DERRY TALKS BURNS AND UNIFYING TITLES

By Elliot Foster Jnr

Derry Mathews has admitted a world title unification showdown with Scotland’s Ricky Burns could well be on the agenda if all goes to plan this weekend – and he makes history by becoming the first Scouser to win world titles in two different weight divisions.

Mathews tackles unbeaten Italian Emiliano Marsili for the vacant IBO lightweight world belt on Friday night, in front of a hometown crowd at Liverpool’s Olympia theatre. And the former WBU featherweight ruler is also quick to praise those that have helped him get his career back in track.

The 28-year-old realises he still has it all to do against the imported southpaw, who boasts a lethal 23-0-1 record, yet he can't resist looking into the future after what he described as a ‘perfect’ fight camp.

“Ricky Burns has been mentioned, but not quite yet because he has a fight in March too,” offered Derry, when asked about what could be next if he manages to become the first man in 24 starts to defeat the Italian. “As you know, I’d never pull out of a fight. I’ve never ducked anybody; I’ve always taken the hard route. All the work that I’ve had to do has helped me in my return and where I am now. If a fight like that is offered to me, I’ll be the first to snap it up.”

Derry Mathews is in great spirits ahead of his IBO world title chance this weekend

He added: “I have a fantastic team behind me. On my return from retirement, I sorted out a mind coach in Brian McReady, somebody to fix my mind back on to boxing. I also have – in my opinion – the best coach in the world in Oliver Harrison and a great promoter in Steven Vaughan, and I just hope I can continue in the future the success that I’ve enjoyed most since making these changes.”

Never one to upset his fans or family inside the ring, Mathews is the same outside of it also, and as has almost become custom he also offers some reward for the coaches he’s left behind. “I left George and Danny Vaughan, as everyone knows, which was a hard decision for me to make because they were like a father and a brother to me. “But that decision, and my decision to take a break from the sport has all helped towards my return and moved me to where I am now.

“I’m in a better place now both inside and outside the ring, and on Friday night I get my reward for that hard work and the changes I put in place. I don’t intend on wasting all that effort when the bell rings.”

With Joe Selkirk and Paul Butler also now added to the exciting fight card, that was already packed out with plenty of talent raised on the Banks of the Mersey, Friday night’s show looks likely to be a raucous occasion.  

The action will also be screened live on TV courtesy of BoxNation, to which Derry acknowledged: “I’m delighted with it. It’s great for the added exposure of the small hall shows. I’m also delighted that Vaughan Boxing stuck to their word and I’ve stood by and believed in them from day one.

“Fighting on a Frank Warren show brings extra pressure. Added pressure than if it was any other promoter, as he is one of the very best in the world.”

* Tickets for Friday’s world title card are still available from the Olympia box office on 0151 2636633.

CHRIS KELLY LOOKING FORWARD TO PRO DEBUT

By Elliot Foster Jnr

Chris Kelly is living the dream right now. The former amateur talent makes his professional debut this weekend on the undercard of a champion he looks up to more than anyone else.

Top of the bill Derry Mathews aims to make history by becoming the first Scouser to win two world title belts, when he faces unbeaten Italian southpaw Emiliano Marsili for the vacant IBO lightweight title at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday night.

And Kelly, 23, who makes his first paid start in the light-welterweight division against the 32-year-old London journeyman Johnny Greaves, admits that debuting on Mathews’ undercard is like a dream come true.

As an amateur, Kelly had over 50 bouts, firstly in the vest of St Theresa’s ABC before switching to Kirkdale, yet he has always had a strong friendship with Mathews, who was himself a stand-out amateur star and former ABA champion.

“I look up to Derry a lot, like so many other fighters, and it will be great to debut on his undercard,” says the 23-year-old. “My training has gone really well, I’m in the gym at the moment keeping myself going and I can’t wait to get in the ring.

“I wasn’t very nervous last week as it still seemed so far away, but as the fight gets closer, I’m becoming more and more nervous. I am just hoping that once that first bell rings, all that will go away and will be able to get the job done.”

The fight also coincides with a switch of camps too. Kelly is keen to make the most out of all opportunities available and while securing this matchup he also revealed that a switch to Oliver’s Gym in Salford, where he will be able to work alongside Mathews daily, is on the cards.

Currently fighting out of the Vaughan camp, Kelly said: “Oliver Harrison is a master tactician and he’s also one of the best at training fighters at the weight I’m going to be boxing at. I know a lot of the lads up there already and I can’t wait to get started.”

Tickets for Friday’s world title card are still available from the Olympia box office on 0151 2636633.

PRICE vs McDERMOTT: OFFICIALS CONFIRMED

The officials for this weekend’s British heavyweight title final eliminator between Liverpool's David Price and John McDermott have been confirmed, with the third man in the ring Howard Foster from Doncaster in Yorkshire. 

The three scoring judges, if required, are Phil Edward from Preston in Lancashire, Steve Gray from Fleetwood, Lancashire and finally Dave Parris from Tottenham in London.

Both camps are happy with the officials and are now looking forward to fighting on Saturday night (21st Jan) which headlines the '3rd Time Lucky' card at the Liverpool Olympia.

For the record, the steward in charge is Jeoff Boulter and both camps will not have to worry about a man in a blue suite with a funny hat popping up.

The winner will be next in line to challenge current British and Commonwealth champion Tyson Fury later in the year.

3rd Time Lucky is live on Sky Sport HD1 starting at 8pm and tickets are still available via www.frankmaloney.com.

DERRY'S WORLD TITLE FIGHT ON BOXNATION

Derry Mathews' IBO world lightweight title fight at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday 20th January, when he challenges Emiliano Marsili for the vacant belt, will be live on BoxNation.

The show will now be jointly promoted by Frank Warren and Stephen Vaughan Jnr, resulting with the card being televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456, Virgin Ch. 546).

 

Derry, the former WBU featherweight champion, was last in action in October when he challenged European lightweight champion Gavin Rees for his title, but the contest was ruled a technical draw after four rounds when a clash of heads left Mathews with a badly broken nose.

 

The 28-year-old had a good run this year before Rees, winning the IBO International title against Scott Lawton; the English title with a first round stoppage of Amir Unsworth and halting Stephen Jennings in the sixth round to claim the British Masters title.

 

Lazio born Marsili, ranked ninth in Europe, is the current Italian champion and is unbeaten in 24 fights, but this will be his first fight outside of his country.

 

"It's great to be the main event in my home city for this title opportunity and I'm going to win it in front of my fans,"  says Derry. "The fight will be live on the new UK fight channel BoxNation that has already televised some great fights this and I'm looking to put on a good show for the viewers against Marsili.

 

"I'm not expecting an easy night, he's unbeaten, he's away from home so all the pressure will be on me to perform, but I'll rise to the occasion."

 

Vaughan said: "It's set to be a cracking show featuring some of Liverpool's best up-and-coming talent and headlined by Liverpool's favourite son Derry Matthews. He's got a tough fight on his hands, but we've worked hard to get Marsili over here and now it's down to Derry to win the title on his patch."

 

Frank Warren added: "Mathews v Marsili is another good fight added to January's schedule that also features the British Cruiserweight title between Leon Williams and Tony Conquest with more fights to be announced."

 

Tickets are on sale now from the Olmpia box office on 0151 263 6633.

DERRY CALLS ON OLYMPIAN STALKER

By Elliot Foster, junior reporter

Beatles fan Derry Mathews is hoping for a 'little help from his friends' as he prepares for his IBO lightweight world title fight with unbeaten Italian Emiliano Marsili in January.

I caught up with Derry at Oliver's Gym in Salford on Friday and he admitted his preparations for the January 20th fight are "going superb." But he also revealed his sparring will step up a level after Christmas when he invites friend, Great Britain Olympian and 2012 medal hope, 27-year-old Tom Stalker to join his camp.

Derry said: "My preparation's been fantastic. I've been in training with Oliver [Harrison] already for around seven weeks. Training is going well and you only have to look at who I'm training alongside - Martin Murray , who come next week will be the new world champion. I'm also with the likes of Tony Dodson, Joe Tonks, Rocky Fielding and Karl Skeggs - we're just the Liverpool lads that come up to Manchester every day. At the moment the gym's buzzing and we're all bouncing off each other.

"But I need world class sparring too, to prepare me for such a tough unbtean opponent, and hopefully that's where Tom comes in. He's my first choice for sparring partner for this fight and I hope he's able to make it happen. I'm up against a tough opponent and I'm feeling capable of going out there and doing the job on my own turf, in front of my own fans."

Stalker will captain the Great Britain boxing team into the ring when the Games returns to London next summer. Like Mathews, a product of the renowned Salisbury ABC, the Huyton southpaw will be one of the nation's strongest medal hopes when the bells rings in the capital.

Tickets for the January 20th IBO lightweight title fight between Derry Mathews and Emiliano Marsili, which also includes an undercard packed with homegrown Scouse talent and 34-year-old American veteran Steve Forbes, are available from the Liverpool Olympia box office on 0151 2636633.

NEW OPPONENT FOR DERRY!

Derry Mathews' vacant IBO world title challenge on January 20th has been given a new look after a switch of opponent.

The former WBU champion will now meet Italian lightweight champion Emiliano Marsili at the Liverpool Olympia, after Russian star Alisher Rahimov was pulled from the bill. However, things certainly don't get any easier for the former 'Golden Boy' as Marsili also boasts an unbeaten professional record.

The veteran Italian is also a southpaw, while his 24-fight run is spread over an eight-year career and he will arrive on Merseyside riding on the back of a first round knockout in July. However, that was the man from Lazio's only outing of 2011, and his trip to Liverpool will also be the first fight he has ever had not on home soil.

Promoter Stephen Vaughan Jnr made the announcement via Twitter today, with former champ Mathews adding: "I'm gutted over Rahimov pulling out but now fighting unbeaten Italian."

The Olympia undercard features a wealth of Scouse talent, including John Watson, Nathan Brough, Steve Harkin, Joe Tonks, Andy Colquhoun and the pro debut of Chris Kelly.

Plus, former world champion Stevie Forbes is also mooted to be fighting on the card, in a fight that promoters hope will tee up a blockbuster showdown with Derry later in the New Year.

Tickets are available from the Olympia box office.

Fans ask for 'Swifty' Smith title chance after Groves pulls out!

Merseyside fight fans are urging promoter Frank Warren to put Stephen Smith back into championship action at the Liverpool Echo Arena on December 9th after the card was hit by the withdrawal of the headline fight.

British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves has had to withdraw from the Friday night card due of a hand injury, leaving Olympian James DeGale's latest interim title defence as the main event.

Despite Warren remaining tight-lipped about a second title fight being added to the card earlier today, he is thought to be working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the event is bolstered by a second title match-up.

In today's statement, he said: "It's disappointing for everyone concerned, but George can't fight if his hand is injured and if he did go ahead and put in a sub-par performance we don't want to make excuses. He'll have a good rest and treatment and I'll look to get him back out early next year which will be a big one for him. It's still a cracking show with James DeGale now headlining and our best talent from Liverpool all in action including Stephen and Liam Smith, Joe Selkirk and Paul Butler. Unbeaten prospects Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Johnson are also on the card along with the pro-debut of Damon Jones."

Smith lost his unbeaten record and British featherweight title in September, when Lee Selby came to Merseyside and caught the former amateur star cold, forcing a shocking eighth round stoppage. Yet 'Swifty' has been eager to set things right sooner rather than later.

The card is already suffering after being switched from London only last week and the withdrawal of marquee champion Groves will undoubtedly effect ticket sales. Only a homegrown title match-up is guaranteed revitalise the action at the box office.

Meanwhile, Groves' injury occurred during a training session this week at Groves' gym in Vauxhall, South London, and after seeking expert medical guidance, he was advised not to fight. He was due to joint-headline alongside old rival DeGale – who's defence of the WBO Intercontinental title against Jose Maria Guerrero will now top the bill on the show.

Last month Groves produced a career-best performance to stop former British champion Paul Smith in the second round at Wembley Arena and was looking to end a memorable year that also included a win over rival DeGale. His loss to this card is disastrous.

Groves said: "I'm really gutted as I was coming along nicely in training and on course for the fight in a couple of weeks' time.  The injury is a set back and I really wanted to end the year with four good wins.  I'm sorry that my fans won't be able to see me in action, but I'll back early next year and ready to kick of 2012 with bang as I continue towards further titles."

Adam Booth, Groves' manager and trainer, added: "Obviously we are all disappointed as George was looking forward to getting back into the ring again so quickly after his great win over Paul Smith.  At this stage of George's career it would be crazy to compromise him and carry an injury of that nature into the fight. He's been advised to rest it for now and we'll seek further medical guidance next week."