NEWCASTLE'S Dave Ferguson has home advantage tomorrow night as
he tries to punch his ticket to the British boxing big time by winning the Prizefighter 2 heavyweights tournament.
A semi-finalist in the first Prizefighter in April, the 32-year-old former
soldier must first get past Derbyshire's tough Luke Simpkin in his opening bout to move a step closer to overall victory.
Fightnewz.net sat down for a quick chat with Ferguson - 7-1 (2) as a
professional - to discuss his prospects for the eight-man elimination after he weighed in at 16st 4lb 3oz.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Ready for it Dave?
FERGUSON: It's
a big opportunity for me, just like the first one. I
think I impressed a lot of people in the first one and they've obviously invited me back. Hopefully I can give 100% again
and do well again.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Boxing on home ground must also give you an added incentive
to do well?
FERGUSON: I'm
the home favourite but that doesn't mean anything. All that I'm concerned about is going in there and performing to the best
of my ability.
If I do that I will do well. To win this would be a dream come
true for me, especially in Newcastle.
Obviously there is a lot of pressure that comes with that and
there is a lot of people coming to see me.
But it would really kick-start my career if I could win this.
You've got to be in the top 10 if you win this haven't you? That's
what I'm looking for and that's what I want.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Is it a good thing being on home ground?
FERGUSON: I thought so before but obviously the day is coming
now and it's a bit nerve-wracking. Hopefully that will work to my advantage though on the night.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Know much about Luke Simpkin?
FERGUSON: I've looked at his record and he has been in with everyone.
I think he is a hard case who has boxed everyone and not a lot of people have stopped him.
He is a bit of a banger but so am I, so it's going to be a hard
fight.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: If you beat Simpkin you face the winner of
Pele Reid and Sam Sexton in the semi-finals. Who wins their fight?
FERGUSON: I think if I win my first one and box one of them it
will be a different fight compared to the first fight.
Sexton is a bit of a boxer, Reid takes his time and looks for
haymakers so I will be ready for either of them if I win my first fight.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: No disrespect, but people have said previously
that they thought your stamina was an issue. How will your fitness measure up this time?
FERGUSON: Can I just say, everyone's been pulling me up about
that and I don't mean to be disrespectful to people, but I fought and beat Billy Bessey in the first Prizefighter.
Yes he's had a couple of defeats, but he trained really hard
for that with his brother Chris in the Army boxing team and that was probably the best we have ever seen Billy Bessey.
I beat him in a hell of a fight and then I fought (eventual winner)
Martin Rogan in the next round. People say I wasn't fit, but if I hadn't have been fit Rogan would have stopped me.
How many counts did Rogan give me? He didn't give me a count
but he gave David Dolan two counts in the final and stopped Alex Ibbs - he didn't stop me.
I was fit and Rogan was a bit fresher than me on the night after
a hard fight.
But this time I've come in a bit lighter and I've trained very
hard for this.
I trained in Cyprus with the Army and hopefully it's going to
pay dividends on the night
I was a Fusillier when I was in the Army, when I was over there
it was with the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment.
We were going to go for two weeks, but it was that hot we stayed
for a week and I was training three times a day.
FIGHTNEWZ.NET: You also quit your job to train full-time for
Prizefighter as well?
FERGUSON: I have. I was working as a production operative in
a factory and for the last one I basically put two weeks' holiday in.
I was working shifts - nights, days and earlies - and I
don't think my body adjusted.
I asked them to sponsor me but I don't think they were too keen
and I handed my notice in.
Boxing is what I want to do anyway. I've got all my life to get
a day job, I haven't got all my life to do this. Now is the time and let's hope it pays off.
