Super-Flyweight title holders Lee Haskins and Craig Lyon say they know that there is a target on their chests as they enter the Prizefighter Super-Flyweight tournament on Wednesday 12 October at Liverpool Olympia, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 and also in 3D.
Haskins owns the British strap while Lyon is the English champion and both men are hoping to avoid a defeat like the one British Super-Featherweight Gary Sykes suffered at the hands of Gary Buckland in the semi-finals back in November.
Buckland stunned Sykes with a knockout inside the first minute and three weeks ago he double the dose by taking Sykes’ title from him on points at the Ponds Forge International Arena in Sheffield. Bristol’s Haskins took the Commonwealth title from Don Broadhurst on points in December 2009 and the 27 year-old knows that Broadhurst will be gunning for revenge.
“Of course he is going to want to fight me and beat me, but I’m ready for that,” said Haskins, who won the WBA Inter-Continental Bantamweight title in his last outing in July over in Morocco. “It’s good exposure and that’s why I’m in it. If I can beat three people on one night it’s great – it’s better than just one, plus I’ve been struggling to get fights.
“I desperately want to fight for a world title next year. Once I win Prizefighter I want to have another fight before Christmas and then hopefully it can be done against one of the champions.”
St Helens fighter Lyon claimed his English title just over a year ago and in his only defence was declared a technical draw when he suffered a cut in the third round of his fight with Josh Wale in February.
“The lads here with only a handful of fights on their records are probably the real favourites to win it because they have are closer to their amateur days,” said Lyon. “Their fights as pros have probably only been four rounds ones so they will be fast starters whereas me, Lee Haskins and Don Broadhurst have been doing eight and ten-rounders for a while. We train all the time to go the distance and pace ourselves so it is going to be a bit odd. But I’ve been working hard on the three-threes format and I reckon I’ve cracked it.”
Joining Haskins, Lyon and Broadhurst are Liverpool’s Mike Robinson, Merseyside’s third representative unbeaten 23 year-old Ryan Farrag, unbeaten fighters Nathan Reeve from Northampton and Leeds’ Terry Broadbent, and YouTube sensation Usman Ahmed.
Tickets for the Super Flyweights show at Liverpool’s Olympia on Wednesday 12 October are on sale now from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 priced £30 unreserved, £50 ringside and £100 VIP.
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