Boxing Round By Round: Derry Matthews – John Simpson
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This past Saturday night at the Olympia in Liverpool, England, hometown hero Derry Matthews defended his WBU Featherweight title for the first time, staving off challenger John Simpson of Scotland.
Simpson entered the ring first to the instrumental sounds of “The Firestarter”, while ironically, Derry Matthews entered the ring to the Johnny Cash classic, “Ring of Fire”.
Both boxers come out for round one looking confident and for the first forty seconds are tentatively sussing each other out. But, after just 47 seconds of the round, Simpson catches Matthews with a swinging right to the temple area and the local boy falls to the canvas.
Referee Mickey Vann administers the standing eight count as a shocked looking Matthews leaned against the ropes. Simpson’s confidence erupts and he goes after the champion, who looks a little more cautious now.
In the last minute of the round, it is Mathews who scores a shot, landing a left to the face of Simpson and the crowd roars with approval. Simpson stands firm against the taller, leaner Mathews as the crowd chants “Derry, Derry”.
Round two and Simpson overbalances slightly on his feet as Matthews lands another sweeping left. It’s been a better round this time for the Liverpool native as he settles into the fight.
Referee Vann then warns Matthews again for hitting round the back of the head. Seconds later, Matthews flinches as he takes a right from Simpson, then yet another right followed up by a sound bodyshot to the right side of Matthews and the Liverpudlian doubles up, hanging on to the waist of Simpson.
It’s a messy end to the round, but it’s been another good one for the Scot.
Midway through round four and Matthews lands a right on Simpson, but just seconds later as Mickey Vann tells them to stop boxing, the local man throws another punch. Vann calls for time and warns Matthews that it will be a point off next time.
Matthews has done better this round but seems to be fighting on desperation, while Simpson has been focused and determined throughout the contest.
Round six and there’s a lot of holding on by Matthews. Midway through the sixth, Simpson has sustained a cut to the top of the head. Vann calls for time and Matthews’ supporters begin to cheer.
The fight continues and Simpson immediately lands a right. Blood is trickling down to the challenger’s eye and Matthews is encouraged, but his continual pulling down on his opponent warrants him another telling-off from Vann.
With 11 seconds of the round to go, Vann deducts a point from Matthews for holding around the back of the head. Mathews comes back with a good shot of his own, then pushes Simpson down again. Vann
again tells Mathews off! The bell sounds the end of round six and John Simpson raises his gloves aloft as he returns to his corner.
With fifty seconds of round seven to go, Vann calls time for the doctor to look at Simpson. It’s a nasty cut on the top of the head which is trickling blood into the left eye. It looks like they’re giving him one more round.
This would be a terrible shame for Simpson, who is clearly winning the fight. Back in the contest and Matthews lands a right. It’s another messy round, but the champion seems to have won this one.
As they come out for round eight, Matthews targets the cut and blood starts flowing immediately down Simpson’s forehead. Simpson lands a good right hand but his face now is completely red with the blood from his cut and Vann steals another look.
It’s a scrappy round and Mickey Vann has words again with Mathews (it’s been
a busy contest for the Leeds referee!).
At the start of round nine, Mickey Vann asks for some of the grease to be removed from Simpson’s head-cut.With 35 seconds to go, Vann takes another point from Matthews, for holding Simpson in an arm lock and punching the challenger’s cut.
There is uproar from the crowd but Matthews continues by appearing to rub his glove in the cut. There are
rumblings around ringside that he could get disqualified if he continues the rough-house tactics.
Round tem is more wrestling than boxing! John Simpson is looking to land that big swinging right again and each time he misses only by a fraction. Matthews is using his jab more in this round.
Twelfth and final round sees both boxers looking tired. Simpson keeps going despite the cut, which has bled relentlessly. There’s relief from both fighters as the bell signals the end of the contest. But relief is
overshadowed by disbelief as Derry Mathews wins by unanimous decision with an astonishing score of 118-112, 117-110,113-111 amazing when you consider that Mathews had points deducted.
Matthews improves to 18-0 (9), while Simpson drops to 14-5 (4).