THE stage is set for the battle of the Blackpool cruiserweights – in the unlikely setting of Wigan on Friday night.
Unbeaten Matty Askin is to tae on veteran Mathew Ellis at the Robin Park arena in a last-minute match-up.
And the war of words between two boxers at the opposite ends of the experience scale has started already prior to what promises to be an intriguing six-rounder on the Punch Promotions show being shown televised on Sky Sports.
Ellis pledged: “I am going to take him to school and teach him a lesson.”
Askin countered: “The old man’s time is over – it’s the young man’s time now.”
The only regret is that the contest is not taking place in the resort, where it would have been a big draw.
Ellis, 36 this week, started his career with much ballyhoo and the promise of big things to come, but it has taken a downward curve recently with him being relegated to the tag of ‘opponent’.
Askin is a novice of just five fights (all of them wins) and like Ellis he won a national ABA title in his days as an amateur – Askin won his championship at cruiserweight, while Ellis was successful at heavyweight.
Ellis said: “All I can say is let’s get it on, and if Askin wants a side-wager for money, then I will take him on and donate the winnings to charity.
“I have nothing to lose and he has everything to lose.
“People should not write me off – I have not retired from boxing and I still stand by my prediction that I will win a British title.
“I am going to take him to school and give him a boxing lesson.
“I am always in training and I am ready for this fight.”
Askin has shrugged off Ellis’s claims.
He said: “I have plenty of respect for Ellis, certainly for what he did at the start of his career, but he is either going down or he will climb out of the ring from under the ropes of his accord when he’s had enough.
“I have been working well in the gym with big cruiserweights – I have also sparred with a big heavyweight Tyson Fury and held my own, and Fury beat Ellis in a few seconds.
“Ellis is just another name to put on my record – I have put on four pounds recently, but I have still kept my speed and agility and am training full time in Manchester, running six or seven miles a day and keeping out of any distractions in Blackpool.”
The bill at Wigan sees two title fights.
Denton Vassell takes on Lee Purdy for the vacant Commonwealth welterweight title, while Askin’s good pal Tommy McDonagh faces Gary Woolcombe for the vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight title.
From Blackpool Gazette – Steve Simpson
I got the last minute call n went out of my way and out of pocket to get my medical in time so matty wud hav an oppnant at a weeks notice and they ring me today to say I’m out n ellis is in!!! Out of order n shows just how the boxers who save shows at the drip if a hat n non names r treated!!! Vert unprofessional!!! Ps matty has as much chance of winning a British titl as I do a world…..none!!!! And mattys team know he’s past it,matty will giv ellis the lesson
That’s ellis I mean about the british title