IPSWICH fighter Steve Spartacus has vowed to catapult himself back into the boxing big-time by becoming Prizefighter Champion on Friday.Spartacus, 32, is one of eight British light-heavyweights in Barry Hearn's next quick-fire Prizefighter tournament at a packed York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London.

IPSWICH fighter Steve Spartacus has vowed to catapult himself back into the boxing big-time by becoming Prizefighter Champion on Friday.

Spartacus, 32, is one of eight British light-heavyweights in Barry Hearn's next quick-fire Prizefighter tournament at a packed York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London.

Prizefighter is a one-evening competition where four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final take place inside a frantic three-hour period with each contest lasting a maximum of three rounds.

“I'm experienced, battle-hardened and been training for this since Christmas so I've got a good chance of winning,” said Spartacus.

“Prizefighter is a brilliant competition so I'm really looking forward to it. I wish we could do this every week!

“It's all-action, all on one night, great entertainment and a new concept which is good for boxing.

“Usually it takes me a few rounds to warm up but obviously now I have to get in and go 'slam, bang' in there.”

Although he has lost his last three, Spartacus has claimed 11 knock-outs in 19 wins. He will be confident of claiming the �25,000 top prize in the bear-pit atmosphere of the York Hall.

The draw has been kind to Spartacus as he has been paired with Oldham veteran Darren Stubbs, 37, and avoided hotly-tipped fighters Courtney Fry, Tony Oakey and Billy Boyle.

Spartacus, who dresses up as a gladiator on his ring entrance before each fight, admits beating Oakey in the final would be his dream scenario after losing a British title bout against the Hampshire man in May 2007.

“I like Tony as a person but it would be good for me to even the score and I owe him one,” said Spartacus.

“The winner of Prizefighter could get a shot at the British title so this is an excellent opportunity to kick-start my career.

“I now have my own gym in Ipswich training one or two fighters. I'm also not on my own training as I have been for the last three or four years and that's great, it's given me a new lease of life.

“I've got a puncher's chance of beating anyone and I can't wait for the action to begin.”

The Prizefighter contenders are Bob Ajisafe (Darlington), Billy Boyle (Sheffield), Shon Davies (Llanelli), Carl Dilks (Liverpool), Courtney Fry (Liverpool), Tony Oakey (Havant, Hampshire), Steve Spartacus (Ipswich) and Darren Stubbs (Oldham).

The quarter-final line-up is Fry v Davies, Oakey v Boyle, Ajisafe v Dilks and Stubbs v Spartacus. If Spartacus is successful in his quarter-final he will meet the winner of the Ajisafe v Dilks fight.

All the tickets have already been sold for the York Hall but the entire Prizefighter show will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 9pm.