A Barnes stormer

The Panel preview Prizefighter and tells us who should win and who could win. Will they be right?

Jim, Johnny, Glenn and Nicky call the light-welter belter

Prizefighter Light-Welterweights is arguably the best line-up the winner-takes-all tournament has seen to date. A former world champion, three former European champions and a British champion all go at it, live on Sky Sports, on Friday night - with £32,000 up for grabs. The three-round format means form goes out of the window and even the astute Sky Sports panel have been left scratching their heads at recent Prizefighter events. So with such a talented line-up we have given Jim Watt, Glenn McCrory, Johnny Nelson and Nicky Piper two bites at the cherry... who should win and who could win. Here are the Panel's predicitions....

Glenn McCrory

SHOULD WIN - David Barnes
I have to go along with it although sometimes I do wonder if he does enough over 12 rounds. Maybe three will suit him better, get him going a little earlier. He is the one with the skills, although he's got a tough draw and will do well enough to get past Colin Lynes. But if he does that and warms to it, then on form he should win this. But then again, when has form ever come into Prizefighter? COULD WIN - Young Mutley
I've sat down, looked at the fighters and assessed their form and the one thing I have learned with Prizefighter, is to ignore it completely! So, at 16/1 and the outsider with the bookies, I'll back Young Mutley. He's on the lighter side of the draw, he's big for light-welterweight and he can throw big punches, fast as well. If he can keep up the tempo and get a chance to land, he could surprise one or two of the more skilled fighters.

Jim Watt

SHOULD WIN - David Barnes
I think David Barnes is my pick. Prizefighter is obviously different from other professional boxing; you want people who are quick off the mark, not easy to hit, the sort of fighter that it takes people two or three rounds to work out and David Barnes fits that bill. He is quick, he is perfect over the three rounds. Yes, he probably has the most to lose because he is the one on the up, but the three rounds should suit him. COULD WIN - Colin Lynes
The two best-suited of the Prizefighters are fighting each other from the off. Before the draw was made my favourite to win was Barnes and my other bet would've been Colin. He has one of the best jabs in the business and is great at setting a pace and sticking to it. I know his wife has just given birth, so that might well have taken his mind off the job, but he has all the skills and experience needed.

Johnny Nelson

SHOULD WIN - David Barnes
I am leaning towards David because I saw him at a show last week and he looked fresh, he looked up for it. He is the one still progressing, he has the buregening reputation and he has the most to lose. I talked to him and he was so enthusiastic and of although he can be guilty of starting slow, he has the boxing skills to win this. I think he will, as well. COULD WIN - Ted Bami
Back for more punishment, but I'll tell you what, he has to be the favourite because he is the only one that has done all this before. He knows what to do, more importantly what not to do and above all, he knows what preparation is needed. He might be a little bit of a slow starter as he was in the Welterweight competition, but I can't see him making the same mistake this time.

Nicky Piper

SHOULD WIN - David Barnes
Over three rounds he has got a very good chance. It is a tough start for him, but if he comes through that one, I can't really see anyone better than him. He hasn't fought since the summer, so inactivity might be a problem, but from the reports I am hearing, he has been training well for this. He has all the ability and usually that tends to be the deciding factor in Prizefighter - and the three rounds and £32,000 might give him the confidence he needs. COULD WIN - Jason Cook
The Welsh contingent is strong in this so I wouldn't rule Jason out. He was a top, top amateur, silver medalist at the Commonwealth games and that will help in this format. I don't think the guys ever forget what they learned over those three-round fights and Jason is no different. He is also the most powerful out of the eight and punches really hard, which might well come into it.