Matthews back with dominant win over Lawton

Only months after it looked like his career may be over with his dreams scattered across boxing's wasteland, Derry Matthews once again became a champion when he outpointed Stoke veteran and former conqueror Scott Lawton (Lawton had demolished Matthews in six rounds in 2009). In what turned out to be a feisty encounter, Matthews was able to turn the tables, gain redemption, and send his opponent into a well earned retirement.

This Steven Vaughan-promoted fight, for the non-descript IBO international lightweight title began slowly with Lawton (9st 9lb) trying to assert some dominance with the jab, and having a measure of success. Matthews (9st 9lb) seemed to be happy to wait and try to counter with right hands over the top. The most notable action saw Matthews sustain a cut near the right eye due to an accidental clash of heads (this wouldn’t be the only time the heads came together during the night).

Matthews was able to even up the score on my card in the second. He upped the work rate and was able to begin landing the right hands that would later make the difference in the fight. By the start of the third Lawton was trying to back Matthews up to the ropes and in doing so landed some good lefts and rights. Matthews however, was able to come back with more of his own work, and when he did it was a far better quality, especially with that right hand. The fourth once again saw Lawton go gunning for Matthews at the start of the round. It was a session of give and take, and for me, Lawton did enough to nick it, and in doing so levelled the score.

The fifth stanza began with Matthews looking to take over, upping the work rate and punishing Lawton with some heavy shots. Lawton never stopped trying and was always competitive, but Matthews seemed to have just that little bit extra. The sixth round saw, in my opinion, the defining moment of the fight. Lawton began well with the jab and Derry, with that extra firepower, began to take over. Then, as the round drew to a close Matthews landed with a right, then a left to the head that sent Lawton crashing to the canvas and careering to the corner. Lawton rose to his feet but looked shaky. As action resumed, Matthews bulled him to the ropes in an attempt to finish the fight. The bell came quickly to save Lawton, but one wondered what Scott had left.

Matthews began the seventh with the express intention of finishing the fight there and then. Rights and lefts, to body and head came in. Still, anyone who thought Scott Lawton may want to quit, seeing as it was his last fight, obviously do not know the man. He stayed there and gritted it out. As the round wore on, his legs began to look stronger. Derry was still banging him at will, the right hand having particular success but this fight would go on for a while yet.

Round eight saw a continuation of the latter end of round seven. Matthews was working over a now bloody nosed Lawton but wasn’t really hurting him as much as he had done before. It was however, becoming a comfortable exercise. Matthews was also to do the better work in the ninth, though Lawton would never stop trying, and put out some good shots of his own. Still, this was yet another round for Matthews, and it was apparent that Lawton would need a knockout to pull this one out of the bag. The tenth saw Lawton try to launch a comeback. The round was rather scrappy, with once again the heads coming together. I don’t know whether Derry is ‘dirty’ as the nickname suggests, but I would go as far to say he is occasionally careless, especially when fatigue sets in. I gave the tenth round level but it would take more than this for Lawton to come away champion.

The eleventh became the most successful stanza that Scott had seen in a while. Matthews seemed to be tiring and Lawton took advantage of this by nailing Derry with some decent shots to the head. Matthews fired back and landed some good rights to the head himself, but just not enough to win him the round. The twelfth ended up becoming one of the best rounds I had seen live in a while. Both men went to war, Matthews for the title he so craved, Lawton, for whom this was his final fight of a long and glittering career, to make sure that nothing was left in the ring. Matthews, who was now cut on the right hand side of his head continually worked but Lawton seemed to be getting the better of these brutal exchanges, for the most part being on the front foot. Still, despite the Stoke man claiming another round on my card, Derry Matthews was not going away. And in doing so he may have answered a few questions about his supposed fragility. As the bell went one man knew he had won the fight, and that was the Liverpudlian Matthews.

The scorecards were announced: John Coyle gave the fight 118-109, Terry O’Conner 118-110 and Finn Edwards 116-111, which gave Matthews a well earned unanimous points victory. I scored the fight 116-112, a little closer than some of the scorecards, but there was no doubt that the right man won. Matthews moves to 26-5 (12 KO) and at the age of 27 seems to have much more to offer. Lawton drops to 27-8-1 (6 KO) and now goes into a well earned retirement. Thanks for everything, Scott.

Shock of the night came when Birmingham’s Sid Razak (10st 4lb) outpointed Liverpool prospect Joe Tonks (9st 13lb) over six-twos. Things started badly for the taller Liverpool lad. A big right hand in the first stung Tonks and forced him to retreat. Razak followed up with haymakers which caught the young lad flush. Razak continued on the front foot and at no point did Tonks look comfortable. The second round was arguably worse for young Joe. Razak began to out-jab him. Considering how much taller Tonks was, this really was a big sign. Razak had swept the first two rounds.

Razak continued the dominance in the third stanza. He was just quicker and preceded to chase the prospect around the ring. Sid continued to land shots on a man who had very little in the way of a defence. The fourth was certainly Tonks’ best round. Joe began to throw more against an opponent who was looking like he was beginning to tire. Tonks continued to do the good work and claim the round. Still, as the bell sounded Razak was warned for throwing a number of shots around the back of the head. The cynics would say Tonks was turning away but still, these were certainly ‘tricks’ he had learned throughout his 62-fight career.

The fifth saw a return to form, Razak landing and bulling the youngster up against the ropes. Tonks was now becoming reluctant to throw as he knew what was coming back was more than he could handle. The final round was arguably Razak's best. Tonks was running away and Razak was chasing. Sid, although wild, was smashing in some great shots to head and body. This really was man against boy. The bell sounded and Razak had his hand raised by a score of 59-56, a round closer than may card but certainly reflecting the dominance we had just seen. Razak rises to 6-56 (2 KO) and is now on a winning run of two against young prospects. Tonks falls to 1-1 and has a lot of work to do. Still, at his age, time is certainly on his side.

Prestatyn’s ‘Discoball’ (What? - Ed.) Paul Davies (9st 7 1/2lbs) returned to the ring after a thirteen month absence with a hard but impressive victory against Manchester’s Abdul Rashid (9st 9 1/2lbs) over six-twos.The gangly Davies was stung by a Rashid right hand early on but produced more work in that first round, including a very nice right hand to the head. Rashid would continue to try and this would certainly be a night he put his all into the job. The second saw Davies doing well but shipping the odd right hand. Paul took this as a good time to up his work rate, with the left hand being especially quick and dangerous.

Davies began the third looking to make an impact. He produced a barrage of shots against the ropes as Rashid covered up. Still, the occasional right hand would come back over the Welshman’s low left hand. Rashid started to do better at the end but this was certainly another round for Davies. The fourth commenced with a huge right hand by Davies. Still, Rashid took it well and always remained competitive, despite the good work coming his way. Davies produced his most clean work in the fifth round, the left hand once again a dangerous weapon. Less came back during this stanza from Rashid and Davies continued to tee off. The sixth was by far the best round for Rashid. A huge right hand rocked Davies back on his heels. This had always been the danger with the left hand being so loose. Davies was never in any danger of going down, but there is no doubt that this will have been the hardest he has been hit in his pro career. Davies finished the round well to even up the session on my card.

As the bell sounded the referee raised the arm of Davies and gave him the fight by a score of 60-55 (exactly the same as mine). Paul Davies rises to 3-0 and will certainly work on some of the faults that were witnessed here, which were, one suspects, caused by rust rather than any systemic fault. Abdul Rashid falls to 1-7 and, if he continues to fight like that instead of going into his shell, could turn out to be one of the better journeymen on the circuit.

Liverpool’s Kevin Satchell (8st 5lb) scored a repeat victory over Middlesbrough’s Francis Croes (8st 5lb) over six-twos in an entertaining bout in front of his home crowd. Satchell started well enough, trying to keep the fight at a distance and putting in some decent shots. Croes, although not one in danger of winning too many, certainly knew his way around the ring and kept himself interested in the fight.

The second round saw ‘Satch’ improve his work rate and use better variety, one uppercut looking particularly impressive. His work continued to improve in the third, with Satchell throwing two minutes of unanswered punches. It was clear who the boss was going to be. The pattern continued in the fourth, with nothing much coming back from Croes. The fifth began with Croes trying to put a bit more into it. But Satchell answered this ‘charge’ with the better quality work that easily won him the round.

The sixth saw Satchell land with a big left to the body, and later on landing a nice left uppercut. As the bell sounded the referee raised the hand of Satchell, who rises to 3-0 and looks like one to keep an eye on. Croes falls to 1-13-(1KO) and moves on to his next payday.

Former ABA champion James 'Jazza' Dickens (9st 2lbs) began his professional career against Mansfield-based Latvian Pavels Senkovs (9st 2 lb) over 4 x 3’s. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Dickens looked confident from the outset and he moved in and out of range, throwing shots to head and body. Senkovs seemed happy to defend and get through the round. Dickens continued the assault in the second, not giving Senkovs time to breath, and working over his more experienced opponent.

Dickens continued to impress in the third, showing no fear as switched from body to head, permanently keeping Senkovs on the back foot. ‘Jazza’ certainly wasn’t looking like a novice. The fourth followed the now familiar pattern and it was no surprise when the referee raised the hand of Dickens to award him his first pro victory. He certainly looks one to watch. Senkovs falls to 2-28-2 (2KO) but now seems a more negative character when compared to the days he was throwing big shots and knocking out Pete Leworthy and Joe Kelso. He may be earning good money as a tough, yet not too dangerous opponent, but I quite miss the old version.

So all in all a fantastic night's boxing. Some young prospects getting good exposure and experience. A victory for one of our favourite journeyman, one that no one could begrudge. But still, there can only be one star of the night.

Derry Matthews is back!