One Hit Wonder - Derry Snatches The Title

By Bobby Hunter


Trailing on points, severely winded and being totally out boxed. Derry Mathews rescued his career AGAIN by stopping home town favourite Tommy Coyle in the tenth round to win the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title. The lively Hull crowd packed into the Craven Park Stadium hoping to roar Coyle to victory and for nine rounds it had looked like the younger, fresher man was going to give the fans their wish and he totally baffled his more experienced opponent. Mathews then unloaded one big left hook after a clinch to silence the crowd and leave a dejected Coyle to wonder how he had thrown away what had looked like a certain victory.

In the first few rounds it was plain to see what Coyle's tactics would be. At 23 he was six years younger than Mathews but more importantly a hell of a lot quicker than the man from Liverpool. Coyle easily darted in and out of range early in the fight landing flurry after flurry. Mathews chased Coyle around the ring but he had no answer for the Hull man's movement and quick attacks to the body. Mathews probably nicked round 3 as Coyle slowed down just a little. Mathews began to land his jab followed by a few hurtful right hands. Coyle again took charge in the middle rounds. The jab was now keeping Mathews at bay as the Liverpool man plodded after Coyle, Mathews was also being caught with a slashing right hand by Coyle, similar to the right hand Ricky Burns the WBO 135lb champion throws. The more experienced Mathews just could not get into the fight.

The trend continued in rounds seven and eight where Mathews was having some success but was simply being over powered in punch connects by Coyle. For every decent punch Mathew was landing, Coyle was landing two, maybe three. One of the impressive attributes that Coyle was showing was his head movement on the ropes. Mathews would keep the pressure on for most of the fight sometimes trapping Coyle on the ropes but he rarely landed. Coyle's jack in a box movement was driving Mathews crazy. Derry just couldn't let the combinations go.

Coyle looked to have the fight tied up in the ninth as Mathews seemed to be losing steam fast. Body shots rained in on the former British champion as it was now his turn to be pushed against the ropes. The end looked near although not in the way many expected as under pressure and taking punches Mathews unleashed a massive left hook that caught Coyle high on the head and slammed him to the canvas. The crowd fell silent as Referee Phil Edwards gave the Hull man an eight count. Coyle looked shaky so Edwards called the fight off to the obvious delight of Mathews.

The Warrior from Liverpool had came back again when defeat looked likely. Mathews can now look forward to more paydays defending his newly acquired Commonwealth crown although he did offer Coyle a rematch if he wanted it. Coyle who was in complete shock as he was well ahead on the cards said he would love the rematch but was visibly upset when giving his interview to Sky TV.

Rocky Lives.


Below is my scorecard along with the press and fan scores i was able to collect for this fight.


Round 1.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 2.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 3.... 9-10 Mathews
Round 4.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 5.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 6.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 7.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 8.... 10-9 Coyle
Round 9.... 10-9 Coyle

TOTAL : 89-82 Coyle at the time of stoppage.

DERRY MATHEWS WINS BY 1OTH ROUND KO



Press and Fan Scores

Phil D Jay - (WorldBoxingNews) 88-83 Coyle

Kasim - (UKFighthype) 88-83 Coyle

Shaun Brown - (Boxing-Monthly) 87-84 Coyle

Danny Flexen - (Boxing news) 89-82 Coyle

BoxingOpinions - 89-83 Coyle

Scott Smith - (UKFighthype) 89-82 Coyle

Matt Digi - (BoxingAsylum) 88-83 Coyle

FightersRated - 88-83 Coyle

ATR Boxing Tipster - 88-83 Coyle

Livefight.com - 88-83 Coyle

Alex Morris - (BoxingAsylum) 89-82 Coyle

Paul Daley - ( TopClassBoxing) 88-83 Coyle