Mathews looking to get back on track by Mathew Tyrer Jul 16th 2008

Rewind nearly three months to the evening of April 5th and Derry Mathews found that he was picking up not only himself from the canvas but also the pieces of his flourishing career. When the unbeaten ‘Golden Boy' lost his unbeaten record at the hands of unknown quantity Choi Tseveenpurev and at the same time his WBU Featherweight crown. That night made for unpleasant viewing, no more than myself as I sat ringside watching my hometowns number one prospect suffer greatly, added to that Paul Smith Jnr going on to lose his English title I found myself asking what was happening to the exceptional group of professional boxers based on the banks of the river Mersey. When Derry took time out of his busy schedule to speak to BBN he wasted no time in setting things straight, telling me that he is back better than ever and there is a group of scousers who are not to far behind him, but cautiously reminding me, they have it all to prove. BBN: Derry, how has the training been going for up coming bout against unbeaten Kenyan John Gicharu? DM: It's going really well to be honest, after my last fight I took some time out and had a break, I feel a lot stronger because of it too. I've brought in Dietition Kerry Kayes who has helped me a lot in the last few weeks. And Sparring? I've been in with Swifty (former England International and 1-0 Pro Stephen Smith) until he picked up a slight injury, so then I went in with John Watson Jnr (6-0 lightweight who boxes on the same bill this weekend) which was great, so I would like to thank both lads for their time in the gym. Have you made any changes since the Choi defeat to your previous pre fight training? I've learned not to look past the next fight really, against Choi there was talk of facing Steve Luevano, but Choi has been the kick up the arse I needed. But apart from that nothings changed. How about the weight, people say you struggled last time out? No problem, but it never has been in the past. Usually the week before is the hardest (in making the weight) but thanks to Kerry (Kayes) its been easy. Have you ever used Kerry's products before? About four years ago I approached Kerry myself but couldn't stick to it, now that I am a bit more experienced I can see it through and I feel great. Obviously I'll have to ask you about the Choi defeat, how have you handled yourself sice your first pro defeat? It was really hard to take. But I'm not one to sulk and moan and blame other people, or moan at other people either. I genuinely thought I could beat him and so did my team, but these things happen in boxing. So what's on the horizon if you come through this next bout? Well I'm mandatory for the British Featherweight Title, straight after the Choi defeat I was told that in the changing rooms by the official so I will be looking forward to that (against newly crowned Paul Appleby). Also I've have been told by ‘someone' that I am number 6 in the new WBO rankings and 8th in the IBF rankings whereas Choi isn't even ranked. So its good to know I'm still up there. As Liverpool's Number 1 boxer, how do you feel about the current state of Merseyside boxing? Well the Pro scene is really flying at the moment and then You've got big Pricey (David Price GB Boxing team captain, Super Heavy) going out to the Olympics so hopefully he can bring home the Gold. We've taken over from the Manchester scene of about five years ago when you had Hatton's Gym and Shannons. Now in Liverpool we have got our place (Bridge Road Gym) and Shamrocks (run by former WBU World Champion Shea Neary). In our gym alone you've got 6 former ABA champions. What about lack of shows and promoters. I think it will happen eventually with all the promoters, four of our lads (Bridge Road) are with Frank Warren and the other two are self managed, at the moment there's only Mark Moran with a belt so its up to the rest of us to go out and prove what we are worth. How do you rate the current domestic Featherweight Division? Its wide open really. All the way up to Commonwealth level and European. Paul Appleby the current Champion and rightly so, I've got a lot of respect for him and I have seen him box he is a good mover but I've just got to much for him. I am more experienced and I hit a lot harder than anyone he has been in with. As the conversation ended I got the impression that former world champion Derry Mathews will be able to rid himself of that tag in due course. His defeat seems to have put an old head on young shoulders and there is no doubt that he will become a better boxer for it although he naturally retains that scouse swagger that many of the local Pro's possess. He told me he plans to take the British title and that he would love to defend it outright before moving back up through Commonwealth and European before establishing himself as a force on the world scene once more, if you ask me I wouldn't bet against him. Anyone wishing to contact Derry for tickets can do so through his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/derrymathews Derry Tops the bill at the Liverpool Olympia with fellow Liverpudlians John Watson Jnr, Joey Ainscough, Paul Edwards, Joe McNally, Mike Stafford and Stephen Burke.

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