Paul D
10-15-2006, 03:49 PM
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Liverpool's Derry Matthews produced a sizzling
performance to dethrone Salford featherweight Steve Foster and claim the WBU title at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
Matthews completely outboxed his
more experienced rival to earn landslide 118-108, 118-110, 119-107 verdicts on the three judges' scorecards to announce his big-time arrival in style.
The unbeaten 24-year-old, who had never previously gone beyond eight rounds in his 15-fight professional career, set a brisk pace throughout to hand
Foster the first loss of his own career.
Foster simply had no answer to the sharp rangy shots of his opponent and a bad swelling on his forehead
hampered his increasingly futile attempts to get a foothold in the fight.
Foster was docked a point for punching low in the seventh round, warned
again in the eighth and briefly put down for a count in round 10 as Matthews looked set to win the fight inside the distance.
Instead the champion
bravely hung on for the verdict but while he turned away disconsolately at the final bell, Matthews jumped into the ringside seats to embrace his supporters.
It was a performance which suggested Matthews could go far and the delighted Liverpool fan said: "I am delighted because I completely outboxed a good
fighter and the only way is up for me now.
"My dream is to defend my title back in Liverpool like all the great fighters from my city have done, and
I hope my promoter Frank Warren can make big things happen for me."
Liverpool's Derry Matthews produced a sizzling
performance to dethrone Salford featherweight Steve Foster and claim the WBU title at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
Matthews completely outboxed his
more experienced rival to earn landslide 118-108, 118-110, 119-107 verdicts on the three judges' scorecards to announce his big-time arrival in style.
The unbeaten 24-year-old, who had never previously gone beyond eight rounds in his 15-fight professional career, set a brisk pace throughout to hand
Foster the first loss of his own career.
Foster simply had no answer to the sharp rangy shots of his opponent and a bad swelling on his forehead
hampered his increasingly futile attempts to get a foothold in the fight.
Foster was docked a point for punching low in the seventh round, warned
again in the eighth and briefly put down for a count in round 10 as Matthews looked set to win the fight inside the distance.
Instead the champion
bravely hung on for the verdict but while he turned away disconsolately at the final bell, Matthews jumped into the ringside seats to embrace his supporters.
It was a performance which suggested Matthews could go far and the delighted Liverpool fan said: "I am delighted because I completely outboxed a good
fighter and the only way is up for me now.
"My dream is to defend my title back in Liverpool like all the great fighters from my city have done, and
I hope my promoter Frank Warren can make big things happen for me."