Matty Askin - '2012 is going to be a huge year for me'
Just as the fighters at the top of the British cruiserweight division are trying to establish themselves, up crops another contender to throw into the mix. Blackpool’s Matty Askin has crept up the rankings and now finds himself potentially two fights away from a crack at the British title.
Turning pro in late 2008 Matty started out against the usual suspects in the way of Nick Okoth and John Anthony. They were safely despatched and before he knew it he was 10-0 and fighting for the Central Area cruiserweight strap against fellow unbeaten fighter Neil Dawson. Matty won the belt with a sixth round stoppage. Now under the tutelage of Bob Shannon, Matty is very happy with the way his career has progressed to date.
“It’s going along very nicely, when you start your career you want everything there and then but I have been patient so it’s taken me three years to get where I wanted to be. Since I have been with Bob I’m more confident and am getting a lot more variety in my shots, hopefully 2012 is going to be a huge year for me.”
Matty wanted to test himself early and was willing to step up in class when he was still being viewed as a novice, his sixth fight was a first round blow out of Matthew Ellis but Matty feels his toughest test to date was his clash with Dutchman Mitchell Balker.
“For the Balker fight my training camp hadn’t gone well, I wasn’t getting enough sparring so at the time that was a very good test for me as he is a great fighter. I would love to get that fight back on and prove I can win again as there was some controversy over whether the fight should have been stopped or not. I think the Dawson fight was also a good test as he was unbeaten at the time.”
As stated earlier in this article Matty is only two wins away from a British title shot, within the last week he has signed up to an English title bout that doubles up as an eliminator for the British title.
“I have just signed the contact to fight Jon Lewis Dickinson for the English title and an eliminator for the British title, this bout must take place before the end of May. It’s a huge fight in the Cruiserweight division and a great opportunity for me to get my hands on the British title the way it’s been passed around lately.”
Looking at Matty’s 12-0 record, with eight of those wins coming early I think it’s safe to say that the lad possesses real power. Matty doesn’t want to rely on this power but feels it has served him well to date and hopes it will carry as he moves up the rankings. “I never look to take people out, it just seems that when I do land cleanly it’s really hurting them. If I have to do the full distance I am fit enough to do the rounds. The power is just a bonus I guess! In the Balker fight I was having a bad third round and my power really dug me out of a hole and turned the fight in my favour. I won’t be relying on my power as I feel my skills and fitness have improved under Bob Shannon but if the stoppages keep coming that’s great.”
It’s never easy facing an unknown quantity, that’s exactly what Team Askin are presented with on Saturday night at Bolton Arena. Matty has been matched with Hungarian Attila Palko whose record, albeit slightly flattering due to the level of opponents he has faced, shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“There’s no footage of him on You Tube so I haven’t managed to see anything of him. I was meant to be fighting Lubos Suda but that fight fell through. Then Attila Palko got mentioned and I never say 'no' to a fighter so my team made the fight. These Eastern Europeans are always tough and strong and Palko has ten KO’s out of 12 wins, he hasn’t fought anyone of note but he will be confident he can win which should make for a good fight. The more of a challenge I feel the fight is then the better mentally and physically I will be prepared. Me and Bob have been working on certain things in the gym so however he comes to fight we will have a plan to beat him. “
Matty is hoping 2012 will be his break out year, so where does he see himself twelve months down the line? “Without a doubt I want to win the British title this year. If I beat Dickinson then I am mandatory for the British title. If all goes well I would like to win the title in September or October and this time next year be making a defence of the title and heading towards European level.”
It’s great that this crop of cruiserweights have all shown how much they respect the British belt and what it means to them getting an opportunity to for fight for it. Remarkably our two best cruiserweights of recent times, David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli, never contested the famous Lonsdale belt. Matty can't wait for his chance to get his hands on the title.
“I feel I’m one of the best cruiserweights in the country and if I do get hold of that belt I definitely wont be letting go of it. I really thought that Leon Williams would have held on to his title in January against (Shane) McPhilbin. It’s looking like Tony Conquest will fight for the title next. I think there have been a few poor performances for the British title lately which hasn’t done the cruiserweight division any favours so it’s up to the likes of me, Tony Conquest and Jon Lewis Dickinson to put some life back into the division.”
