Skelton sparks Sprott's fuse

Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Matt Skelton has told challenger Michael Sprott that he needs to be struck by lightning if he is to knock him out on May 26th at the ExCeL London. Sprott, who puts his English title on the line, revealed earlier this week that he had been electrocuted a couple of weeks before his fight against Audley Harrison and it helped him spark-out the former Olympic Champion with one thunderous left hook. Bedford bruiser Skelton, who has bulldozed his way through 17 of his 21 opponents early, reckons he will bring his own thunder on the night to land the potential world title fight for the winner. "I've never been dropped as a professional boxer and the only way that Sprott is going to knock me out is if by some fluke of nature he is hit by lightning before our fight!" said Skelton. "And the chances of being struck by lightning is a long one as it's one in three million. Actually, Sprott is more likely to be hit by lightning than winning the National Lottery which is one in 14 million but if he does knock me out then he has hit the jackpot because he will get the big world title opportunity," "I've got to admit that I was surprised as anybody by the way he knocked Harrison out cold. I have to hand it to him it was a fantastic punch and he wrecked my chances of fighting Harrison with it," Skelton caused a sensation when he stopped Sprott in the final round of their grueling clash three years ago in Reading to win the British and Commonwealth titles in only his 13th fight with no previous boxing experience. The re-match is going to be a tense affair with everything on the line but Skelton is confident of victory. He added, "Sprott's the man I've go to beat to move on and finally get my dream world title fight. It's going to be a hard, tough, fight because I believe Sprott is a different man to the one I beat three years ago. He's been to Germany and had some good wins and he returned to knockout Harrison and his career has been rejuvenated since. I haven't taken anything for granted against him and I'm training with the mind frame that this is a challenge for the world title. Come May 26th there won't be lightning - just thunder!"