DERRY TWEETS HIS WAY TO EURO TITLE SHOT

DERRY Mathews aims to get back on top of British boxing next month after landing a shot at the European lightweight title, courtesy of Twitter!

 The former WBU world champion has bagged a crack at Wales' Gavin Rees in Cardiff on July 23rd thanks to an enquiry he made on the popular social networking site.

 Mathews was due to face city rival Stephen Jennings in an English title assignment the week after, with tickets for the Greenbank Sports Centre already having sold out.

 Yet after seeing a post from promoter Eddie Hearn online, he threw his name into the frame to face the Welshman.

 Derry revealed to Mersey Gloves: "I follow Eddie on Twitter and seen a post saying he was travelling to Wales to fix up a title defence for Gavin Rees to go live on Sky, so I just messaged him and offered my services as an opponent. Next thing you know he was on the phone.

 "It's an exciting fight, two former world champions, and it's a fight I've worked hard to get too. Like Gavin I've tasted defeat, but I've proved that there is plenty of fight left in me yet and rebuilt my career.

"Winning this European title will get me back where I was once, in fact it will get me higher, and I can't wait to fight Rees in his home town.

 "I'll take a few coaches down there and we'll bring that belt back to Liverpool for sure."

 

 

 

 Mathews also revealed one of the first people he contacted was Jennings.

 "I contacted Jenko right away and told him our fight was off," Derry adds. "Naturally he was a bit disappointed but he totally understands that you just can't pass opportunities by - plus he'll still fight for the English title, they'll just get him another opponent.

 "It's funny, I've know Jenko for a long time and we were both getting into fight mode and starting to have a little pop at one another. But we had a laugh about it when we spoke and, who knows, perhaps one day we'll get that fight on. The fans certainly wanted to see it if the ticket sales are anything to go by."

 For now though only one man is in Derry's mindset, Gavin Rees.

 "He's a veteran pro and very, very strong and so I certainly wont underestimate him," adds the now 28-5-1 former champion. "But I feel like this is destiny for me. I've worked so hard and been so low after suffering a string of defeats but now I am back and, believe me, Derry Mathews mark two is ten times better than the original."

* For ticketing information visit Derry's Twitter or Facebook page.

Bellew: I'll make McKenzie pay for drugs slur

TONY Bellew has warned rival Ovill McKenzie that he will punish him for his recent drugs slur when the pair meet in an eagerly awaited rematch on Saturday, July 16th.

 The British and Commonwealth titles will be on the line at the Echo Arena, when the two domestic light-heavyweight rivales will act as chief support to Ricky Burns' WBO world super-featherweight title fight against Nicky Cook.

 And it's the rematch between Bellew-McKenzie which has got Merseyside fight fans excited and looks destined to steal all the thunder from the main event as the increased tension builds daily.

 Last week Derby destroyer McKenzie marred the match-up by landing a low blow and accusing Bellew of being on drugs. The challenger made the allegation after seeing the popular Scouse 'Bomber' twice climb off the floor in their thrilling first fight to secure victory.

 But Bellew, speaking to a busy press pack at his base at Lambeth Road gym in Kirkdale earlier today, insists he will come to regret his insolence.

 "I've never heard anything so daft," said the unbeaten knockout artist. "But as well as being ridiculous it was massively offensive as well.

 "Every time I hit McKenzie on July 16, I will be saying to him 'The drugs don't work'. This fight is going to be like when Muhammad Ali kept saying ‘Whats’my name’ to Ernie Terrell

 "Every time I land a punch I'll be asking him 'Am I on drugs?' He'll regret ever making such a stupid statement by the time I've dealt with him.

 "I even contemplated coming out to the classic Verve song ‘The drugs don’t work’, but I’ve stuck with my regular Z-Cars track.

 "I'll definitely be shouting it at him when I've knocked him out for the second time. I've never done drugs and never will, and everyone who knows me can testify to that."

* Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or http://www.echoarena.com/

 

 

COOK PLANS EAST END REVIVAL ON MERSEYSIDE

NICKY COOK has warned English rival Ricky Burns he'll be on the wrong end of a Cockney revival on July 16th. The pair meet for the Scotsman's WBO super-featherweight world title at the Echo Arena.
 Cook says he'll be bringing the world title back to east London - and Mitchell will win his big fight against John Murray.
 A week earlier, Cook's former gym-mate Mitchell will attempt to reignite his career with a win against John Murray at the Excel in London. And Cookie is promising a spectacular against-the-odds double for the east end.
 "I'm concentrating on my world title fight against Burns and I'm sure Mitchell will do the job against Murray," said Cook. "I fancy Kevin's chances, and there is only one winner in my fight with Burns as far as I'm concerned.
 "This is my opportunity to set the record straight after my loss to Roman Martinez. I'm hungry at the moment, and a hungry fighter is a dangerous fighter. But I'll be going into my fight against Burns on a real high, whatever happens with Mitchell-Murray. I've not felt this good in training in a long, long time.
 "My camp in Tenerife so far has been great, and I think the next couple of weeks will be even better as I fine tune my preparations. I've been written off a few times since that Martinez loss, but if Ricky Burns underestimates me he is in for a massive shock because I'm going to Liverpool to knock him out."
 Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
Ricky Burns vs. Nicky Cook
THE COMMONWEALTH AND VACANT BRITISH LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Bellew vs. Ovill McKenzie
THE WBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Frankie Gavin vs. Curtis Woodhouse
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011
THE LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA
***LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1HD***

BELLEW VOWS TO KO McKENZIE FOR DRUG SLUR

Furious Tony Bellew has vowed to take revenge against Ovill McKenzie after he claimed he was on drugs.
 The pair meet on Saturday, July 16th at Liverpool's Echo Arena, with the Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight titles on the line, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
 It's a repeat of their thriller last December when Bellew twice climbed off the canvas to stop McKenzie late on in one of the fights of the year.
 At a heated press conference on Monday, McKenzie queried Bellew's powers of recovery in that fight.
 And he controversially suggested that the Liverpool hero could have been on drugs.
 But Bellew has rubbished the claim and has promised to ram McKenzie's insults back down his throat when they meet in his home city,"
 "Does he not remember that we were both tested before the fight?" asked Bellew. "He is a small minded clown and he's bringing our sport down with such stupid accusations. I'll ram these disgusting accusations down his throat come July 16th!"
 Bomber added: "He is completely insane. I took his best shots because I am always in fantastic shape. I'm the cleanest athlete in the sport. I've got great stamina and a great chin because I put in so many hard hours in the gym.
 "Claiming I'm on drugs is a huge insult and it has made me so fired up for our fight on July 16th. I'm going to come out swinging and hit McKenzie so hard he'll be the one who is high afterwards!"
Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com

THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
Ricky Burns vs. Nicky Cook
THE COMMONWEALTH AND VACANT BRITISH LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Bellew vs. Ovill McKenzie
THE WBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Frankie Gavin vs. Curtis Woodhouse
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011
THE LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA
***LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1HD***

BELLEW vs McKENZIE: HEAD-TO-HEAD ON MONDAY

Liverpool's Tony Bellew and domestic rival Ovill McKenzie will meet head-to-head on Monday to discuss their forthcoming rematch at the Echo Arena on Saturday 16th July.

Commonwealth light-heavyweight Champion Bellew and McKenzie fought one of the fights of the year last year with their up-and-down thriller and now they are set to do it again - with twice as much fireworks!

This time the British title will also be on the line after Bellew's bitter rival Nathan Cleverly vacated it.

All media are invited to attend and there are one-on-one interview and photo opportunities:

Monday 13th June
Hilton Liverpool - Grace Suite
3 Thomas Steers Way
Liverpool, L1 8LW
Time: 11.30am for a 12noon start