DERRY TARGETS DOUBLE

Derry Mathews has promised to make it a Merseyside sporting double by reclaiming the British Lightweight title and Liverpool winning the Premier League.

The Anfield hero takes on reigning champion Martin Gethin on Saturday 10th May at Liverpool Olympia, and the following day Liverpool face Newcastle at home in the final match of the season that could see them lift the Premier League crown for the first time in 24 years.

Die-hard Liverpool fan Mathews watched Sunday’s 3-2 thriller against Manchester City to put his team within touching distance of the title and he is looking to snatch the Lonsdale belt from Gethin in a similar style.

Mathews said, “I can’t wait for it. It’s going to be a massive weekend for sport in Merseyside.  Liverpool have got four ‘Cup Finals’ to go until they get their hands on the trophy and it will be a tremendous feat to win the Premier League after nearly a quarter of a century.  The schedule couldn’t have fallen any better, my British title fight on Saturdayand then the big match at Anfield on Sunday.  I’ve got my ticket booked for the Newcastle game and I aim to be sitting there as the new British Champion.  I don’t want to tempt fate, but after the great match on Sunday against Manchester City it’s hard not to get carried away with it, but it would be amazing if they did it.  Alongside my British title win, what a weekend that would be for the people of Merseyside.”

Mathews hasn’t taken his eye of the ball against Gethin and is expecting a war against the tough Walsall man.

He added, “I respect Gethin.  He’s the champion and a very tough and hard man.  We both fight the same, coming forward, throwing punches and a never-say-die attitude.  It’s going to come down to who wants in more on the night and who’s prepared to put everything on the line and still go that bit further.  I’m not going back down to six and eight round fights.  I’m a championship fighter and want to go on to bigger things.  If I get beat then it’s over for me and my career, but that’s not going to happen.  This won’t be going the distance, we’ll be coming out both guns blazing and there’s going to be fireworks.”

Gethin v Mathews headlines an action-packed show that also features undefeated middleweight sensation and son of the great Chris Eubank Jnr., light-welterweight Tom Stalker, Manchester lightweight Terry Flanagan, liverpool light-welterweight Nathan Brough, Ellesmere Port lightweight Matty Fagan, Chorley light-welterweight Jack Catterall, Belfast featherweight Ciaran McVarnock, Blackwood super-featherweightCraig Evans, Bideford super-middleweight Tommy Langford, Manchester Super-Featherweight Adrian Gonzalez, Birmingham lightweight Joe Costello and the professional debuts of Liverpool bantamweight Kevin Hodkinson and Manchester welterweight McCauley McGowan.

Tickets for ALL OR NOTHING are priced at £40 unreserved and £60 Ringside and are available Box Office 0151 263 6633 and www.liverpoololympia.com
Watch Gethin v Mathews live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/HD 490 and Virgin Ch. 546).  Join at www.boxnation.com