Lawton vows to end Matthews’ career before calling time on his own

Scott Lawton has predicted that he will finish his career on a high by defeating Derry Matthews again when they meet in a rematch at Liverpool Olympia on 22 January. The vacant IBO International lightweight crown will be up for grabs but win, lose or draw Lawton insists that he will hang up his gloves for good afterwards.

“I wanted to make it clear to everyone that this is my last fight so that nobody can accuse of me making a knee-jerk reaction afterwards regardless of what the outcome is. The effects of boxing since 1990 have definitely taken their toll on me. My knees and elbows are very sore and I sometimes experience pains in my arms when they are overextended so I feel I’m making the right decision to retire,” explained Lawton to BoxRec News.

“Rest assured though I will be giving it 110% and I desperately want to end my career on a winning note and strap another belt around my waist,” added the former English lightweight title-holder.

In their previous meeting, Lawton broke Matthews’ resistance in front of his adoring Stoke supporters in the sixth round to send the Liverpool man into retirement in 2009. After a brief ring hiatus, Matthews returned with a couple of low-key victories followed by a gutsy revenge points win over former nemesis Choi Tseveenpurev to reach the final of Prizefighter: The Super-featherweights in November.

Although Matthews ultimately succumbed to eventual Prizefighter winner Gary Buckland (KO2), the Scouser’s confidence levels have been boosted and he is adamant that he will avenge another of his previous five defeats in his return with Lawton.

“Derry sounds very confident, I think he’s been going to see a hypnotist and I know he has an excellent trainer in Oliver Harrison. To me though he still seems like the old Derry Matthews and I wasn’t that impressed with him in Prizefighter,” said Lawton, who dropped a decision to Gary Sykes in the quarter-finals of the same tournament.

“Derry still appears very susceptible and he seemed to unfold very quickly against me when we fought the last time. I just don’t think he likes coping with pressure of any kind so I intend to take the fight to him and I’m confident of beating him again.”

In contrast to their first meeting, the rematch will take place on Matthews’ home soil but perhaps more crucially this time the fight will take place at lightweight (9st 9lbs) as opposed to super-featherweight (9st 4lbs).

“I feel much stronger at lightweight where I’ve fought at for the majority of my career compared to super-feather and the punches don’t seem to have the same effects on me,” said Lawton, who as was destroyed in three rounds by Levan Kirakosyan when challenging for the European super-featherweight title almost a year ago.

“I was able to tuck in to beef and Yorkshire puddings on Christmas Day and recently weighed 9st 13lbs at a check weigh-in so I’m making the weight more sensibly this time without having to rely on saunas. In Boxing you never stop learning though and I got my preparations wrong for my last fight against Gary Sykes in Prizefighter. I attempted to put fluids back into my body too quickly after the weigh-in and was on-and-off the toilet on the day of the fight,” revealed Lawton who can now see the funny side to his misjudgement.

“I think the fight being at lightweight definitely gives me an advantage. Derry is stepping up to this division – he was a monster at featherweight but he’s not been able to dominate fighters like he used to since he’s stepped up in weight. There’s no pressure on me to win this fight, all the expectation is on him. I would have retired had I lost to Derry the first time but beating him secured me a European title shot. To be honest I don’t see where he can go if he loses to me again.”

When looking back on his career, Lawton can be justifiably proud of his efforts. The popular 34-year-old has demonstrated commendable bravery and underrated boxing skills in sharing a ring with Britain’s best when compiling a record of 27 wins against seven defeats and a draw. Though he often fell short at championship level, as his defeats to Jon Thaxton (TKO7), Amir Khan (TKO4), John Murray (TKO6) for the British and Commonwealth lightweight titles and the aforementioned Kirakosyan demonstrate, Lawton usually emerged with credit even in defeat.

“Jon Thaxton was a huge puncher who could knock you out with either hand, John Murray is exceptionally strong who places you under tremendous pressure but the best fighter I’ve boxed is Amir Khan by a mile. Most fighters excel in one particular department but Khan has so many qualities. He’s extremely quick as you’d expect, but he’s so bloomin accurate and he never bloomin missed me with his punches. Amir hurt me with every shot he threw, even with his jabs, and I could feel his knuckles through his gloves,” recalled Lawton.

The highlights of Lawton’s long career include a brace of upset English lightweight title wins against Stefy Bull (TKO 8) in 2006 and Martin Gethin (TKO 9) in 2008.

“I beat Stefy Bull in his own backyard in Doncaster when he was on a good winning run at the time (13 to be precise) which was a great night. Martin Gethin was unbeaten when I met him and also expected to beat me but I outboxed him and he was eventually stopped on a cut which was another good performance,” acknowledged Scott.

Lawton, who has combined duties as a boxer and promoter in recent years, intends to remain in Boxing and spend more time developing fighters in his own Impact Gym stable in Stoke.

“I haven’t made a great deal from Boxing, on four or five occasions I fought on my own shows in Stoke for nothing. But I’ve made sure that whatever money I have made from the sport has been invested on the building and the facilities at my Impact gym. I’m looking forward to working with the fighters here and hopefully I can bring a few of them through and eventually turn them into champions.”