Boxxer Super Lightweight Tournament

 BOXXER Super Lightweight Tournament Preview

Boxxer ascends upon Liverpool for another edition of their prizefighter style series with a super lightweight tournament.

The tournament features 8 fighters from around the country. Nathan Bennett, Sean Dodd, Tom Farrell, Ben Fields, Cori Gibbs, Kane Gardener, Lee Appleyard and Levi Kinsoa are all on a quest for glory.

The fast and action packed tournament uses the 3x3 minute rounds format in all bouts. All the boxers will need to make the most of the short fights to gain the edge over their opposition. Previous winners of the tournament include Nick Webb, Steven Donnelly and Mike Lawal.

The draw has been made for the series and the four quarter finals are as follows

Sean Dodd (17-5-1) vs Cori Gibbs (13-0)

Kane Gardner (11-1) vs Nathan Bennet (9-2)

Tom Farrell (18-4) vs Ben Fields (10-10)

Lee Appleyard (17-6-1) vs Levi Kinsoa (8-1)

Sean Dodd is a former Commonwealth champion whereas Ben Fields has lost 10 fights. Levi Kinsoa is managed by heavyweight fan favourite Dave Allen.

"Four or six-rounders can be very meaningless. This is a format which is needed. It is competitive, it produces upsets, and all the boxers ca get excited about this." said Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom.

What have the fighters said?

Sean Dodd (Birkenhead) (17-5-1, 3 KO’s) vs. Cori Gibbs (Birkenhead) (13-0, 3 KO’s)

Gibbs: “I respect Masher a lot, he's a very good boxer and obviously I've followed his career. I've watched him plenty of times and I believe I beat him in every department. That's boxing. I've got the power. I've got the youth, everything. So I'm really confident I'll beat him.

Dodd: “He's young, he's up-and-coming, but this is going to be a toe-to-toe straightener out there under the lights, eight-ounce gloves, everyone watching on TV. Lot of pressure there. He's unbeaten as well. When you suffer your first loss it's hard, so this is going to be a new experience for him to deal with.” 

Kane Gardner (Manchester) (11-1, 6 KO’s) vs. Nathan Bennett (Liverpool) (9-2, 2 KO’s)

Gardner: “We were meant to fight three times before and each time it fell through. No more running now mate, I'm here now! I can't wait to finally get this fight done. He's a decent boxer but I have a better pedigree and I can box as well as fight. He can't fight, he can only box, so I just feel like I'm a better all-round fighter.”

Bennet: “I can't wait, I'm happy I got him in the drawer because he's got a big mouth and I am looking forward to shutting his mouth for him. I don't like him, he's an idiot, and on Saturday night he's getting his mouth shut. He's talking about how he's going to break my jaw - I hope he brings that same energy to the ring.”

Tom Farrell (18-4, 5 KO’s) (Liverpool) vs. Ben Fields (Digbeth) (10-10, 2 KO’s)

Farrell: “It's straight into the fire pits isn't it? He's a tough lad, he's really good and he brings it but I'm prepared and ready for it. Got to face him at some point so let's get him out the way early when I'm still sharp and fresh. It's three three-minute rounds, you've got to start fast and finish faster. You can't afford to let a round slip, so I'll be bringing it from the first bell.”

Fields: “This format plays into my hands. This is what we do, all 22 of my fights, so we've just been working on what we normally work on. I come into this tournament thinking I'll fight anyone, so whichever fighter got drawn [as my first opponent] I was going to be happy. It's going to be exciting, I can't wait. I hope everyone tunes in to Sky Sports on Saturday night. If you're a boxing fan, do not miss out.”

Lee Appleyard (Rotherham) (17-6-1, 5 KO’s) vs. Levi Kinsiona (Sheffield) (8-1, 1 KO)

Appleyard: “He keeps coming out with all this bullcrap about how he's sparred hundreds of rounds with me and he's filled me in all these rounds. Me and Levi have sparred once, for six rounds. But now he's talked all that rubbish so he has to back it up. Let's see if he can. He will try dancing about and I'll be right there in his face, smashing him.”

Kinsiona: “If you look at my Instagram you'll see photos I've put up from all the different times we've sparred at different gyms. I must have punched him up that badly, he can't even remember! There's a little animosity there but that's just because it's a Yorkshire derby - he's from Rotheram, I'm from Sheffield and we're both proud of where we come from. But we both know who has the top spot here.”

You can watch all the action live on Sky Sports Arena from 8pm on Saturday night.