Derry Matthews vs. Choi Tseveenpurev
Derry Mathews 125 lbs lost to Choi Tseveenpurev 125 lbs by KO at 3:00 in round 5 of 12
- Date: 2008-04-05
- Location: Bolton Arena, Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom
- Referee: Dave Parris
- Judge: Mickey Vann
- Judge: Reg Thompson
- Judge: Karl Rogers
Matthews floored 3 times in round 3 by overhand right connects by Choi Tseveenpurev. Matthews floored again 2 times left hand body shots in round 5. Derry Matthews was knocked to the canvas a total of 5 times in 5 rounds to lose his WBU Featherweight Title.
Derry Mathews went on the floor five times before finally being separated from his WBU featherweight crown by Choi Tseveenpurev at the Bolton Arena.
In what was a huge shock, Mathews succumbed to body shots in the fifth round against the unorthodox Mongolian - but was well on his way to defeat.
He went on the floor twice in that session, referee Dave Parris counting him out after the bell for the end of the round had gone.
Mathews was in agony by that stage, and was still wincing long after the result had been officially announced.
There were also tears in his eyes as what should have been a glittering future disintegrated before his eyes.
Although the WBF champion with a 26-4 record, at 36 Choi had probably seen better days but in what was his third defence of the WBU title, Mathews found Choi's awkward style hard to deal with, and struggled to settle into any kind of rhythm.
After a scrappy couple of rounds in which both boxers were on the floor from fouls or grappling, Choi took a decisive grip on the fight in a compelling third round.
Unable to miss Mathews with his right hand, he nailed him half way through the round with a sickening shot which left the champion face down on the canvas.
Mathews remarkably got to his feet, but was chopped down with another right hand within seconds.
It seemed that the storm was clearing as he fought back, but by the end of the round he was down again.
For Mathews, the fourth was better - Choi's massive assault in the third seemed to have taken something out of him.
Things appeared to be going his way in the fifth as well, before Choi began landing to the body, and Mathews had no answer.
Last year's Young Boxer of the Year, Mathews, now 20-1 (10), will now have to regroup, but it will be a long way back after this defeat.