Boxing Preview: Derry Matthews – Steve Chinnock

Unbeaten featherweight Derry Matthews goes for his first title Saturday night on the big Sports Network show in Nottingham when he meets former English Super Featherweight challenger Steve Chinnock over ten rounds. Matthews, from Liverpool, is unbeaten in all fourteen of his professional fights and will be looking to make it fifteen against Chinnock, who despite having one less fight and three defeats has the edge in the experience as has shared a ring with Mickey Bowden, Andrew Ferrans and former British Champions Roy Rutherford and Dazzo Williams.

Chinnock beat Bowden on points over eight rounds but was stopped in the losses to Ferrans, Williams and Rutherford, although against the latter, Chinnock was doing surprisingly well until a horrible gash caused the fight to end prematurely. Matthews, young at twenty two, has been brought along sensibly, defeating journeymen Peter Buckley and Steve Gethin before stepping up in level against mercurial operators Frederic Bonifai and Buster Dennis, outpointing both over six rounds. The win over Dennis looks even better now that the stocky volume puncher went on to hold undefeated prospects Stephen Foster Jr and Lee Cook to draws.

Matthews will start a big favourite and will most likely capture the vacant title with a clear points win or a late stoppage.