Sport

Wilton refusing to let title fight cancellation get him down

Matthew Wilton, who won against Adam Cieslak at the 'Titanic Showdown&rsquo; in Belfast&rsquo;s Titanic Quarter<br />Picture: Ann McManus
Matthew Wilton, who won against Adam Cieslak at the 'Titanic Showdown’ in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter
Picture: Ann McManus
Matthew Wilton, who won against Adam Cieslak at the 'Titanic Showdown’ in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter
Picture: Ann McManus

THE first title shot of Matthew Wilton’s career has fallen through, but the Belfast welterweight is confident further opportunities are waiting around the corner.

Wilton (11-0) had been out of action for almost a year (since an appearance on the Titanic Showdown bill) before returning to the ring and outpointing Liam Griffiths at London’s York Hall earlier this month.

That fight was expected to be a tune-up for a shot at the vacant BBBofC Celtic welterweight title against Matthew McAllister at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh next month but Wilton found out last week that the fight wouldn’t go ahead.

“We were offered the fight about a month ago through the McGuigans (Cyclone Promotions) and we accepted it and then we heard that the other kid didn’t accept the fight so he’s not on the show,” he explained.

“It’s disappointing, big time, but there’s positive stuff coming back from the McGuigans, they want me on another show so we’re happy enough.”

Wilton hopes to get his next fight in mid-October/early-November in Dublin. He admitted that he had to get rid of some ring rust against Griffiths in London but was back to his best after a couple of scratchy rounds.

“It was a run-out,” he said.

“It was a points win, handy enough. I was rusty for the first two rounds and I sort of shook it off and just upped the gears a wee bit.

“I had three opponents for the fight and, fair play to Griffiths, he stepped in on the Wednesday to fight on the Saturday. It got me out so we’re happy enough.”

Wilton has been talked about as a British title challenger in the past and intends to force his way into contention for a crack at the belt currently held by Birmingham battler Sam Eggington.

“The McGuigans phoned last week and said that they’re going to get me something line up,” he said.

“If they’re coming over here for a big show I could be on it and maybe fight for a title. As long as I keep ticking over and keep winning – I’ll maybe have three fights before Christmas and then go for it in the new year.”

Wilton won’t be on the bill in Edinburgh but Anthony Cacace one of the headline acts. ‘The Apache’ takes on Ronnie Clark (13-2-2) for the vacant BBBofC Celtic super featherweight title while Marco McCullough features on the undercard.

DEE WALSH looks set for a significant breakthrough if he can beat tough journeyman Simone Lucas at the Europa Hotel in Belfast next month.

Irish Light-Middlweight champion Walsh (12-0) fights Simone Lucas on October 17 and victory will pave the way for a WBO Inter-Continental title shot and the chance for him to leap up the British rankings.

Promoter Mark Dunlop explained: “Over the past few weeks I’ve been offered a WBO Inter-Continental title fight for Dee which we will take.

“Frank Warren has the light-middleweight division sewn up with all the prospects and after this October show Dee will be in a 50-50 title fight by the end of this year or early next year.

“He’ll be in the mix of fighters coming through – the likes of Jimmy Kilrain Kelly and Gary Cochrane – and I believe he’ll beat any one of them. Dee is coming 26 and he wants to move on and we want to move on with him.

“His last fight was against a tough guy (Patryk Litkiewicz) and he made it look easy – he’s more than capable at that level and winning next month will get him a top 10 ranking.”

Liverpool’s Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith is the current British champion and he is expected to push on to world level next year meaning the belt could be up for grabs.

“Dee is on the conveyor belt that hopefully should end up with a world title shot and I’ve told him he could be five fights away from a world title,” he said.

“We’re geared up that this fight will be a warm-up and the next one will be the big one – it’ll be a real big stern test and if he makes it then the world is his oyster.

“He’s at the right age and he’ll want to know himself if he’s good enough.”

Walsh, a true student of the sport, visited the Mayweather Boxing Gym during a trip to Las Vegas recently. He was hoping to do some sparring, but was disappointed by the reception he received.

“Things are looking good for Dee – no-one has laid a glove on him in 12 fights – and him and James Tennyson are at exactly the same stage Carl Frampton was at when he was at 12-13 fights,” said Dunlop.

“We’ll all know whether he’s ready for the next level by Christmas or soon after it because, barring injuries, he will be in a major fight.”

The October 17 show at the Europa Hotel also features James Tennyson (Celtic Featherweight champion), James Fryers (Masters champion), Joe Fitzpatrick (Commonwealth Games Silver medallist) and Paul Hyland jr.

Tickets are priced at £75 VIP (including a four course meal), £40 (ringside) and £30 (unreserved). Available from all of the above boxers, telephone 07712473905 or email mark@mhdpromotions.com

WELL-KNOWN boxing writer Barry Flynn’s latest offering is a little book that packs a big punch.

The Little Book of Irish Boxing is a pocket-sized encylopaedia of the Irish fight game from its origins in the 18th century right through to the present day.

The Belfast author, whose previous offerings have included Legends of Irish Boxing, biographies of John McNally and Bernard Dunne and Best of Enemies, the biography of John Caldwell and Freddie Gilroy, has used a wealth of knowledge of the sport to produce a anthology of amateur and professional boxing.

The book opens with an account of Kildare’s Peter Corcoran, who became the first Irishman to become heavyweight champion of England in 1749, and recounts ad hoc prizefighting shows in Meath, Cork, Dublin and Tyrone.

The seeds for Ireland’s success in the sport were sown then and the roots of the nation’s Olympic glory can be traced back to our first appearance at the Olympics which came back in 1924.

It took 28 years before John McNally won Ireland’s first boxing medal – a silver in Helsinki.

Reports and results from the Irish National Championships are included and there are pieces on all the major stars from Rinty Monaghan right up to Paul McCloskey and tales of the unexpected like Joe Frazier’s ill-fated tour with his band ‘The Knockouts’ in 1971 and the story of Martin Thornton – the man behind John Wayne’s character Sean Thornton in ‘The Quiet Man’.

Published by The History Press, The Little Book of Irish Boxing is available online and in all good bookshops.