Skip to main content

Mathews talks Rees KO, head clashes and Burns v Mitchell winner

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘Dirty’ Derry ready for second helping of Welshman

British lightweight champion Derry Mathews is gearing up for 'take two' with former world champion Gavin Rees at Sheffield's Motorpoint Arena after their first meeting a year ago ended prematurely.

Mathews, 28, suffered an horrific broken nose from a head clash with the shorter Rees, stopping the fight in the fourth round as a technical draw, and will be weary of a repeat from ‘The Rock’ when he attempts to claim the Welshman’s European title on Saturday night.

“To be honest, I think the head clash was an accident but I have seen some of his fights and he uses the head a lot, but that's down to the style he has,” Mathews told World Boxing News.

“I learned how good Gavin was with his jab, so that has been something I have worked on in the gym with Danny (Vaughan, trainer).

“I am expecting a hard fight, but have prepared properly and everything has gone good. I am ready for a war and I know that if I perform to my best, I can win inside the distance.”

The Scouser could be in line for a huge WBO title challenge against the victor of the recently announced match-up between Ricky Burns and Kevin Mitchell and Mathews admits that he would be interested in facing whoever comes out on top in September.

“I'd love the winner of burns and Mitchell. I am in this game to fight the best and I have never ducked anyone or picked an easy fight. I love testing myself and to fight for a world title again would be a great test,” added the Lonsdale belt holder.

Gavin Rees v Derry Mathews is live on Sky Sports 1 this Saturday from 8pm as part of the Kell Brook v Carson Jones 'Edge of Glory' bill.

Labels:

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...
Read more

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
Read more

Derry Mathews willing to offer Scott Harrison title shot

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor British champion open to fight with former WBO title holder According to Scott Harrison’s manager Alex Morrison, the Scot has been offered the chance to fight British champion Derry Mathews later in the year. The possbile fight hinges on whether Mathews can come through a rematch with Gavin Rees next month at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield. Morrison is looking to fast-track his fighter to a world title shot in 2013 and sees the Lonsdale belt as an ideal stepping stone for Harrison as he makes his comeback from a seven-year absence. The 34 year-old fights Brahim Bariz in his first fight since 2005 at the end of the month at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow and wants to move as quickly as possible on to a potential shot at a world champion. Harrison held the WBO featherweight title on two occasions in the past and now campaigns at lightweight.
Read more