Moncriffe - File

Can Miguel "Iron Dog" Raye fight like he can talk? That is the question being asked since last Wednesday, and boxing fans will get the answer tonight at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium, when Raye clashes with one of the top-seeded boxers in the Wray and Nephew Contender 2013 series, Devon Moncriffe, in the feature event. The action starts at 8.30 with two amateur bouts and the main event will be at 9.30 and will be broadcast on TVJ.

This is the final week of the preliminary round of the competition that has seen every fight end inside the distance. Sixteen boxers started the competition in March and the number has come down to nine.

limited experience

Tonight's encounter has attracted a lot of attention because Raye, despite his limited boxing experience and attributes, talks a big game. The more subdued Moncriffe takes previous Contender experience and a 5-2 record with three knockout victories into the ring tonight, and amid all the talk that has been swirling around him, his simple words have been, "I am coming to fight. We shall see."

He starts the overwhelming favourite to win tonight but the word from Raye's camp is that Moncriffe had better come prepared for action. Moncriffe, who bowed out of the 2011 competition in the semi-finals, says that he is going all the way this time, and will be taking home the $1 million first prize. The runner-up will receive $500,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000, in the competition that is promoted by MJK Productions with the approval of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control and is being sponsored by Wray and Nephew, Foska Oats and TVJ.

After tonight's bout, four of the eight boxers remaining will be seeded, and they will select their opponents and the order in which they will fight again from a blind draw.