Derry Matthews Gains IBO Belt, Beats Scott Lawton

Jan 22, 2011 • 7:36 AM ET

By Terence Dooley

Derry Matthews gained revenge over Stoke's Scott Lawton by securing a points win as well as the vacant IBO International lightweight title at the Olympia, Liverpool earlier tonight. Lawton hammered Derry to a sixth round stoppage defeat in November 2009 but found Derry too much to handle second time around on the Stephen Vaughan-promoted bill. Vaughan was previously chairman of Barrow A.F.C. and Chester City, he is now motoring forward with his boxing promotions company, which has already brought a slice of success to one of Merseyside's favorite sons by granting Derry the chance to net this home soil win.

Matthews, a former WBU featherweight title-holder, broke his opponent's nose en route to the decision victory; the 26-5 (12) Liverpudlian has found a new lease of life under the tutelage of Salford's Oliver Harrison. Matthews boxed his way to the final of November's Prizefighter: The Super-Featherweights only to succumb to Gary Buckland after two bruising stanzas. Derry, however, managed to avenge a 2008 reverse to Choi Tseveenpurev in the first round of the tournament and, the Buckland loss aside, is in a decent run of form. Indeed, the 27-year-old must now hope that the IBO will not grant him a timely rankings boost as he seeks to ensure that his comeback results in further titles.