MATHEWS-JENNINGS FIGHT REPORT - BY ELLIOT FOSTER JNR

Derry Mathews lands a right to the body of Stephen Jennings

By Elliot Foster Jnr at Greenbank Leisure Centre

Derry Mathews is the new British Masters lightweight champion and firmly on track for a European title fight next after halting Merseyside rival Stephen Jennings in six rounds on Saturday night.
 However, enormous credit must also go to Jennings, who enhanced his career with his brave challenge.The former Junior ABA champion was victorious in defeat after going into such a high-profile fight so early in his professional career - this was just his seventh paid contest - but he found himself in at the deep end against the resurgent former world champion.
 The city was divided going into the contect, although fans from both corners, while being vocal and loyal, where extremely well behaved at Greenbank Leisure Centre.  As the two walked from their dressing rooms the small hall atmosphere was electric.
 Both boxers weighed in at 9st 8 1/2 lbs, half-a-pound under the 9st 9lb lightweight limit.
  In round one it was a punch-trading round, with both boxers measuring one another up and hitting meaningful punches as warning shots as what was to come in the latter rounds of the fight. Jenko swiped Derry with a left hook in the opening seconds, which set the tempo for the whole night.
 In round two, Mathews started to take control, but Jennings put up a good fight and matched Derry stride for stride and blow for blow.
 The third was a slightly quieter round than the previous two, with Mathews looking to be too much for Jennings; fighting a strong fight with good combinations to the face and body. He looked the more relaxed of the two Liverpool lads and that was showing in the ring.
 At the start of round four, Jennings was looking tired but still had the energy to give Derry a sweet right to the body, because of fatigue he was grappling for a time and was knocked to the canves from a clubbing right hook. Referee Steve Gray started the 10 count right on the bell to end the round. When he got to eight the brave Kirkby fighter vowed to fight on. Another big round for Derry, who had a point deducted for a punch to the back of Jenko's head.
  In round five, brave Jennings amazingly battled back and had Mathews on the ropes and gave him a one-two combination to the face. But the Salford-trained Scouser came back and knocked Jennings down for the eight-second count once more. Again Jennings vowed to fight on. Derry was then warned about the blows to the back of Jenko's head once more.
 Going into round six, Jennings, who had been taking strong instructions from a concerned Tony Quigley Snr in between the rounds, was simply looking to hang on. It was brave move and while he started well once more he still looked shaken. The man from Kirkby then should have had a point deducted himself for a blow to the back of Derry's head, but referee Gray soon had more pressing concerns as Mathews finished the fight by landing a drilling combo to the face. With ten seconds remaining, the refree waved the fight off just as the towel came flying in from the Jennings corner.