BoxRec

DERRY MATHEWS’ highly anticipated homecoming world title defence has been moved back to Saturday, April 12.

Liverpool’s WBU world featherweight champion had originally hoped to be the first sportsman to headline at the new ECHO Arena on Saturday, February 2.

However, that Sports Network bill - which also includes Amir Khan - has been switched to London’s ExCel Arena on the same date.

Mathews and fellow city favourites Paul Smith and Tony Bellew are all still likely to feature in the capital but all with one eye fixed on the new Liverpool date, which will be screened live on Setanta Sports.

Mathews, now 19-0 as a pro, says: “Of course I am a little disappointed as nobody was more excited than me about the ECHO Arena show, but as long as it’s happening that’s all that matters.

“Ever since the building work began on the new arena I, like every Liverpool fighter, have been dreaming about the day I box in there and everybody who knows me knows how much I want to be the first Scouser to headline a boxing show at the Docks.

“The new date in April is the weekend after the Grand National Festival too so that’s going to be a terrific fortnight for the city’s sports fans.”

Mathews, who made two successful title defences last year and was crowned the British Boxing Writers Young Boxer of the Year in 2007, is hoping the next 12 months can be even more profitable.

“Last year was great for me, but I hope 2008 can be even better,” adds the 23-year-old.

“I only boxed twice in 2007 and even though they were both title defences I’d like to be a lot busier.

“I’d like to make three or four title defences this year and really get something going at the new arena.

“Liverpool is packed with good, talented, young fighters but we’ve been held back for years without a decent venue.

“But now we have one and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

“I’ve also really moved up the rankings with the other world title governing bodies too, especially the WBO, so maybe there is a chance at a second world title one day soon as well.”

Mathews is likely to feature in a non-title bout in London before making the third defence of his featherweight belt here in April.

However, 22-0 Smith will definitely be in championship action at the ExCel as he tackles Coventry’s Steve Bendall in a long-overdue English middleweight title clash.

Southpaw Bendall may be 34 but he boasts a dangerous 28-3 pro record and his hat-trick of defeats have come against quality opposition.

whicker wrote:You gotta remember that this is a press release, froma Daily Paper, so it is all about publicity, build up etc and hype. To the "average Joe" reading it, they will be impressed by the term "World Title Fight " clueless of the fact that WBU isn't a major title.

TerribleTerry wrote:

whicker wrote:You gotta remember that this is a press release, froma Daily Paper, so it is all about publicity, build up etc and hype. To the "average Joe" reading it, they will be impressed by the term "World Title Fight " clueless of the fact that WBU isn't a major title.

I realise that its essentially a hype piece but it still pi55es me off to be honest.