Matthews looking to outsmart Antoine
WHEN 36-year-old Cassius Matthews steps into the ring to face recently crowned World Boxing Council (WBC), Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) lightweight champion Miguel Antoine next Friday on the 16th edition of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)-organised ProAm Friday Night Fights, he plans to outsmart his opponent on his way to a victory. “I saw him in action against both Mark Austin and Shawn Pile and I am not fazed by his performance. In fact he had a tough time against Pile, a man I defeated when the ProAm card was held in Linden for the first time in April and I am confident that I can defeat Miguel Antoine next Friday night,” said Matthews.
He claims to be on a self-redemption path, following three epic battles with Keith ‘Crusher’ Thomas whom he felt he had beaten and even though he suffered a third-round stoppage to Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy, Matthews is of the opinion that he possesses world title material.
“I won my first three professional fights, including a points decision over Glenn Forde, before I was held to a draw by Thomas, a fight I felt I won, then the defeat against Thomas and later Barbados’ Christopher ‘Shaka’ Henry.
“Some say I lost to Thomas in the second fight, but I know to myself I did not lose that fight and after facing and defeating Shawn Holder and Dexter Breedy in my next two fights, I got another shot at Thomas and again was robbed,” said Matthews.
He added, “I felt like quitting the sport, but was urged not to do so by my friends and even some other boxers and after a one-year sabbatical, I entered back into the ring and suffered two successive losses to Hardy and Dillon Carew respectively, before I rebounded to defeat Pile.
“For me, at this point of my career, there is no looking back and even though I have reached an age where many boxers would call it a day, I still dream of being a world champion and have no intentions quitting until I make my dream a reality.”
Matthews expressed confidence ahead of his battle with the 32-year-old Antoine, so much so that he trains at home and not in a gym and does not intend to set foot in a gym, unless he is making preparations for a world title fight.
Other fights on the card will see another Barbados-based boxer Selwyn Lett oppose local journeyman Orlon ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers in a bantamweight encounter, Anthony Augustine take on Julian Tannis and Edmond De Clou face Joel McRae for the GBBC Intermediate middleweight title.
Admission to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to witness the above-mentioned bouts along with four exciting and enthralling amateur fights next Friday is $1 000 for adults and $500 for children. All the bouts will be broadcast live on NCN Channel 11 from 20:00hrs.