Gethin ready to wow Vegas by Tom Podmore Dec 4th 2007

Undefeated Walsall puncher Martin Gethin admits he's counting down the days and hours until he fights at the fabled surroundings of the MGM Grand on Friday evening (December 7). Martin, 10-0-1 (4), and unbeaten Wolverhampton stablemate Dean Harrison, 9-0 (1), will take part on a Golden Boy-promoted card in Las Vegas the night before Hatton-Mayweather, and were surprised and delighted when they were told they would be part of a huge bill that also includes Englishman John Murray and Lee Meager. In fact, all-action First Team-promoted Gethin, a relaxed, two-fisted performer with decent hand-speed and solid skills, thought someone was pulling his leg when he was first informed of the news. But the current Midland Area lightweight champion jumped for joy when he realised it wasn't a wind-up and is now totally focussed on leaving a lasting impression on a Nevada audience who expect action-packed scraps. They'll definitely get their money's worth with Martin, who proudly said: “I think it's every boxers dream to box on a huge bill in Las Vegas and I will be doing that soon. I honestly can't wait to get over there and get down to business. “It came as a shock when Errol (Johnson, trainer) told me that they wanted Dean (Harrison) and I to box at the MGM the night before Ricky Hatton fights Floyd Mayweather. I thought he was winding me up at first! “But we have both have all-action styles that will go down well with the Americans and we hope to send a message to the world that England, the Midlands and the Black Country have some quality fighters. “Dean did some training with Ricky Hatton before his last fight and he recommended us to Golden Boy as two prospects who would have the style to please a world-wide audience. “I'm over the moon and can't help but count down the days until I step into the ring in Vegas.” This year has seen ultra-ambitious but level-headed Gethin participate in three contests (two wins, one draw), which included a reversal from a defeat in the amateur code, a rematch from a previous pro win and completing of a family double last time out. He started 2007 with a controversial six-round draw with Wolverhampton banger Carl Allen, a man he had previously outpointed in Walsall in 2006. The 57-57 decision handed down from Terry O'Connor at the Dudley Town Hall looked way off the mark. Former Midland Area champion Allen took so much punishment from his Black Country opponent over the 18 minutes that he was temporally blind over the weekend as both eyes had completely swollen shut. I had Gethin, boxing on the undercard of the Commonwealth middleweight title fight between Howard Eastman and Evans Ashira, a massive 60-55 winner. He is not bitter, however, but added he has little interest in boxing the Black Country puncher again. “I must admit that my rematch with Carl Allen earlier in the year wasn't one of my better showings. That said, I still thought I'd won easily enough,” said the Errol Johnson-trained fighter. “I got off to a good start, but felt really weak in the middle rounds, which probably cost me. I brought my weight down too quickly in the week leading up to the fight and that probably explains the showing. “But I still thought I'd done enough to take the decision by about four rounds,” admitted the D Gill building suppliers-sponsored puncher from the Shelfield area of Walsall. “I really don't have any interest in having a third fight with Allen. I beat him when we first met and everyone thought I beat him in the rematch, so everyone knows who's the better fighter.” However, he was pleased to inflict a ten-round defeat on Derbyshire's Craig Johnson, the Jason Shinfield-trained boxer who outpointed him as an amateur, for the vacant Midland Area nine-stone-nine strap at the ICC in September. Johnson, with only one paid defeat in eight entering, never stopped trying but Gethin was more accurate, hit harder and took the vacant belt with a 97-95 (too close for many) decision from Mr Messer in Birmingham. “Craig Johnson gave me a good little fight in September. He was up for it, especially as there was a title on the line, but was more awkward than anything else. “I was trying to control the fight and not just blast him out, which I could have done. I tried to work off my jab and work my way through the rounds instead of rushing into it. “I always thought I'd done enough. I'm laid back and I know I could do more, but I always think I'm going to tire myself out too quickly, like I had done in my previous fight. “But it was probably one of my best all-round performances,” continued Gethin, who turned 24 on November 16. “He came to win, I was there to win and I think that showed in the quality of the action. “I had a score to settle, which I think I did in pretty good fashion,” the Paul (PJ) Rowson-promoted fighter added. As mentioned earlier, the former Walsall Wood ABC banger lost a close and controversial decision to the Clay Cross-based stylist in the vest. Did this play on his mind during training? “I think I had more motivation entering the fight with because he had beat me as an amateur. I thought I won the amateur one and I definitely won the pro one, so there is no doubt who's the better man. “Johnson is a skilful, stylish boxer so it was important to prove to myself that I had what I took to beat him up and outbox him along the way. I think I ticked both boxes.” His last contest, at Birmingham's Burlington Hotel on October 8, saw the mallet-fisted Midlander halt another Derbyshire lightweight, Alfreton's Darren Broomhall, in three one-sided rounds. Broomhall had also tasted defeat to Steve, Martin's older brother, earlier in his career, interestingly. So the youngest of the three fighting Gethin's – Darren, a former Midland Area and British Masters champion, also a pro – was delighted to keep the family honour intact. “I easily stopped Darren Broomhall a few weeks after my title win in Birmingham, completing the family double. Steve had beaten him in five a few years earlier and I was eager to do the same. “He was a tough lad, but I decided that I needed to up the tempo in the third and I rocked, bloodied, dropped and stopped him. “Broomhall took plenty of good shots, but I was never in danger of losing once I put my foot firmly on the pedal. “It's now onwards and upwards for me.” Although he won the British Masters title at ten-stone, Gethin feels lightweight is his optimum weight – and has big plans for the future: “I'd like to be in a position to be fighting for the English title after I have boxed in Vegas. “I'm only young, so I have plenty of time on my side to go for the bigger and better titles in the future. But the English title would be a good stepping-stone and would evaluate where I am at this stage of my career. “I'd love to win every single title available to me, but we'll see what the coming years bring. “I'm undefeated in eleven, boxing in America on Friday and have won two titles at two weights already. How many people can say that after being a professional for only three years? “If I come through well in Las Vegas next week, which I fully expect to, then hopefully I will be able to box in Walsall sometime next year. “There is nothing like boxing in your hometown, so I wouldn't be too bothered if it was a defence of my Midland Area title or just a normal six-rounder. I love boxing in front of my supporters and I raise my game accordingly.” Taking on US-based Nicaraguan southpaw Ramiro Rivero, who extended unbeaten former Olympian Rock Allen over six last time out, in an eight-rounder on the Vegas strip, the orthodox scrapper is confident he will be able to win whatever the situation, though doesn't anticipate having it all his own way. “I know its not going to be an easy nights work in America, I'm almost certain of that. But I'm confident I can more than hold my own against Ramiro, who has been in with some good lads,” he said. “Whatever the outcome – win, lose or draw, though I can guarantee I wont lose – its going to be an excellent experience for me that can only make me a better fighter in the long-run.”

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