Prizefighter Heavyweights IV contender Danny Hughes has laughed off his claim that had he not been a boxer he would have been a porn star!

The Sunderland fighter takes on Michael Sprott in the final quarter-final of the sold-out show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday night live on Sky Sports from 8pm, but all the talk at Friday’s weigh-in in London was around his interview with Boxing News, where he suggested a possible alternative to a boxing career.

“The guy from Boxing News asked me ‘what would be your dream job outside of boxing?’ At first I said ‘boxing trainer’ but then he said well that’s not really outside of boxing is it,” said Hughes. “So then he asked well if you look at something and think ‘I’d love to do that’ what would it be, and I said ‘well, Porn Star is the obvious choice, I’d love to do it, but I don’t think the girlfriend would approve!

“I didn’t think he’d put it in but he did – thankfully my girlfriend understands my daft sense of humour so I got away with it though! It’s a hard job but definitely not harder than boxing that’s for sure.”

When asked whether he’d rather win on Saturday or make his debut in the adult film industry, the cheeky 24 year-old said: “win Prizefighter then do a porn film!”

Hughes has fought in Barry Hearn’s eight-man, one night tournament before, when he recorded the quickest knockout in Prizefighter history, dismissing Neil Perkins after just 45 seconds of their fight before losing to eventual winner Audley Harrison in the semi-finals. Harrison floored Hughes in the fight but he bounced back up to take him the full three rounds and the Sunderland man reckons that experience could be the edge as he has a second crack at the £32,000 first prize.

“I’m very confident for Prizefighter, I can’t wait to get into but I’m relaxed too – I’ve been here before so I know what to do,” said Hughes. “Tactics are important and I think the best tactic on the night is to aim to win the first round because then the other guy is playing catch up.”

The winner of the Sprott/Hughes clash will face either unbeaten Irishman Declan Timlin or Nottingham’s Shane McPhilbin in the second semi-final. Before then, we will know the line-up for the first semi, as pre-tournament favourite Matt Skelton kicks off proceedings against Ali Adams for the right to face either Kevin McBride or Franklin Egobi, who meet in the second bout of the night.

PRIZEFIGHTER HEAVYWEIGHTS IV DRAW (with weights)

Matt Skelton (17st 11lb) v Ali Adams (16st 10lb)

Kevin McBride (20st 7lb) v Franklin Egobi (18st 5lb)

Declan Timlin (15st 13lb) v Shane McPhilbin (15st 10lb)

Michael Sprott (17st 4lb) v Danny Hughes (19st 8lb)