Skip to main content

I’m more liked in Scotland than Scott Harrison is – Derry Mathews

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
British champion up for Scottish clash

Derry Mathews is known for loving a good war and has the makings of one on his hands this weekend against Gavin Rees. The Scouser is then open to a highland battle with another former world champion in Scott Harrison after witnessing his return last week in Glasgow.

The current Lonsdale belt holder is attempting to take Welshman Rees’ European title at the weekend and is then willing to put it on the line against ‘The Real McCoy’ north of the border on his home soil.

“I thought he was in terrific shape for someone who had been out the game seven years,” Mathews told World Boxing News.

“I thought he looked well, although opponent was poor standards.”

Mathews added: “I'd be more than willing to fight Harrison up in Scotland. I love hard fights and the people of Scotland have been brilliant to me so I would love to pay them back with a great fight up there.

“It's like my second home and I'd say am liked more than Harrison is up there,” he joked.

Mathews, 28, stunned Anthony Crolla last time out with an impressive fifth round stoppage win and there is no doubt that the Mancunian will be hoping to get a rematch with ‘Dirty’ Derry, win or lose in Sheffield.

The Harrison fight would stir a lot of interest though as fight fans who are pleased to see the former WBO featherweight champion back in the ring following his personal troubles want to see what he has left and Mathews would certainly give an indication of that if they met.

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...

The Ring Magazine P4P Top 10 compared to WBN's P4P Top 10

World Boxing News pound for pound Top 10 (25/11/2011) 1. Manny Pacquaio (53-3-2) WBO Welterweight champion and WBC light-middleweight champion 2. Nonito Donaire (26-1) WBC and WBO bantamweight champion 3. Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0) 4. Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2) WBC and IBO light-heavyweight champion 5. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1) WBA and WBO lightweight champion 6. Miguel Cotto (36-2-0) WBA "Super" light-middleweight champion 7. Sergio Martinez (47-2-2) 8. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3-0) WBO and IBF heavyweight champion 9. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (80-3-1) WBC flyweight champion 10. Chris John (44-0-2) WBA “super” world featherweight champion Do you agree or disagree? Have your say on the WBN Facebook wall at  http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Boxing-News/134654593225151

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...