Mutley's last chance on 'Prizefighter'
West 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."
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