By Declan Taylor

FRANK SMITH has challenged the eight fighters in Matchroom’s Japanese prizefighter debut to prove they are worthy of a crack at the middleweight crown.

Matchroom CEO Smith secured a three-year deal to promote in Japan, a first for the company, and the new venture kicks off on July 15 at the Yamato Arena in Suita.

It is the first of nine shows spread across the next three years and also marks the return of Matchroom’s old Prizefighter series where eight fighters from the same weight class compete for cash.

The old Prizefighter nights in England used to comprise, quarters, semis and final all on the same night with the fights reduced to three rounds. However, the Japanese commission decided against allowing a similar format here so the three stages have been spread across the rest of the year.

All eight men will box over 10 rounds on the first event night, with the four winners progressing to the semi finals. On each fight night, there is a $100,000 pot which will be split between any of them who manage to win by stoppage while the winner of the whole tournament will take home a guaranteed $1m.

But Smith believes what could be most important is what could await the winner beyond the final.

“The prize money is fantastic and some of these fighters have never had the opportunity to earn that much before,” he told Boxing News.

“But also this will set the winner up coming off the back of three championship fights essentially. Because they are boxing over 10 rounds in the quarters, then 12 rounds in the semis and final, it sets them up closer to a world title shot whereas the three-round concept doesn’t really do that. 

“But winning these three fights will put them right in the picture. The middleweight division is wide open, there is a lot of opportunity there and whoever comes out on top of this tournament will put themself in a position to get a title shot.

“We had been working towards trying to do the old Prizefighter format with all the fights on one night but the Japanese commission didn’t allow us to do it. That’s why we spread it across three nights. 

“Our preference was to do the one-night tournament like we used to do in the UK but the commission just wouldn’t allow it. I think with more time we might have got it through but in the end we felt it was better to concentrate on this format.”

Englishman Kieron Conway, who has boxed on Matchroom shows many times before, is joined by his compatriot Mark Dickinson in the quarter finals while there is Irish interest provided by undefeated Aaron McKenna.

Matchroom are still finalising the dates for the semi-finals and final which will round-up their first year in Japan. However, Smith revealed they will likely return to a more traditional approach to promoting in years two and three.

“I don’t think we will carry on the Prizefighter concept out there beyond this one,” he added. “We will look for other events but it has helped us get up and running. The three events in year one are these three shows – quarters, semis and final.

“We’ve signed a three-year deal with three events a year. This moved quite quickly and we got the deal done within six months of the first meeting. It has been good and there is lots to look forward to. Japanese boxing is in a great place so being able to do more shows out there will be big for us.”

Quarter-final line-up:

  • Kuzuto Takesako vs. Mark Dickinson, 10 rounds – middleweight
  • Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani, rematch, 10 rounds – middleweight
  • Kieron Conway vs. Ainiwaer Yilixiati, 10 rounds – middleweight
  • Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela, 10 rounds – middleweight