British and Irish heavyweights Martin Rogan and Michael Sprott have signed on for a new international heavyweight competition. The ‘Super 8: Last Man Standing’ tournament will take place on June 4 in Auckland, New Zealand. Eight heavyweights in total will take part in the Super 8 event, competing for a prize pool of £250,000 on one evening.
The format will be similar to the UK Prizefighter, but with bigger prize money on offer with over £100,000 to the winner and £50,000 to the runner-up. In total there’s over £250,000 up for grabs on the night, with a guaranteed £7,500 to all contestants for their first fights and also includes win bonuses for knockouts.
Sky Arena’s UK representative Mark Dunlop is busy organising the European side of negotiations and is looking to enlist more talent before the deadline. Former Commonwealth heavyweight champion Rogan and Sprott, who has held British and EU honours during an 18-year career, will both enter the tournament with confidence having won the the UK Prizefighter.
The pair will be joined by Kiwi Kali Meehan who challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO title in 2004, losing on a split decision. Five other boxers are still to be named for the innovative summer competition which, if successful, is expected to be the first of many.
“I’ve done it before and I’m going to do it again, this time in a more spectacular fashion!” hollered Rogan. “I will be knocking out anyone they put in front of me. I’ve a lot of family down in New Zealand and they have promised me when I win the Super 8 they will all be flying the flag of Ireland on their front door and celebrating me as their new president.”
Sprott also fancies the job but is slightly less hyperbolic in his prognosis.
“After England beat the All Blacks I will be knocking out whatever the Kiwis and Aussies have left to offer and it’s going to be a sorry week down under but triumphant for the English,” said Sprott.