Calum Cooper, Rob Hunt, Steven Pearce and Mark Thompson are the final names in the mix for the first Betfair Prizefighter night of 2013, live on Sky Sports from the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton in Kal Yafai and the Betfair Prizefighter Welterweights III.
Midlands trio Cooper (4-0), Hunt (16-1-2) and Pearce (6-0) and Heywood’s Thompson (24-2) join unbeaten trio Glenn Foot, Dale Evans and Chad Gaynor and ‘Notorious’ Nasser Al Harbi in the 28th edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight-man, one night tournaments.
Cooper and Pearce make it five unbeaten fighters in the line-up, with 24 year old Cooper chalking up four points wins in Birmingham since his pro debut in September and 28 year old Pearce picking up two of his six wins to date at the Civic Hall. Thompson returned to action in April 2012 after two years out of the ring and challenged former World Amateur champion Jack Culcay for the WBA Inter-Continental light middleweight title in Germany in September. Stafford’s Hunt is aiming to push for honours this year after a frustrating 2012 with just two fights to his name after hunting a second title shot following disappointment in his British Masters bout in November 2010.
Promoter Eddie Hearn had the tough task of perming four names from 20 contenders for the remaining places, and he believes whoever claims the £32,000 winner’s cheque will more than earn their cash in such a competitive field.
“Picking the final fighters for January 19 was a real headache as all the names in the hat had a strong case,” said Hearn. “It’s another hungry group of boxers who will put it all on the line in Wolverhampton and move themselves into a strong position in one of the most competitive divisions in Britain. The Civic Hall is a great venue for Prizefighter with the packed house right on top of the action, and we’re expecting a great night in the Black Country.”
The Betfair Prizefighter Welterweights III kicks off the action on January 19 before Kal Yafai’s first taste of action in 2013, a year that promises so much for the Beijing Olympian who raced to 6-0 with five wins inside the distance in the second half of 2012 after turning pro in July.
Tickets for the Yafai and the Betfair Prizefighter Welterweights III are on sale now from Matchroom Boxing priced at £40 unreserved, £60 ringside and £100 VIP – tickets can be bought online atwww.matchroomboxing.comor on 01277 359900.
