area super middleweight champion
Jeff Evans
Age: 27
Home town: Pontypool, Wales
Professional record: Won 3 (0 by KO), Lost 0, Drawn 0. Total 3 fights.
Achievement: Undefeated in 3 fights
Patrick Mendy
Age: 19
Home town: Maidenhead
Professional record: Won 5 (0 by KO), Lost 4, Drawn 0. Total 9 fights.
Achievement: Youngest ever Prizefighter contender
Eddie McIntosh
Age: 27
Home town: Birmingham
Professional record: Won 10 (2 by KO), Lost 1, Drawn 0. Total 11 fights.
Achievement: Former British Masters champion
Paul David
Age: 25
Home town: Northampton
Professional record: Won 10 (4 by KO), Lost 4, Drawn 0. Total 14 fights.
Achievement: BBBofC Midlands Area super middleweight Champion
Peter Fedorenko
Age: 32
Home town: Sheffield
Professional record: Won 5 (3 by KO), Lost 2, Drawn 0. Total 7 fights.
Achievement: Three wins inside the distance
Daniel Cadman
Age: 29
Home town: Waltham Abbey, Essex
Professional record: Won 11 (3 by KO), Lost 4, Drawn 0. Total 15 fights
Achievement: Former amateur champion
RESERVES
Eder Kurti
Age: 25
Home town: Woolwich
Professional record: Won 10 (1 by KO), Lost 4, Drawn 0. Total 14 fights
Achievement: Has won his last six fights – three of them at York Hall
Carl Drake
Age: 35
Home town: Plymouth
Professional record: Won 5 (4 by KO), Lost 5, Drawn 1. Total 11 fights
Achievement: Defeated Eddie McIntosh in March
