Bizarre soup accident gives Matthews a title chance

Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell faces an even tougher fight after a slice of bad luck handed ‘The Pocklington Rocket’ the chance to launch himself into boxing’s big time.

Harry Matthews has stepped in to face Blackwell for the vacant English middleweight championship at Team Bath on Saturday, November 20 after Matt Hainy pulled out of the 10-round bill topper on First Team’s show. Hainy sliced the top of his thumb off while making soup – and in steps Matthews for a fight that brings together a pair of red-hot prospects for a scrap that should shape their futures.

Aged just 20, Blackwell, from Trowbridge, makes the step up to championship class after six straight wins, while Matthews, known as ‘The Pocklington Rocket,’ is 22 years old and has won 10 of his 11 fights. Matthews last month ruined the comeback of Andrew A Lowe with a points win and he has also handed Birmingham tough-guy Terry Carruthers a rare defeat. Carruthers has since drawn with unbeaten former amateur star Liam Smith.

The clash between Blackwell and Matthews is the area’s biggest fight night since Glen Catley and Ross Hale were in their primes. Both had terrific support in the West Country and PJ Rowson of promoters First Team is convinced Blackwell will also be a smash hit with fight fans.

He said: “Nick has got a terrific, all-action style and hopefully, the supporters will get behind him. This is the biggest show in the area for a long time and if Nick wins, there are many more big shows to come.”

Blackwell has had top-class sparring in the countdown to the 10-round title fight. He has swapped blows with Danny Butler, the former British and Commonwealth title challenger from Bristol who also boxes on the bill, and Bradley Pryce. Pryce, a winner in Newport last week, made six defences of the Commonwealth light-middleweight championship and Rowson reports Blackwell matched him blow for blow.

Liam Richards is another tough-as-they-come scrapper in action on the bill. Richards, a crowdpleaser from Melksham, pushed punching postman Liam Richards all the way for the vacant British Masters featherweight championship in June and knows a second win in the space of just five weeks at Team Bath will keep him in contention for another crack at honours.

Further details are available from PJ Rowson on 07976-283157 and 0844-8884412 and www.teambath.com.