CORBETT: I’M NOT SCARED OF PRIZEFIGHTER FAVOURITE HIDE
Posted on | April 29, 2010 | No Comments
DARREN CORBETT insists he is not scared of Prizefighter favourite Herbie Hide and is ready to claim the £32,000 winner’s prize.
The pair are both among eight men in Barry Hearn’s latest one-night tournament – Cruiserweights II – which takes place at the York Hall in London’s East End on Friday.
However, Corbett’s hopes were nearly derailed as he originally weighed in one and a half pounds over the 14st 6lb limit before an impromptu gym session saw him make the weight at the second attempt.
Hide, a former WBO heavyweight champion, is clear betting favourite to win but could face ex-Commonwealth champion Corbett in an explosive semi-final.
“Everyone is running scared of Herbie Hide but I don’t care, I would fight him in the first round,” said Belfast-based Corbett, who has won 28 of 34 contests.
“Winning Prizefighter will get me a few quid and a shot at Rob Norton, the British and Commonwealth champion.
“I’ve already beaten him once so why not again?”
Corbett hopes to win the money for his family, especially as his fifth child, daughter Kealeigh, was born two weeks ago.
Corbett is the only man of the eight to have competed in the first Prizefighter Cruiserweights tournament last year, although a freak injury harmed his chances.
“For the second fight, the semi-final, I lost against Ovill McKenzie but I slipped getting in to the ring and I was bleeding from the shin down. I lost total concentration because of that and I lost the fight.
“I’ve never been overweight in a weigh-in before and it’s a hassle but wasn’t a worry.
“I’m so determined of winning this. I’m fighting for the pride and love of my baby. I will fight every single drop of blood I have and I will fight to the last breath.”
The first quarter-final sees Mark Krence, a two-time contender for the British heavyweight title, fight Dewsbury’s Zahid Kahut, a qualified solicitor.
Jon-Lewis Dickinson, the only undefeated man in the eight, fights Londoner Leon Williams before Corbett gets in the ring with Doncaster’s John Anthony.
Hide is in action in the fourth fight against 23-year-old Wayne Brooks, who, at 50/1, is the biggest outsider to win the competition in Prizefighter history.
Prizefighter Cruiserweights II
Odds
8/11 – Herbie Hide
5/1 – Mark Krence
11/2 – Jon-Lewis Dickinson
8/1 – Darren Corbett
9/1 – Leon Williams
22/1 – John Anthony
25/1 – Zahid Kahut
50/1 – Wayne Brooks
Draw and weights
Quarter-final 1
Mark Krence (Chesterfield) 14st 5lbs v Zahid Kahut (Dewsbury) 14st 3lbs
Quarter-final 2
Jon-Lewis Dickinson (Durham) 14st 4lbs 12oz v Leon Williams (Streatham, London) 13st 11lb 8oz
Quarter-final 3
John Anthony (Doncaster) 14st 4lbs 11oz v Darren Corbett (Belfast) 14st 6lbs
Quarter-final 4
Herbie Hide (Norwich) 14st 4lb 8oz v Wayne Brooks (Cardiff) 14st 3lb 3oz