Derry Matthews Refuses To Walk Away and Quit Boxing
By Terence Dooley
Liverpool’s Derry Matthews, still only 25, burst into prominence when handing Steven Foster Junior his first loss in 2006, Matthews won the WBU featherweight title in the process, and looked a real prospect at the weight.
Nearly three years, and two defeats, later Matthews, once dubbed ‘The Golden Boy’, is seeking to rebuild his career, insisting, when speaking to the Liverpool Echo, that he is not finished just yet. “I hear the [retirement] rumours, I know what people are saying behind my back,” said Matthews.
“People who I see in the street every day smile to my face and then talk crap about me behind my back, but I won’t let it get me down. They can make up what they like. I was the flavour of the month a few years ago, when I was the champ. Now people avoid me in the street or look the other way. But that’s their problem.”
Matthews dramatic fall from grace began when he was hammered inside five rounds by Mongolian dangerman Choi Tseveenpurev last year. A comeback was launched, only for Matthew to fall short against Martin Lindsay in a British title eliminator; a chilling left hook put Derry out for the count in round nine. Lindsay then went onto defeat Paul Appleby for the British featherweight strap.
Undeterred, Matthews plugged on, only to lose again, this time to journeyman Harry Ramogoadi, Matthews was floored in round four, he struggled to his feet a little too late, and was counted out in the act of rising by referee Michael Alexander.
The defeats hit hard, but Matthews insists that he has learned some valuable lessons. “This is the toughest thing I have ever had to come through in my life but I have the right people around me to come through it,” he claimed. “The people that matter have stuck by me, and I will get back on top as much for them as for me.”
Trainer George Vaughan is one of those people; the coach is usually the first person to go in the aftermath of shocking defeat. For Derry, however, the blame for his last loss lies solely at the feet of referee Michael Alexander, as he told the Echo. “I’ve watched that fight over and over and I still cannot believe (that) the referee stopped the fight. I was completely fine, just frustrated with myself for getting knocked over, but he never looked into my eyes. He just called it off.”
“Of course I regret just not bouncing back up and continuing,” he continued. “But I took my time and was taking instructions from the corner when on one knee. I don’t want to blame the ref but I can’t help it. He was wrong. I want Ramogoadi. I need to beat him to move on, but he’s not the real one that I want. I want to get back on top of the featherweight division. I want British champion Martyn Lindsay.”
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