Frank Warren presented World Championship Boxing from the Echo Arena, Liverpool, headlined by Derry Mathews challenge for the vacant-interim WBA title strap against Tony Luis.
Fight # 1 – 18:30 hrs
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Flyweight Contest
ANDREW CAIN WTKO2 (2:16) PATRICK BARTOS
Top amateur Andrew Cain, from the talent packed Everton Red Triangle gym, opens his professional career with a hard-hitting performance, showing some hard body punching, to halt Patrick Bartos in the second round.
Fight # 2
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Middleweight Contest
McCAULEY McGOWAN WPTS4 (40-36) ARVYDAS TRIZNO
Anthony Farnell trained prospect Mccauley McGowan takes his record to 6-0 with a solid performance over 63-fight veteran Arvydas Trizno.
Fight # 3
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest
JOSH LEATHER WPTS6 (60-55) RYAN HARDY
Middlesborough hot-shot Josh Leather made to work hard by Sheffield’s Ryan Hardy, but the harder, faster, combinations coming from the classy former ABA Champion to win on the referee’s scorecard.
Fight # 4
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Middleweight Contest
JOE SELKIRK WTKO6 (2:14) YURI POMPILIO
After 16 months out of the ring, Liverpool’s super-talent Joe Selkirk returned with a bang, stopping Spaniard Yuri Pompilio in the sixth round. He dropped Pompilio in third with an uppercut and took his time until the sixth round when he hurt Pompilio with a big right hand and followed it up with plenty of big hooks and uppercuts until the referee stepped.
Fight # 5
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
STEVEN LEWIS WTKO1 (2:44) REECE SMITH
All-action Steven Lewis came out firing showing that he meant business and blitzed Reece Smith inside the first round dropping him twice with a straight right and a left hook. Undefeated Lewis takes his record to 9-0 and looks an exciting young talent.
Fight # 6
THE VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 11st (154lbs)
LIAM SMITH WTKO7 (1:10) DAVID EZEQUIEL ROMERO
Big-hitting Liam Smith captures the Vacant WBO Intercontinental crown with a hard-hitting performance showing off his awesome body-punching to full-effect. Smith dropped the tough Argentinian in the 3rd, 5th (twice), 6th and finally in the 7th when the referee saw enough and called a halt.
Fight # 7
THE VACANT WBA INTERIM WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 9lbs (135lbs)
DERRY MATHEWS WPTS12 (Unanimous decision: 114-112, 114-112, 115-112) TONY LUIS
Liverpool hero Derry Mathews achieved his dream of winning a world title in front of his home crowd by defeating the game Canadian David Luis on points in a tough and gruelling fight.
After a tough build up to the fight, in which he saw three changes of opponent, Mathews was ready for whatever was in front of him and Luis was a real handful.
The referee warned them both in round four for holding and in the fifth they exchanged hard shots, but the Canadian was warned for leading with the elbow.
In the sixth Luis ploughed forward and in the seventh Mathews was warned for a low blow and so was Luis for hitting after the break.
In a foul-filled eighth round, Mathews was deducted a point for a low blow and Luis for use of his head.
The ninth round saw Luis come out strong and blitz Mathews with a barrage of punches, but getting the better towards the end of the round in the tenth.
With both men tiring in the eleventh, Mathews fought well of the ropes, and did the same in the 12th and final round to coast to victory.
All three judges had it in favour of Mathews with scores of 114-112, 114-112, 115-112 to ensure victory for the hometown man.
Mathews said afterwards, “I can’t believe my dream has come true tonight. It was hard in there but I’ve been through so much over the last few weeks that there was no way I was going to be leaving the ring without that belt. Luis is a tough, hard, fighter and I’m sure on another day he’ll win the title against someone else, but I wanted it more than anything. I’ve got the Interim belt now and I’ll be facing the winner out of full champion Darleys Perez and Champion in Recess Richar Abril. For now I’m going to enjoy my moment after a hard twelve week camp away from my family and just relax.”
