CANNING TOWN hope George Hillyard s ambitions of boosting his ring career – and his bank balance – with a �32,000 winner s cheque in the Prizefighter light-middleweight tournament at York Hall on Friday night were shattered in his first contest of the tou

CANNING TOWN hope George Hillyard's ambitions of boosting his ring career - and his bank balance - with a �32,000 winner's cheque in the Prizefighter light-middleweight tournament at York Hall on Friday night were shattered in his first contest of the tournament when he was beaten by eventual winner Prince Arron.

The six-feet-three-inches tall Arran, who had struggled to make the poundage at the weigh-in, towered over the stocky Hillyard and used his height and reach advantage to dominate the clash.

Hillyard's large supporting squad - he sold over 300 tickets for the show - roared their support when he moved inside his rival's long arms to score at close quarters.

However, the local boxer with just one bout in almost two years, was not sharp enough to get past the long-range jab of the towering Arron and lost 30-27 on all three judges' cards.

Other entries also failed to upset the 22-year-old. who eliminated tournament favourite, Welsh hope and former Commonwealth titleholder, Bradley Pryce convincingly in the semi-final.

Unbeaten Liverpudlian Brett Flournoy's southpaw punches made the final closer, but Arron's long reach and a last-round knockdown clinched the winners' award from Matchroom boss Barry Hearn after another entertaining Prizefighter night.