Harry Matthews
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By Andrew Wake: York’s Harry Matthews is out to set the record straight when he meets AA Lowe for the vacant British Masters middleweight title on Saturday night.
The pair met for the same bauble back in September but both men left the ring disappointed when the fight was scored a draw.
Since then, Lowe, a former Marine from Newark, has told all and sundry that he should have been given the nod by referee Phil Edwards, but Matthews is no doubt who he thinks deserved the spoils and what the outcome of their return will be.
“I definitely won the first six rounds and the rest were debatable, but overall I should have got the victory,” the 23-year-old ‘Pocklington Rocket’, who had previously beaten Lowe in a six-rounder, said.
“I let the fight slide away in the last few rounds because I felt comfortable in there and I knew I should have been ahead. This time, though, I’ve trained so I get better with each round.
“He says he won but that’s just him bigging up the fight down there. He can say whatever he wants at the end of the day but it’s all about waking the walk on the night.
“I know I’m a better boxing than he is and, without being disrespectful, he’s at the end of his career and I’m still blossoming. I’m only 23 and he’s 31.”
Matthews believes the quality of sparring new trainer Nick Manners and manager Mark Bateson have arranged for him in the run up to this fight will put him in good stead for victory.
The Yorkshireman has made several trips across the Pennines to the Hatton gym in Hyde and engaged in hours of action with reigning British light-middleweight ruler Prince Arron.
“I’ve been doing very well with him and when you’re going to Manchester and holding your own with a British champion you can walk around confidently,” Matthews said.
“If I can get my shots off in sparring against someone who is 6ft 3in then I can definitely get my shots off against someone who is 5ft 11 like AA Lowe.”
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Another factor in this fight is, due to being the away fighter, Matthews has not had the often distracting issue having to shift copious amounts of tickets.
“We’re expected to sell tickets to cover our purse but as the away fighter I’ve not had that pressure and I’ve been able to concentrate more on my training.
“In my eyes I’m not the away fighter that is coming up against it. I’ve had the same notice as he has and though he might think being at home is an advantage he’ll find out it isn’t. There’s only two of us in that ring and I plan on winning every round.”
Going forwards Matthews plans on defending the Masters strap in Leeds in March before pressing ahead with his claims for a British title shot.
He stated: “I’m in it because I want to get to that level. I’d fight for the British title tomorrow because just to fight for it is every fighter’s dream. I think late next year, maybe early 2013, I’ll be looking at a shot.
“Firstly I have to beat Lowe to get that Masters belt so I move on to bigger and better things.”
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