Some things in life don’t quite live up to expectations and unfortunately the main event of the Matchroom promoted show in Newport, South Wales between Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews fits into that category.
The Newport Centre was abuzz with supporters from both sides of the border, to watch the two men contest the European lightweight championship but left unsatisfied by the result. Defending champion Rees (9st 8lb, 3oz) of Newbridge, South Wales was making the first defence of the crown he won back in June, on points against Andy Murray, and his challenger Mathews (9st 8lb, 5oz), of Liverpool, was on a run of four wins going into the bout.
The opening round saw the challenger start briskly with a good combination and he showed good lateral movement, as he took the first round using the jab and his height and reach advantage, to good effect. The second continued with Rees still trying to get the distance right and he did close the gap better in a close round that he edged. The third saw the former WBA light-welter champion put his punches together and get his timing spot on and he comfortably won the round.
The fateful fourth saw Rees carry on as he had in the third until an accidental clash of heads caused the Liverpudlian to turn away in agony, as blood poured out of his nose. Referee John Keane called the doctor to inspect the injury and concluded that Mathews was in no fit state to continue and so with only three rounds completed the fight was declared a technical draw. Gavin Rees retained his European crown.
I had Rees winning the fight at the time of the stoppage but it was early days and the contest was starting to warm up. All three judges had it 29-28 for Rees after three rounds.
“I’m absolutely devastated, I’ve worked so hard for the fight and I know Gavin has, but things happen in life and you’ve just got to get on with it,” said Mathews.
“As soon as my nose went I knew it was broken and I was swallowing blood.”
While Mathews is hoping for a rematch, a disappointed Welshman revealed that he could be ready to move down to super-featherweight after work with trainer Gary Lockett and nutritionist Renzo Algieri saw Rees enter the fight ‘in the best shape ever’.
“I’ve still got the belt and I’m still champion but we both trained hard for this so it’s disappointing we couldn’t have a full fight,” said Rees. “He took the first round and the other two were mine, I was really warming up from the third but accidents happen and it’s unfortunate.
“I think he gave me his best in the opening round and then I shook him with some good shots in the second and third so it was just getting going. I’ll sit down with Eddie Hearn, Gary and the rest of the team and we’ll talk about the next move – which could be going down to super-featherweight.
“At the weigh-in I was only three pounds over the super-featherweight limit and I feel in fantastic shape, I’ve been boxing these big guys before so I think I could do really well at super-featherweight, I think I stand a great chance of winning a world title in that division.
“I’ve only been working on a strict diet with Renzo for four weeks and I’m looking better than ever. The weight has flown off so why box at a weight above one that you can make? In my last few fights I’ve been about 9st 7lbs, so why not make the move? I’ve adapted to the style of fighting taller guys quite well so it’s not about that, I’m not bothered about that, but I think my power would be great at super-featherweight and hopefully I can sit down with the team and we can get out against in December.”
Lockett added: “I’m so proud of Gavin the way he has changed his lifestyle, the way he eats and even the way he thinks – it’s fantastic and all credit should go to him. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, well he’s showed that you can. I think he would have gone on to win that tonight, we’ll never know – but the pace would have been easy for Gavin tonight as he’s done the weight so easily, so yes, super-featherweight is definitely an option we’ll look at.”
Rees record stands at 35-1-1 and Matthews’s record is now 29-5-1.
In the main undercard bout: Rees’ stablemate, Bradley Pryce won a very close eight round decision over Bristolian Danny Butler. Butler fought a sound, technical fight using the jab, as the foundation for launching a quick right hand and at times through the bout he was able to pick off Pryce.
Pryce relied on his reflexes, as his hands were held low and he was playing a dangerous game, as he was tagged on several occasions. Pryce seemed confident that his power would win him this fight but was relying on it far too often and when he did use his own jab it was effective. The fight was a close, competitive, tight affair and really did hang in the balance going into the final round. A single right uppercut from Pryce in the final round is what separated the two fighters on the night and in referee Wynford Jones scorecard. Late in the round, Pryce powerful right uppercut dropped Butler, who did well to continue, and that punch swayed the contest in his favour.
Referee Wynford Jones scorecard read 77-75 in the Newbridge fighter’s favour.
Pryce improves to 32-10 while Butler drops 19-5.
The opening bout of the evening was between Gareth Piper, of Cardiff and Tony Pace, of Talbot Green. Both welterweights looking to get their first career win. Piper was the man to come-out on top and had success when boxing at long range though Pace was persistent in trying to close the gap and landed well on the inside. I personally thought a draw would have been the fairest result but the man closest to the action Wynford Jones scored it in Piper’s favour 39-38. Piper, the nephew of former ‘world’ title challenger Nicky said afterwards, “No point being in there unless you give everything. I’m new and going to get better and work harder”.
Piper is now 1-0-1 while Pace is 0-2.
In heavyweight action, Dorian Darch gained his second professional win with a comfortable four round win over tough trial horse Sandor Balogh of Hungry. Darch opened the fight with a sharp jab and fast right hands, landing some spiteful looking shots. Balogh though is a tough fighter, who employs a high guard and while early on he offered very little offensively, he is a difficult man to stop. Darch won all the rounds and it was only really the final round where his opponent offered any real offense with both men standing and trading. Darch looks like a good addition to the highly competitive domestic scene. He improves to 2-0 while Balogh falls to 2-22-4.
Fight of the night was surely between undefeated Ricky ‘The Omen’ Owen and Dougie Curran. Newcastle’s Curran was a substitute opponent, replacing Robbie Turley, and really put up a staunch effort in a compelling and brutal fight. Defence seemed to go ‘out the window’ in this one as both men seemed more concerned with ‘dishing’ out punishment and less worried about receiving it.
‘The Omen’ took the opening round and drew first blood, as Curran was cut over the left eye. In the second, Owen looked well in control and dropped the Geordie fighter with a left body shot. Curran came back well and momentarily troubled Owen in the third, causing a cut over the right eye.
The fourth saw Dougie take the round as the fight was full of back and forth action and continued for the rest of the contest. The final two rounds were a brawl and Owen deservedly had his hand raised by referee Clarke Joslin. This fight was bloody and brutal over six rounds and I’d personally love to see them fight again.
Owens unbeaten record improves to 15-0 while Curran is now 5-8-1.
Heavy-handed middleweight prospect Frankie Borg won through on a six round points decision against the stubborn resistance of Doncaster’s, Jason Ball. Borg’s heavy hands caused a cut in the third as he landed several big shots. Ball was competitive through out but Borg was a worthy winner and had Ball in trouble several times in the fight but never fully capitalised. Referee Clarke Joslyn scored it 58-56 for Cardiffian Borg, who improves to 5-0 while Ball drops to 3-4.
Maesteg’s, Jason Cook rebounded from defeat in his last outing, to Ashley Theophane, to score a third round stoppate over Hungarian Laszlo Szekeres; in a six round welterweight contest. A left hook by the ropes dropped Szekeres, who groggily beat the count and Referee Wynford Jones called a halt to the action.
Former European lightweight champion, Cook moves to 29-4-1 while Szekeres falls to 10-13-3.
Super-middleweight Jeff Evans scored a routine four round points decision over Sam Couzens in a stay busy fight. Wynford Jones scored it 40-35 to Evans. Evans record improves to 8-1 while Couzens falls to 7-6.
The show closer saw middleweight Kerry Hope comfortably outpoint Lee Noble over six rounds. Hope dictated the action throughout winning by a score of 60-54.
Noble’s record falls to 12-20 while Hope improves to 15-3.
