Prizefighter risk a bridge too far for over-the-hill Harrison

With the heavyweight boxing division looking so short of genuine title contenders at present, the winner of Prizefighter International Heavyweights III could well find themselves in a WBA title contest with Alexander Povetkin in the near future.

Audley Harrison is the most well-known of the eight entries and although he is far from a free-throwing puncher, he does have the luxury of knowing what it takes to win such a tournament.

Harrison was a Prizefighter winner in 2009, but has lost twice since to David Haye and David Price, while he was down on the scorecards when stopping Michael Sprott in the final round of a European title fight.

It is 11/4 that Harrison takes this Prizefighter crown too, but his watchful style makes him hard to fancy against this higher level of competition.

Another former Prizefighter winner in the line-up is Martin Rogan, who can be backed at 6/1 to do so again.

But the draw has not been kind to the big Irishman, as a semi final with Harrison awaits if he can first get by Poland’s Albert Sosnowski.

Sosnowski went 10 rounds with Vitali Klitschko back in 2010 for the WBC heavyweight title and this means that he has fought at a higher standard than his seven adversaries.

Therefore, 4/1 is not the worst price on a Sosnowski triumph.

Favourite at 2/1 is Travis Walker from the US, who has certainly gained a reputation for his punching power, securing 31 of his 39 victories by KO.

Meanwhile, Walker was only marginally out-pointed in 2010 by Ruslan Chagaev, which is form that sets a high standard given that Chagaev’s only two career reverses have come against Wladimir Klitschko and Povetkin.

The bottom half of the draw does look the easier and Walker’s power should be too hot for his fellow American Derric Rossy in his opening fight.

Brixton’s Ian Lewison is the most inexperienced in the field, but this could make him an interesting outsider at 7/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.