The ever popular Prizefighter returns this weekend for the first time this year and 23rd time since its inception in 2008. For the second time it will feature the light welterweight division, with eight fighters from the 140 lb class doing battle at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton on Saturday. As usual, Prizefighter is presented by Barry Hearn's Matchroom Promotions and will be screened live on Sky Sports 1.

All the action starts at 8:00 PM.

As usual, the entire tournament will begin and end on one night, with all bouts being fought over the three round limit. Fighters compete in a quarterfinal lineup, with the four winners going through to the semi's and the two winners of those bouts contesting the final and the opportunity to win the Prizefighter trophy plus a cheque for £32,000.

The light welterweight division has been in existence since the mid-1920s, but was overshadowed historically by the lightweight and welterweight classes. Although all time greats Tony Canzoneri and Barney Ross held versions of the title in the 1930s, the division didn't begin to flourish in its own right until the 1960s.

Puerto Rican legend Wilfredo Benitez drew attention to the light welterweights when he became youngest world champion of all time aged just 17 in 1976, defeating Antonio Cervantes to lift the WBA crown.

The division truly came to life when the sensational American Aaron Pryor became WBA champion during the 1980s, and his two bouts with the late great Alexis Arguello are the stuff of legend. Since then the division has been graced by such illustrious names as Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Kostya Tszyu and Ricky Hatton and is currently dominated by the outstanding trio of Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.

On Saturday in Wolverhampton fight fans may get to see another world champion in the making emerge from what is without doubt a highly competitive lineup.

Favorite to lift the Prizefighter trophy and take home the winners cheque is 24-year-old Adil Anwar from Leeds. Anwar [13-1, seven KOs] is the reigning English welterweight champion and is unbeaten since losing his second pro fight back in 2007. Last March, Anwar scored a 10th round TKO over fellow prospect Nathan Graham to win the International Masters welterweight title, and in his most recent bout he stopped previously unbeaten Coventry hope James Flinn in eight rounds.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 5/2

Verdict - Favorite for a reason

Huddersfield's 22-year-old Tyrone Nurse [20-0, three KOs] could take some stopping in this weekend's Prizefighter. Standing an imposing 5'11", Nurse is a career light welterweight who lifted the British Masters title in 2010 with a 10 round decision over Ibrar Riyaz. Although on paper his record is the most impressive of Saturday's lineup, a closer inspection reveals a lack of quality opposition, and Nurse has faced only three fighters with winning records.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 4/1

Verdict - Lack of top-notch experience will prove costly

The dark horse of Saturday's Prizefighter could be Derbyshire's 27-year-old Dale Miles [12-0, nine KOs], a six-year veteran who has been hampered by spells of inactivity during his career. Miles has faced a good standard of opposition in his twelve pro bouts, and stopped the previously unbeaten Robb Kenney in seven rounds to lift the British Masters welterweight title in 2009. Last time out, Miles stopped experienced French-based Romanian Mihaita Mutu in six rounds, something that had only happened once before in Mutu's previous 47 fights.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 9/2

Verdict – my pick to win

The most high-profile boxer on Saturday has to be Liverpool's John Watson [13-2, five KOs] who twice boxed for the British lightweight title last 15 months. Watson won his first 13 consecutive fights, displaying sound boxing skills and utilizing his rangy 5'10" frame to its full advantage. He came unstuck against former world champion Gavin Rees in 2010, the Welshman winning the vacant British lightweight title on an 11th round TKO. In 2011, Watson was given a second crack at the British lightweight title, but this time was TKO'd in nine rounds by Anthony Crolla. If the extra seven pounds works in his favor, Watson will take some stopping on Saturday night.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 5/1

Verdict - should make the semi's at least

In terms of experience, Scotland's 31-year-old former British light welterweight champion Barry Morrison [19-5, eight KOs] takes some beating. As recently as 2010 Morrison went seven rounds with Northern Ireland's Paul McCloskey in a European light welterweight title fight. Morrison has only lost to quality fighters like Colin lines and Lenny Daws, and defeated Daws to win his British light welterweight title in 2007.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 8/1

Verdict – despite experience could fall at first hurdle

The real danger man in this weekends prizefighter lineup could by West Bromwich veteran Young Mutley [29-6, 14 KOs]. More accustomed to boxing at welterweight and light middleweight, Mutley is a former British welterweight champion, and has also boxed for the European light welterweight title. He has twice lost to current British welterweights champion Colin Lynes, the first time in a British and European light welterweight title fight in 2007, and most recently in the first edition of the light welterweight Prizefighter in 2009. Last time out, Mutley gave a good account of himself but was still outclassed by rising prospect Frankie Gavin in a bout for the vacant WBO Intercontinental welterweight title.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 12/1

Verdict – if Mutley is still hungry he could make the final

The oldest fighter in Saturday night lineup is Telford's 36-year-old Mark Lloyd [15-4, three KOs]. Now in his seventh year as a professional, Lloyd won his first 10 bouts before being outpointed by Adnar Amar for the English welterweight title in 2008. Later that year, Lloyd made the semifinals of the welterweight Prizefighter tournament. All four of Lloyd's defeats have come against top quality fighters, most recently when he lost a technical decision to Italian Luciano Abis for the EU [European Union] welterweight title last April.

Odds to win Prizefighter: 16/1

Verdict – could make the semi's

If ever a fighter needed a slice of the good fortune that winning a Prizefighter tournament brings it is local boy Dean Harrison. 27-year-old Harrison [16-6, five KOs] seems to have lost his way in the pro ranks after an excellent start. Harrison won his first 12 bouts before dropping a decision to Scott Hayward in a fight for the English light welterweight title in 2008. Harrison bounce back with two victories before facing Northern Ireland's Paul McCloskey in a British light welterweight title fights in 2009, and suffering a fourth-round TKO. Since then, Harrison has gone 2-4 and appears to be heading towards the journeyman's career. Last time out he dropped in decision to William Warburton, whose record stood at 4-23-2. Harrison desperately needs a good run in Saturday's prizefighter to resurrect his flagging career, and will be hoping that the Wolverhampton crowd get behind him.

Odds to win Prizefighter 20/1

Verdict – with the crowd behind him he could make the semi's

All odds provided by skyBET