Matthew Thirlwall is looking to bounce back in style when he takes on Nottingham’s Michael Monaghan on the November 12th Hennessy Sports “Born To Do It’ promotion at the Wembley Conference Centre.

The Bermondsey boy suffered a controversial points loss to Jason Collins last time out at the Nottingham Arena in September, despite having clearly put in the better work throughout the six rounds. He is not the type to let it hold him back. “I have been here before,” began the twenty-three-year-old. “I was also robbed of a decision in January 2003 at the Nottingham Arena (against Gary Beardsley); for some reason they don’t like me up there! On that occasion I bounced straight back and won. I intend to do just the same again.”

Matthew and Collins had met before. The pair also did battle two years ago with Thirlwall forcing a dramatic fifth round stoppage. It is unlikely, however, that a trilogy will be completed. “I give Jason nothing but credit,” Matthew added. “He is a very awkward operator who throws shots from every angle, but I don’t feel I need to prove anything by fighting him again. Regardless of what the record book will say I know I have beaten him twice and that is all that counts. I am not saying I boxed perfectly, far from it. I allowed him to fight his sort of fight and that must have caught the referee’s eye. But I out landed him two to one, caught him heavily on several occasions and was clearly the superior boxer. What is there to gain by proving that for a third time? I need opponents I can get up for, like Michael Monaghan. He is been in with the divisions best and on a number of occasions been robbed. I suspect there will even be a number of people who tip him to beat me. He is experienced, cagey and a good, technical mover. But they are going to see a different Matthew Thirlwall. I know I can achieve something by beating Michael Monaghan, I can line up a title shot.”

The former ABA champion hopes that these may be just round the corner.
“I would like to think that by the middle of 2005 I will have a belt strapped round my waist. That is more important to me than avenging a spurious loss or building a pampered record. I know an undefeated record seems so important these days, but it has never really bothered me or any of the fighters at Hennessy Sports. We are prepared to take the knocks it needs along the way to reach the top. It makes it all the sweeter when you do.”

“Born To Do It’ takes place at the Wembley Conference Centre on Friday November 12th. The headline contest sees Junior Witter defend his European light welterweight title against Poland’s Krzystof Bienias. A full bill is available at www.HennessySports.com. Tickets are available on 0870 060 0870.

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Thirlwall to Make Up For Lost Time.

  Former ABA champion Matthew Thirlwall has set his sights on a big 2005 following several recent, unjust, setbacks. The bad times started for the twenty-four-year-old in September when he lost >
  
  

• Macklin Stops Monaghan.

  Tonight in Dublin, Ireland, Birmingham's middleweight prospect won the Irish middleweight title with a fifth round stoppage of Michael Monaghan. As reported earlier today on this site, Macklin is coming >
  
  

• Boxing Book Review: Street Fighting Man

  Amazon review At a fighting weight of little more than 11 stone [154 pounds], Paddy Monaghan was not immediately as intimidating as bare-knuckle boxers like Lenny McLean or Roy Shaw. But >
  
  

• Hennessy Boxing: Matt Thirlwall Wants Winner Of Elcock vs. Macklin

  Bermondsey middleweight Matthew Thirlwall returns to the ring at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich on February 28, live on ITV4 to kick off what he hopes is going to be a >
  
  

• Exclusive Interview: Billy Graham.

  

  Click for larger image© Paul Speak Billy Graham is perhaps Britain's top trainer as the Manchester based former fighter >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Barker Keeps Commonwealth With McDermott Stoppage

  Commonwealth champion Darren Barker is now one step closer to solidifing the middleweight division in the UK after stopping English titlist Darren McDermott last night at the Colosseum in Watford, >
  
  

• Matthew Thirlwall: The Year Ahead

  Matthew Thirlwall intends to overcome the frustrations he has experienced since becoming a professional and make 2007 the year in which he takes fulfilling the potential he demonstrated as an >
  
  

• Bare Knuckle Boxing Champion Paddy Monaghan

  © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing On Friday night at Wolverhampton, England, I was lucky enough to meet Paddy Monaghan - Bare Knuckle Boxing Champion of the World. Paddy was in >
  
  

• Darren Barker: “Froch Could Beat Kessler”

  Unbeaten middleweight Darren Barker believes Carl Froch is a future world super-middleweight champion and could beat Mikkel Kessler. The Barnet boxer, who challenges Australian Ben Crampton for the Commonwealth crown on >
  
  

• Running Order: Junior Witter vs. Arturo Morua

  Hennessy Sports Proudly Present First Defence @ Alexandra Palace Saturday 20th January 2007 In association with GoldenPalace.com Doors 6.30pm, Boxing Starts 7.00pm FINAL RUNNING ORDER 6x3 Light Middleweight George Hillyard >
  
  

---