Matty Askin Looking For Glory Against Lee Kellett in Wigan

By Terence Dooley

Blackpool’s Matty Askin was hoping to take his first big step as a pro by taking on Matthew Ellis in a local derby fight on the undercard of Denton Vassell’s commonwealth welterweight title fight against Lee Purdy at the Robin Park Centre, Wigan later tonight.  However, Ellis has withdrawn from the contest with Matty, 5-0 (2 early), rumoured to be taking on Lee Kellett, 4-3-1 (2 KOs), instead.  Askin, 21, is nonplussed by the change in opponent.

“I am really excited,” declared Askin.  “I’ve had a couple of decent fights so I want to make a statement with this next performance.”

Askin believes that he has only shown glimpses of his true form during his nineteen pro rounds yet the confident cruiserweight feels that he is slowly smoothing away the amateur kinks in his style.

“I am, yeah”, he answered when asked if he is getting used to the paid ranks, “I didn’t get to grips with it at first, I was a bit amateurish, but I’m pacing my shots better now and, although I made some fights harder than they should be, I’m starting to get results.  I was too easily drawn into a brawl before.  I think about things too much and think I’m not doing enough and lunge in instead of boxing my way in.  I want to get back on my boxing now and the punches will come nicely.”

The 2008 ABA cruiserweight champion is trained by Brian Hughes MBE, a man with over forty years experience in the sport, and the fighters feels that he is constantly improving under his coach’s watchful gaze.

“We’ve done a lot on defence and that helps with my confidence to throw shots because I know I can handle whatever is coming my way.  I am more at ease in there now,” said Askin, who also feels that he is reaping the rewards of knowing his weight limit. 

“This (cruiserweight) is my natural weight.  I don’t boil down and I don’t have to beef up – I’m comfortable and natural and that has its advantages.  When you eat properly and train properly then you are healthy, faster, and feel good,” he stressed.

Ricky Hatton, who promotes Askin, will build the Blackpool fighter’s record before grabbing his man a title chance.  Matty is confident that the fights, and titles, will roll around sooner rather than later.  “I’m with Ricky Hatton and hope I can get out again quick after this one.  I’ll keep trying to shine and know Ricky will get me the chances at titles.  I want to be going for those title fights like everyone else,” he revealed.

Brian Hughes believes that he has a potential diamond in Askin; the trainer, though, feels that Matty has a long learning curve ahead of him.  “It is hard to bring a kid through at the weight level and we are being careful with him,” stated Hughes.  “I think he’ll do really well on the night and we are looking at how far we can push him.  We’ve been working on getting him boxing and doing what he is good at, you have to train the mind as well as the body, especially with someone like Matthew.”

Sky Sports 1 and HD1 televise the Hatton-promoted show from 10pm tomorrow night.