Watford boxer Matthews targets another quick knock out (From Watford Observer)

Watford boxer Elliott Matthews targets another quick knock out

3:21pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in Sport

Watford power-puncher Elliott Matthews says he’s going for another quick knock out in his next fight.

Matthews boxes in front of the Eurosport cameras at the Camden Centre, near King’s Cross station, on Friday, October 5 when promoter Mickey Helliet stages a championship bill.

He is aiming to make it five wins out of five as a professional middleweight.
Matthews has attracted the attention of boxing pundits after blasting out his last three opponents inside a round apiece – and the 31-year-old southpaw says he’s planning another early night.

"I’m not going in there to mess around," he said.

"Anything can happen in a fight. You can clash heads and get cut, so I plan to go out there, get the job done as quickly as possible and look better than I did last time. It's not a problem, the crowds are getting bigger each time I fight and I like to think I give them what they want to see, which is 100 per cent value for money, I enjoy getting stuck in."

His last fight lasted just 77 seconds. That it was all it took Matthews to stop Vickor Tzonev in Elephant and Castle, but his sparring sessions have been tougher.

Matthews spent two weeks in Las Vegas this summer sparring at the gym where pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Junior trains.

Matthews reports he made "a good impression" and since his return he’s been trading punches with European super-middleweight champion James DeGale and Steve O’Meara.

"They are both at the top level," said Matthews. "They’ve both got every punch in the book and I get hit by shots from all angles.

"They are educating me and it’s tough sometimes. But I won’t always have it all my own way and I need to know how to keep composed and battle my way through the tough times.

"As an amateur, I would get in the ring, throw non-stop punches for three rounds, then go home.

"But there’s a lot more to professional boxing. The rounds are a lot longer and you have to think about your boxing more.

"My sparring is so tough it’s like a party when I get to box. I get to throw punches for a change."

Matthews works as a trainer at YMCA in Watford and his success stories include Anthony Joshua’s niece.

Joshua, brought up on the Meriden estate, became a national hero by striking gold at this summer’s Olympics and his niece, Chantelle McCoy, has also made her mark in the boxing ring.

Matthews was in her corner when she reached the final of the ABA women’s championship three years ago and reckons he can also help Joshua make the right decision about his fighting future.

"My manager, Mickey Helliet, knows the game inside out and can be trusted," said Matthews. "I contacted Anthony on Twitter and told him Mickey would be a good man to talk to."

Tickets for the show are available from 07557 209409.