“BEAT DERRY MY ARSE!” TOMLINSON BACKS LIVERPOOL HERO MATHEWS TO DETHRONE ABRIL

Royal Family star Ricky Tomlinson gave Derry Mathews his backing ahead of his WBA World Lightweight title challenge against champion Richar Abril on Saturday 18th Aprilat the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Tomlinson visited Mathews at today’s press conference at the Hilton Hotel to give his support before Mathews departs for his Marbella training camp tomorrow as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

“Beat Derry? My arse!” Said Tomlinson of Abril’s chances of defeating Liverpool’s favourite fighting son.

He added, “Our kid Derry is as tough as they come, Abril will have to thrown everything at him to beat him and he’ll still need more.  Derry has the tools to beat this kid and win the world title.  If he brings a world title to Liverpool, he would become a god in this city! The whole of Liverpool should be getting behind this kid and supporting him in the biggest fight of his life.”

Mathews, who blew away Gyorgy Mizsei Jr. in five rounds last Friday night, is grateful for the celebrity support and is preparing for a brutal twelve rounds.

He said, “Ricky’s a legend and to have him backing me is a massive boost in my home city ahead my world title fight against Abril.  The love and support I get from the fans in the city is incredible so if I’m going to win this world title anywhere I’m going to win it in Liverpool,”

“I’m glad Ricky’s got that confidence in me, but I’ve still got to lock myself away for the next six weeks to get myself mentally and physically perfect for this fight and know that I’ve left no stone unturned as I get ready to meet Abril,”

“He’s the best of the world lightweight champions and he’s got the amateur pedigree coming from Cuba which has produced legendary fighters.  I believe that I’m up against it, but I know that this is the one biggest moment of my life and I’m not going to blow it.”

Abril v Mathews tops a fantastic fight card and chief support on the show sees an exciting flyweight clash between two of the top men in the division, Iain Butcher and Luke Wilton, for the Vacant Flyweight Championship of Great Britain.  With Liverpool ace Kevin Satchell vacating the belt as he focuses on defending his European title ahead of a potential world title shot later this year, his successor for the Lonsdale belt will be decided.

The undercard features a host of Liverpool stars including: undefeated super-talent Joe Selkirk, the former WBO European Light-Middleweight Champion, makes his long awaited return to the ring in an eight round contest; fast rising welterweight prospectStephen Lewis, who’s unbeaten in eight fights, returns to action in six-rounder; all-action light-middleweight James Metcalf, the mirror image of his father, Liverpool legend Shea “The Shamrock Express” Neary, in the ring looks to continue his unbeaten eight fights; two hot young talents make their professional debuts on the shows: hard-hitting cruiserweight John Gillies and flyweight Andrew Cain.

Tickets are available from the Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400 or echo arena.com and Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or event.co.uk

BoxNation will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 525.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.