Mutley’s last chance on ‘Prizefighter’

Saturday 31st October 2009, 8:30AM GMT.

MUTLEY 4 TS 21West Bromwich’s Young Mutley admits he is drinking in boxing’s last chance saloon and can see only one way out – to step forward and become the ‘Prizefighter.’

The former British welterweight champion has been confirmed as one of the eight participants in the next instalment of the popular tournament, to take place at London’s Olympia on December 4.

All the 33-year-old has do to is come down to light-welter, best through two separate opponents on route to the final and then punch his way to glory, the trophy and the £32,000 top prize.

Not to mention the kudos, the victor of the winner-take-all one night event will surely be next in line for the British title.

But it won’t be easy, Mutley could end up in there with any one of a former world champion, three ex-European title holders and two more one-time British titlists.

It’s easily his biggest night since a stoppage loss for the British and European titles in June 2007 to Colin Lynes – one of the eight in ‘Prizefighter.’

Mutley knows the odds are stacked against him and there could be little choice but to retire if it goes wrong, but the veteran has that punchers chance – his left ‘hammer’ is one of the hardest around.

And come the big night, Lee Woodley will do it his way.

He said: “This could well be my last chance, if I go out in the first round of this – what I am going to do then?

“I am just going to get in there and go all out, that is what you have to do in ‘Prizefighter’ and that is how I want to go out.

“I need this, if I can win the whole thing I will be right back up there and in contention for the British title, which is all I really care about.”

The Black Country banger will now go back to basics in training, with fire in his belly after being knocked out in Nottingham two weeks ago by Frenchman Mihaita Mutu.

It was only the third time Mutley had been stopped in 30 fights and a decade as a pro, leaving it all to prove in London.

Yet that wasn’t the reason for accepting the ‘Prizefighter’ gig – the decision was made long before the fight.

But now it’s the motivation to prove the doubters wrong.

Mutley said: “My mind wasn’t on that fight, I was boxing like I was pratting about and that’s not me. I keep fighting these foreigners and they just tuck up, how I am supposed to get motivated for that?

“But I have no complaints with that result, I lost my head, got caught with a counter punch and that was that. I won the first two rounds as well.”

For tickets, call 07833 196 971.


  1. 1
    Jarvo

    Come on Mutley, concentrate on your boxing, clean living, you havn’t achieved what a boxer of your potential should have achieved thus far, you can win prizefighter if you dedicate yourself. Show ‘em who the daddy is!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Jimmy

    Time to show the country what West Brom and Young Mutley are all about, some great fighters in prizefighter but undoubtedly Mutley is the greatest.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    ricky

    Mutley is a top fighter, all I’m worried about is whether he will be be able to comfortably make the light welter limit again without any problems. Time for war.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.