By Dean Parr
Goodwin Promotions will stage their first show on March 13th at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes. Topping the bill will be Graham Earl as he takes on Geoffrey Munika over eight rounds, but take note of an undefeated young gun on the undercard. Pocklington's Harry Matthews, 8-0 (1 sole KO), will fight Terry Carruthers over 6x3s and, as he told BoxingScene.com, he is ready for action.
“I can't wait for it,” Matthews beamed. “Training's gone great, and my ability's come on a lot. My trainer, Glenn Banks, is putting me through intense training in the week and sorting me out good sparring, then I'm training with Joe Gregory in Finchley at the weekends, so I've got two good men training me now. Everything's going well, and I feel like I'm moving up a level all the time. I also believe I'm in the best physical condition of my life.”
Rumours have persisted that Matthews has been working at Graham Earl's 'House of Champions' in preparation for his upcoming bout, but he explained the situation in full. “I went down there once just to have a look, but to be honest, I adapted better down at the Finchley gym,” admitted Matthews.
“Graham's a busy man at the end of the day, and he's got his own fight to train for, and I wish him all the best of luck for that. I'm just going to stick to training with Joe and Glenn.”
On March 13th, Matthews will take on veteran, Terry Carruthers, who is 5-3-4 (1 KO) and has beaten the likes of Trevor Crewe and Ryan Clark. Harry won't underestimate this challenge.
“I know he's only lost three out of twelve”, 'The Pocklington Rocket' began, “and he gets a lot of draws due to his high workrate. He's an opponent that motivates me, and makes me want to get up and do my roadwork. I'm not after journeymen anymore, I'm after people that pose me a bit of a threat - it motivates me more.”
“We're in the toughest sport in the world, and I need someone that will make me go that extra inch in the gym and train that extra bit harder," Harry continued. “This guy is the perfect opponent. When I beat him, it's going to be an achievement.”
Matthews is scheduled to go the six-threes distance for the first time in this one, although he has no concerns about lasting the extra few minutes. “I believe it will suit me better,” the confident Yorkshireman asserted.
“I get better as I go on, so having two extra rounds to get that bit better will be good, and three minute rounds suit me better than twos. I'm not a two minute round boy, I'm a three minute round lad.”
This will be Harry's first fight under new outfit, Goodwin Promotions. He is delighted to be working with them. “I'm very happy; up until I signed with them I was thinking of packing boxing in,” Matthews revealed.
“They treat me as I want to be treated as a fighter, and I can't thank Steve Goodwin enough, because he's given me this massive opportunity, and my way of thanking him is going to be by putting on a brilliant fight on March 13th.”
“Steve has not only been a good promoter”, Matthews carried on, “but I've also had a good personal relationship with him, and he's someone I could talk to about any personal problems. Steve, along with my team, has helped me along the way, and this makes me believe in myself more, which makes me better.”
In his last fight, despite winning on points, Harry had to endure a knockdown at the hands of Davey Jones. On this, he admitted: “It was a shock! I hurt him in the fifth round, and I thought 'I've got this lad here', so I went out, all guns blazing, dropped my hands and was knocked off balance.
“It was a surprising shot more than anything, and I went down, got straight back up, saw it in his eyes that he though he'd hurt me, and I was just thinking, 'No you haven't'. So I just came back and he knew he couldn't hurt me after that. What I've been working on is my stance, and my balance is a hundred times better than it was before, my shots are flowing a lot better and I'm not the fighter I was.”
“I'm glad the knockdown happened,” Harry reminisced. “I know now that if that happens to me again, I can get straight back up, recompose myself and get stuck in again. I was happy with my performance in general though. Apart from that knockdown, everything was going great, but sometimes I just got a bit over-excited and there were a few flaws because I thought I was going to knock him down.
“Sometimes, when they're journeymen, and they've had all these fights, you don't think about who they've fought and who they've gone the distance with. At the end of the day, they're probably seen as people who've lost loads of fights, and if you beat them, you beat them, that's great - it's just another win. With this fight coming up, though, the guy's got a good record, and had a lot of success lately, so all I can do is respect his record, and respect him in general really, which will make for a better fight, and an improvement in me as a fighter.”
Supposing he gets through the Carruthers test, Matthews has a solid idea of whom he wants next. “Lee Noble is definitely on my radar,” Harry declared. “I would be happy if I could get in the ring with Lee Noble. I'd train like a Guru if I could get a fight with Lee Noble. His mouth, his head, and how cocky he is rub me the wrong way, and he needs shutting up. He's been shut up thirteen times before, and he's got something like a half-and-half record. I'd like to be the next man to beat him.”
To conclude, the Pocklington man had this to say. “Thanks to anyone that comes to support me, because without them, I wouldn't be getting as far as I am getting. I appreciate anyone that buys a ticket, and I've always got time for anyone who wants to ask me a question or even have a general chat. I'm just me at the end of the day,” he declared.
To buy tickets for the March 13th Goodwin Promotions 'Return of a Champion' bill, please visit http://www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk
