By Lee Collier
Almost two weeks ago fight fans witnessed the uneventful British and Commonwealth title fight between Anthony Small and Thomas McDonagh. One of the bright points of the Hatton Promotions fight card was undefeated Blackpool fighter Matty Askin.
The 20-year-old cruiserweight, who trains at Brian Hughes Collyhurst gym, entered the ring with a record of 3-0 (1early) and faced Bobby Scott. Askin, who was an ABA champion in 2008, blew his opponent away in 49 seconds in what was easily his best performance to date.
Askin, 20, would have sent his fans back to Blackpool in a good mood after such a performance and was pleased himself “I was speaking to Brian [Hughes] before I went in and he told me to be busy with that jab and when you see that gap throw that right hand,” explained a jubilant Askin.
“Scott had his hands down which shocked me and he seemed quite confident and he threw a couple of jabs so I loaded up on a couple of my shots and missed by a mile. I looked down and saw Ricky Hatton telling me calm down and get to your boxing.”
Askin then described what transpired next: “I then stuck to my boxing and showed a bit more of what I can do, a bit of moving, threw about 5 or 6 jabs then let the right hand go, I saw the gap and he went down. I thought, ‘I am going to stop him’, so I threw a few jabs then a right hook and right uppercut and the ref stopped the fight.”
In his first few fights, Askin had managed to get some rounds under his belt, which is important in the career of any younger fighter. The youngster still felt he could take a lot away from such a quick run out.
“Bobby Scott had won a few fights and he had stopped a few so he had some ability and he showed it when he came out,” stated Askin. “I have good hand speed and good power and if the fight wasn’t stopped I would have got stronger as it went on. I’ll watch the video back as there is always things you can improve on.”
It could be stated that the Blackpool youngster’s career is in safe hands under the tutelage of Brian Hughes and the rest of the Collyhurst training team. “There’s Brian, Mike Jackson, Pat Barrett and they are all on the same wavelength and know what needs doing. So if Brian isn’t working you Pat or Mike can just take over, they all know what needs doing. They know what your faults are and what needs working on.” stated Askin.
He continued: “Pat’s a big influence on me, he’s been to the top and done everything there is to do and what he says has to go as he is a knowledgeable bloke.”
Like many young boxers, Askin has targets he wishes to reach within the sport starting with wanting to win the coveted Lonsdale belt. “I enjoy boxing, it keeps me fit and healthy and I’m quite decent at it otherwise I wouldn’t be in it. I don’t think Brian and Pat would have taken me on if I were no good and had no potential. I want to at least be a British champion, if not a European champion, it’s just something to aim at but I just want to take each fight as it comes,” declared Askin.
Askin has weighed in for every fight with a lot of room to spare but is adamant his future lies at cruiserweight. “Never in a million years will I drop to light heavyweight,” stated Askin.
“I don’t have to lose weight or gain weight, this is the way I am, and I eat healthily. A lot of people need to lose or gain weight for their division but I feel natural as a cruiserweight. There are some big guys in the division but when I bulk up I will still have a load of speed and more power and I feel I can do something in this division.”
