By Elliot Foster

Derry Mathews is in bullish mood ahead of his fight tonight at the O2 Arena.

The likeable Liverpool stalwart takes on Ohara Davies for the Hackney man’s WBC Silver super-lightweight title, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Mathews (38-11-2, 20 KOs) spoke to Boxing Scene in the hotel on Saturday afternoon, just hours before he makes his ring walk, as part of the supporting cast to David Haye’s heavyweight clash against Tony Bellew, against undefeated talent Davies.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m in good spirits and had a good sleep. I got up, had a bit of breakfast, a bit of a walk and then went with my friends for a bit of lunch. I’m ready to fight now.

“I’m excited, I’ve got butterflies, like I had against Curtis Woodhouse and I’m getting nervous.”

Nerves and excitement can go one of two ways for fighters in this sport and can be translated in to either positive or negative energy.

But 33-year-old veteran Mathews, who tipped the scales at 9st 13lbs and 5oz at Friday’s weigh-in, is determined to turn those into a positive and referred to his Commonwealth title showdown against Woodhouse as motivation for the victory against ‘Two Tanks’ (14-0, 11 KOs) in front of 21,000 people.

“I was sh***ing myself, if I’m honest, [going into the Curtis Woodhouse fight]. That was what was going through my head.

“And tonight the feeling is very similar. I cannot afford to get beat. I have to win. Nobody knows how good Ohara Davies is and it’s my job to stop him from showing everyone how good he is and doing what I do best which is winning.”

Davies, who was dead-on the 10st limit yesterday, has amassed an unblemished ledger since turning professional under Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport back in 2014.

But Mathews is determined to show that this is the biggest step-up of the fledgling career of Davies by proving his doubters wrong once again and opening a new chapter in a third weight division in his career.

“No disrespect to any other fighter in Liverpool or in Merseyside but I believe I’ve had the best career in the history of this sport in the area.

“I’ve had ups and downs, I’ve met good people and bad people but by the same token this journey is going to continue. I’ve loved every minute of it and a win tonight is another chapter in the book.”

Mathews revealed to ‘Scene that his autobiography is in the process of being written and he says that the latest final roll of the dice is exciting.

Having won a WBA interim title at lightweight and previously been the proud holder of the WBU featherweight world title, having held the British title twice and won Commonwealth honours in a decorated career spanning 14 years and 10 titles as a professional, he is eager to make a name for himself up at 140 pounds and believes that a win against Davies will help him to do just that.

“Making this weight is a lot easier than making 135lbs but I was getting big opportunities at the weight that I had to take.

“This [fight] is a big opportunity at 140lbs to push on to bigger things and I’m excited.

“Tonight is about shutting the big mouth up and I think I’ll be doing the whole of Britain a favour.”

Ohara Davies vs. Derry Mathews is live on Sky Sports Box Office from 6pm. Visit www.skysports.com/hayebellew for more details.