Derry Mathews lines up London title defence

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 14 Aug 2007, 10:15

http://www.icliverpool.co.uk

DERRY MATHEWS will make the second defence of his world title in London on Saturday, October 13.

‘The Golden Boy’ was hoping to land another home defence but it seems promoter allegedly is holding him back in the run up to the opening of the ECHO Arena early next year.

Instead Derry will headline at London’s famous York Hall in Bethnal Green – but will face a hostile crowd after West Ham’s Matthew Marsh was today named as challenger.

The 25-year-old Londoner was an England international and double ABA champion before turning pro in 2004 – but has had a slow-burning paid career so far.

He’s undefeated in eight straight and has captured and defended the Southern Area featherweight title with two consecutive 10 rounders in the last six months.

Those decisions, twice outscoring fringe contender Rocky Dean, led to Marsh moving up the WBU rankings and in line for a crack at the title.

Derry, 23, said: “It’s strange to think that I will be headlining a show at York Hall, the home of British boxing. It’s exciting stuff.

“Fighting Matthew Marsh in his backyard is going to be great and ‘Dirty’ Derry is going to put on a show for all those Southerners.

“Marsh is a good kid with plenty of amateur experience backing up his pro career – but he’s going to be out of his depth with me and I am going to attack him from the first bell. Smash him up.”

Derry had originally been pencilled in for a defence in Widnes before the London switch, while he has also been left frustrated by a series of postponed fights over the past six months.

He revealed: “I have had three fights cancelled this year and it was driving me insane. For the first time ever I started to hate boxing.

“I would train for weeks and get my weight right down and then once again it would be like, ‘sorry, the fight’s off.’

“First I was on a show in Cardiff, then the Millennium Dome, then Widnes. It was doing my head in.

“It’s hard to do your road work at six am every morning when you don’t even have a date but hopefully everything will go right this time and Marsh will see it through.”

In his first defence in March, Mathews had to dig deep to come through against Scotland’s British champion John Simpson, in front of his home crowd at Liverpool Olympia.

But Derry is confident that travelling away from home will work in his favour this time around.

“Nothing beats fighting at home in front of all your friends and family, naturally, but it brings with it extra pressure to perform,” he added.

“That definitely worked against me in the Simpson fight, but I learned from it and will be a better fighter for it.

“This time I’ll go down to London and the pressure will be on Marsh as he’s the home fighter. It’ll allow me to produce a genuine world class performance – and that’s exactly what I plan to do.

“I want to prove I am the best featherweight in the country now and that all starts in London in six weeks time.”

Marsh was the 2001 ABA flyweight champion and returned to claim the bantamweight prize in 2004 – two years after Derry rolled the title.

He’s a tidy box-fighter with a big heart, but his lack of power could prove the difference against a recognised puncher like Mathews.

Derry added: “I’m going to book a couple of coaches for Liverpool fight fans to travel down there, and hope to take around 400 supporters with me.

“We’ll make it a big Scouser day out – and I promise to make sure the night starts with a bang.”

Tickets should be on sale in a few weeks.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 14 Aug 2007, 10:58

Marsh is a superbantam with 8 fights and no knockouts and fighting for a 'world' title. What a joke! Another low risk fight for one of SN's youngsters!

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 14 Aug 2007, 11:53

Farcical !

fatton · Post by **fatton** » 14 Aug 2007, 12:59

Nice to see Matthew's nicking De La Hoya's nickname as well. Bloody scousers, is there anything they won't nick.

Golden Boy seems a bit ambitous for Matthews based on the few occasions I've seen him. Not a bad fight for Marsh but it's just about British title fare really.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Aug 2007, 15:45

Lets hope he leaves the dirty tactics back in Liverpool - Not much of a challenge for Matthews who seems grateful to have any opponent right now - A match against a Southern area champion with no punch power doesnt seem all that promising for a main event at the York Hall but the lads amateur record is damn good though.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:00

Matthews v Simpson was an appalling spectacle. This might be better, Marsh will certainly be coming to win.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:15

fatton wrote:Nice to see Matthew's nicking De La Hoya's nickname as well. Bloody scousers, is there anything they won't nick.

Golden Boy seems a bit ambitous for Matthews based on the few occasions I've seen him. Not a bad fight for Marsh but it's just about British title fare really.

I think Matthews has the golden boy name because he's a Junior Olympic gold medalist as an amatuer and not because of DLH.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:22

Twisted Transistor wrote:
fatton wrote:Nice to see Matthew's nicking De La Hoya's nickname as well. Bloody scousers, is there anything they won't nick.

Golden Boy seems a bit ambitous for Matthews based on the few occasions I've seen him. Not a bad fight for Marsh but it's just about British title fare really.
I think Matthews has the golden boy name because he's a Junior Olympic gold medalist as an amatuer and not because of DLH.

Now entering the ring, Amir(Silver Boy)Khan

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:22

Kilburn wrote:Matthews v Simpson was an appalling spectacle. This might be better, Marsh will certainly be coming to win.

Do you think It was appaling because Simpson wasn't coming to win?

Other than the dirty tatcis from Derry I mean.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:23

WildWaylon wrote:
Twisted Transistor wrote:
fatton wrote:Nice to see Matthew's nicking De La Hoya's nickname as well. Bloody scousers, is there anything they won't nick.

Golden Boy seems a bit ambitous for Matthews based on the few occasions I've seen him. Not a bad fight for Marsh but it's just about British title fare really.
I think Matthews has the golden boy name because he's a Junior Olympic gold medalist as an amatuer and not because of DLH.
Now entering the ring, Amir(Silver Boy)Khan

Maybe Khan should call himself quicksilver like Virgil Hill.

He Is quick enough to warrant the nickname.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:34

Kilburn wrote:Matthews v Simpson was an appalling spectacle. This might be better, Marsh will certainly be coming to win.

Simpson came to win alright and Matthews came to win by fouling - It was an appalling spectacle I agree and I can see what you are saying, I think - Marsh will obviously want to win but I cant really see it happening - Great amateur record but not enough experiance in the pro ranks plus no finishing punch.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:40

Twisted Transistor wrote:
WildWaylon wrote:
Twisted Transistor wrote: I think Matthews has the golden boy name because he's a Junior Olympic gold medalist as an amatuer and not because of DLH.
Now entering the ring, Amir(Silver Boy)Khan
Maybe Khan should call himself quicksilver like Virgil Hill.

He Is quick enough to warrant the nickname.

Why dont you get yourself off down to the patents office while negotiating with Amir for a bit of his dosh.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 14 Aug 2007, 16:58

who's televising this one?

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:00

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Kilburn wrote:Matthews v Simpson was an appalling spectacle. This might be better, Marsh will certainly be coming to win.
Do you think It was appaling because Simpson wasn't coming to win?

Other than the dirty tatcis from Derry I mean.

I only mean that Marsh shouldn't be written off, he will be giving it everything he has.

Simpson is a real pro, although I'm sure Morris can't wait to get his hands on him and get revenge.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:07

Autobarn wrote:who's televising this one?

Probably Sentanta because ITV have turned Into Khan ball huggers.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:16

Thought Setanta only wanted the good stuff?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:22

Now who the fornicate is going to be happy paying for Setanta then possibly getting served up Matthews Vs a guy with 8 fights as a main event?

The resurgence we experienced in the UK scene and less of the farcical world/continental belts was good for a while but SN seem to be heading back in that direction. For a while there things were looking rosy. Aside from the top names in this country the scene is looking pretty bleak in terms of TV coverage.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:32

Autobarn wrote:Thought Setanta only wanted the good stuff?

Will Frank go without Tv I wonder then.

It would probably be better on the Khan Nottingham show then.

The resurgence we experienced in the UK scene and less of the farcical world/continental belts was good for a while but SN seem to be heading back in that direction. For a while there things were looking rosy. Aside from the top names in this country the scene is looking pretty bleak in terms of TV coverage.

Isn't their only 2 SN WBU champs now? Thats If Earl still has his Lightweight one. Not saying It's better but maybe Sn are using that trinket less.

sweetscience · Post by **sweetscience** » 14 Aug 2007, 17:58

didnt matthews used to call himself chico

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 15 Aug 2007, 03:39

sweetscience wrote:didnt matthews used to call himself chico

Probably only If he spat out his gumshield.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 15 Aug 2007, 05:18

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Thought Setanta only wanted the good stuff?
Will Frank go without Tv I wonder then.

It would probably be better on the Khan Nottingham show then.

The resurgence we experienced in the UK scene and less of the farcical world/continental belts was good for a while but SN seem to be heading back in that direction. For a while there things were looking rosy. Aside from the top names in this country the scene is looking pretty bleak in terms of TV coverage.
Isn't their only 2 SN WBU champs now? Thats If Earl still has his Lightweight one. Not saying It's better but maybe Sn are using that trinket less.

I tihnk so, but the intercontinental titles seem to have made a resurgence. There was a time when Warren first moved to ITV and Sky were only snapping up the best available fights that we were all commenting on how rosy everything was looking. Let's hope the alphabet business doesn't come back it could well do.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 15 Aug 2007, 05:20

Is Marsh less qualified than Femi Fehintola was?

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 15 Aug 2007, 06:47

Yes, because it was for the British title. Not a particularly strong match, but that's how it was labelled so fair enough.

This is being sold as a world title fight. Complete farce!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 15 Aug 2007, 06:54

Derry Matthews defends his low-rent WBU featherweight title against West Hammer Matthew Marsh in a clash of unbeaten fighters at York Hall on Saturday, October 13.
F rank Warren promotes.
"Dirty" Derry won the title with a dazzling decision over Salford's Stephen Foster last October in Manchester but found it much harder in his first defence against gritty Scot John Simpson in Liverpool in March and had to survive a knockdown, two deducted points and 12 of the bloodiest rounds in a British ring in recent memory.
There were also three highly generous judges.
Hometowner Matthews got home by unanimous scores of 118-112, 117-110 and 113-111 yet went down from a sweeping right in the first round (a 10-8 round) and really struggled up to the sixth, when the frisky, iron-jawed Simpson picked up a shocking cut on the scalp. The injury poured blood the remainder of the fight, but Matthews seemingly threw away his advantage - and a storming finish - with a catalogue of fouls, including one when he rubbed his forearm right across the open wound of his opponent. Referee Micky Vann took away those points and took the champion to the brink of disqualification, so how Matthews won by such scores is beyond me!
Call it the WBU.
Said the feisty champion, who moved to 18-0: “Nothing beats fighting at home in front of all your friends and family but it brings with it extra pressure to perform. That definitely worked against me."
He will hope for something easier in October and should get it against gutsy Marsh, a 25-year-old former double ABA champion and England international who came close to quitting the sport a couple of years back but lifted himself to 8-0 outscoring seasoned Rocky Dean in a 10-rounder at the 02 last month, his second win over Dean.
"There was a time when I just couldn't cope with working as an air conditioning fitter and boxing as well," explained father-of-one Marsh. "I was starting work at around 7.30 in the morning, doing a full day's labour, and then going to the gym in the evening. It was simply too much.
"But since I've got sponsors on board, I've fallen in love with the sport again. I'm raring to go." His first fight with Dean was one of the best of 2006. The pair went toe-to-toe for the Southern Area featherweight title at the ExCel in December, before Marsh walked away with a 97-95 decision. He looks an exciting prospect, a well-schooled box-fighter with aggression and workrate. Trained by Johnny Eames, he gets great sparring with former British bantamweight champion Power, a rangy fighter like Matthews.
And he's in his own East London manor.
But he's a small featherweight, and not a banger (no early wins), and given Matthews is huge for the weight and looked a bit chinny against Simpson, you can see how Marsh looks up against it. Matthews got past the reigning British champ in his last fight and now faces a non-puncher lacking in size and experience (just eight fights, to remind you). Marsh also busts up.
The challenger's amateur pedigree - Marsh also fought in the 2002 Commonwealth Games - and home advantage will make it competitive for a while, but let's not kid ourselves, Matthews simply looks too big and strong and battle-hardened to lose this one.

fatton · Post by **fatton** » 15 Aug 2007, 08:43

bennie wrote:"Dirty" Derry won the title with a dazzling decision.......

Has a far better ring to it than Golden Boy. Wonder if after he's hung up the gloves Matthews will start up "Dirty Derry Promotions".