Prizefighter - The Middleweights
Published November 20, 2008 by Martin Bean
The popular Prizefighter Series returns this Saturday night (22nd November 2008), acting as the UK leg of the Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi Pay Per View offering. The first two Prizefighter events were in the Heavyweight Division, last time out saw an exciting night in the Welterweight Division and now it’s the turn of the Middleweight’s in what looks like being another exciting affair.
In case you’re not familiar with the format, it pits eight fighters together in four quarter finals, two semi finals and a final in one night! Yes, all in one night. Contests are 3 x 3 minute rounds and the winner can expect to have three contests in around two and a half hours.
In amongst the eight Middleweight entrants are three unbeaten prospects, so we should see another exciting night of action at London’s legendary York Hall.
The draw has already been made and pitted the following fighters against each other in the Quarter Finals:
Quarter-final draw
1. Max Maxwell 7-2 (2 KO’s) v Steve Ede 9-1 (4 KO’s)
2. Cello Renda 15-6-1 (9 KO’s) v Danny Thornton 25-13-3 (5 KO’s)
3. Danny Butler 13-0 (3 KO’s) v Paul Samuels 18-3-2 (11 KO’s)
4. Joe Rea 6-0-1 (4 KO’s) v Martin Murray 9-0 (3 KO’s)
Semi-final draw
Winner 1 v Winner 2
Winner 3 v Winner 4
With the draw having been made, the bookies pre fight tournament odds are as follows:
| Martin Murray 15/8 |
| Danny Butler 9/2 |
| Cello Renda 9/2 |
| Danny Thornton 5/1 |
| Max Maxwell 7/1 |
| Paul Samuels 10/1 |
| Joey Rea 12/1 |
| Steve Ede 12/1 |
It’s not easy to pick a winner in this competition, as the bookies prices show. Almost all bouts are 50/50 affairs, especially over the shorter three round distance.
So how does Boxing Capital see this shaping up? Well, we’ll be pleased if we can emulate our success at the last Prizefighter event where we selected 6 of 7 winners and also won another bet – a four fight quarter final accumulator.
Here’s our bout by bout rundown of the event and how we see the action tournament unfolding. As a wrong bet in the Quarter Finals would make Semi Final predictions irrelevant, unless Semi Final or Final matches include both our predicted boxers we won't count them.
Quarter Final 1: Max Maxwell 7-2 (2 KO’s) v Steve Ede 9-1 (4 KO’s)
The bookies make Maxwell a 4/6 favourite for this contest, but I feel the capable Steve Ede has been written off on the basis of his 2nd round KO defeat to fellow Prizefighter entrant, Cello Renda. There is no disgrace for Ede in that loss, Renda is a devastating puncher.
In what is sure to be a tightly contested three rounds, I expect Ede to finish the stronger and take a close points decision.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Steve Ede to WIN @ 11/10
Quarter Final 2: Cello Renda 15-6-1 (9 KO’s) v Danny Thornton 25-13-3 (5 KO’s)
This is another intriguing contest. Thornton is an experienced fighter who knows how to win – a quick look at his record on Boxrec shows a large number of wins by just one/two rounds and his experience could be a telling factor. Renda on the other hand, is a real puncher, but a fighter that can be inconsistent.
I expect another tight affair but envisage Renda coming out on top, as I really see the three round distance suiting him well.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Cello Renda to WIN @ 4/6
Quarter Final 3: Danny Butler 13-0 (3 KO’s) v Paul Samuels 18-3-2 (11 KO’s)
Yet another fantastic bout. Unbeaten prospect Butler against exciting, experienced puncher, yet vulnerable Paul Samuels. The telling factor here for me is inactivity – Samuels has boxed just twice in five years, both ending in the first round – one win and one defeat. Therefore I expect a sharper Danny Butler to box his way to victory in this contest.
However, don’t write Samuels off completely – he is more than capable of landing a knockout punch at any moment. Samuels punching power alone over the shorter distance makes his an outside bet for the tournament if you’re looking for some value.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Danny Butler to WIN @ 8/15
Quarter Final 4: Joe Rea 6-0-1 (4 KO’s) v Martin Murray 9-0 (3 KO’s)
Two young and unbeaten prospects meet to complete the quarter finals, in what is sure to be an excellent contest. This is another contest where inactivity will play a part, as Rea has boxed just once in over two years. In a three round fight there is simply no room for ring rust.
Murray was an ABA Champion as an Amateur and is a class act – I expect Murray to take the victory by decision and live up to his status as the favourite.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Martin Murray to WIN @ 4/9
BOXING CAPITAL EXTRA TIP - Bet on a four fight accumulator in the Quarter Finals, selecting Ede, Renda, Butler and Murray all to win!
Semi Final 1 – Steve Ede vs. Cello Renda
Renda already holds a 2nd round Knockout victory over Ede so will have the mental edge coming into this contest. Ede though is sure to be out for revenge and should have learnt his lesson from their first meeting so will not want to get caught.
Both will have found their first contest tough and I expect Ede to give a better account of himself than in their previous meeting, but ultimately, Renda should win by late stoppage or via points decision.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Cello Renda to WIN
Semi Final 2 – Danny Butler vs. Martin Murray
Another terrific clash of two unbeaten fighters. It’s possible Butler could have had a real war with Paul Samuels, so despite having less rest, Murray may actually be fresher coming into this one.
Butler will try to outbox Murray, who likes to se intelligent aggression. I anticipate a quiet opener with both taking ‘a look’, before Murray manages to get on top and squeeze out a points win.
BOXING CAPITAL TIP - Martin Murray to WIN
Final – Cello Renda vs. Martin Murray
In the previous three Prizefighter tournaments, no pre tournament favourite has ended up as the winner, so can Martin Murray end that jinx? Here he meets an opponent in Cello Renda who is busy and can punch, so it’s not going to be easy.
But Murray is a smart boxer and I expect him to take the centre of the ring to control proceedings and take a decision to win the Prizefighter Title and GBP 25,000 Prize!
BOXING CAPITAL TIP – Martin Murray to WIN
ALL ODDS QUOTED AS PER SKYBET.COM AND CORRECT AS OF 21ST NOVEMBER 2008
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