After being stopped by Martin Murray in the semi finals of the middleweight Prizefighter Danny Butler is optimistic he can win Friday’s light-middleweight Prizefighter event.

Butler has had a tough time recently losing his last two fights against Darren McDermott and Darren Barker, but he is confident the light – middleweight event will be his time for a comeback. The Prizefighter tournament has been greeted with enthusiasm since the first event in 2008, Friday’s event is being held at Bethnal Green’s York Hall, and if he wins this could put Butler back on track with his career, throwing him into the limelight for high profile fights.

Butler, 22,is no stranger to the Prizefighter contest and took part in the middleweight Prizefighter in 2008, it was our own Martin Murray who stopped him on a tight points decision and then went on to win. This experience of the event should give Butler a slight advantage to the other fighters who are competing in Prizefighter for the first time.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Butler stated. “Hopefully things will go more my way this time. I’ve come down a weight and feel a lot stronger for it. I have the experience from the last one I was in so hopefully that will be an advantage for me over everyone else.

“It’s only little things but some fighters may not be used to the breaks in between stages like the quarters and semi finals, as well as the 3 round fights. I’ve done it all before; I know what it’s about so that’s good for me.

“I’ve been training really, really hard, training has been excellent. The preparation, the weight making has all been brilliant. I’m feeling really good and maybe that will help me in the latter stages.”

He added: “The last two fights I had have been of a high standard against Barker and McDermott. I have gained a lot of experience out of that, being in with those two, especially Barker, gives you a lot and I have learnt a lot. The experience I have got from that is really good and I’m hoping to carry that over into Prizefighter. I’ve had a lot of fights now and hopefully it will all come together on the night.”

The Prizefighter tournament has been welcomed to the boxing community with open arms as it has a fresh and exciting format with short fights and eliminations. Martin Murray won the middleweight prizefighter in 2008 but other winners include Martin Rogan and Gavin Rees; all of the winners have used prizefighter as a platform for bigger and better things and the exposure has given them opportunities for bigger fights.

Butler, however, has a lot of support already from promoter and friend Jane Couch MBE,he has had a shot at title fights , which Martin hasn’t had yet despite winning Prizefighter. Jane believes Butler was unlucky in his defeat by Martin Murray and feels this friday he will have the chance to prove himself again;

“Danny has got a great chance of winning the Prizefighter. Obviously he has been there before when he fought in the middleweight version and was really unlucky to lose to Martin Murray in the semi, when a lot of people thought Danny had actually won the fight,” stated Couch.

This is quite controversial as there were mixed reviews and in the end many feel Martin Murray deserved his win, and his record since Prizefighter (still with no losses and notching up some amazing early round knock outs), has proven Martin has what it takes to go all the way and take a title.

Danny Butler has had two recent defeats, of which Couch is looking forward to him coming back from;

“Although he has lost his last two fights, he was up against a world class opponent in Darren Barker and only lost by a point against McDermott. I would say he has learnt more in his last two fights than he has in his entire career, it’s a learning curve and he’s in a much better place for it now. So he has as good a chance of winning as anyone”

Couch added: “If he wins Prizefighter then he will be contracted to Matchroom, we work very closely with them anyway through our promotion company Blackeye. They are fantastic with Danny, you can’t fault them they have been brilliant. So if Danny wins Prizefighter I’m he will move on to either an English or a British title fight.

“He has been nominated to box for the Southern area title whatever happens in the Prizefighter but that is at middleweight, so its up to Danny whether he goes back up to middleweight, but like I say, he has the best promoters in the country to decide that for him if he does win. We’ll back Matchroom all the way and we are behind them 110%.”

A sentiment echoed by Butler, who concluded: “The winner of the Prizefighter series gets a much higher profile, it raises your profile immediately. It makes a massive name for yourself so for me to go on and win it would be excellent and would open up other doors for me to work with better people and get the bigger fights.

“Nobody wants a loss on their record and I don’t one another one to go on there so I’m going to make sure I give it 110%, not to avoid a loss but to win the Prizefighter. I’m going to give it my all and bounce back to show everybody what I’m all about.”

Since Martin Murray won the Prizefighter tournament in 2008 we have been fans of the event and will be glued to the screen this Friday. Will Danny Butler come back and be champion? Who knows, but with an exciting line up we can’t wait to find out!