VIP Promotions showcase one of the most anticipated domestic dust-ups of the year on October 22, when cruiserweights Matty Askin and Tommy McCarthy square off at Bolton’s Macron Stadium. Screened live and free for fans on vipboxing.tv, the pair headline a packed card when they clash in a final eliminator for the British title.
Askin, 20-3-1 (13), needs to produce against ‘young gun’ McCarthy. The Blackpool-based fighter raced to 13-0 with a string of KOs after turning pro and was touted as the future of the 14st 4lbs division. However, losses in good company to Jon Lewis-Dickinson, Ovill McKenzie and Krzysztof Glowacki—for English, British and WBO Inter-Continental titles respectively—have halted the sea-sider’s rise.
At 9-0 (5), and with notable victories over former Olympian Courtney Fry and the aforementioned Dickinson, McCarthy, is tagged as a potential future star. A tough early career-test, Tommy, 25, faces a much more experienced foe in Askin but the Belfast puncher’s team are happy fast-tracking their man, believing he can cause an upset.
“On paper, this has the potential to be the best British fight this year, and could be headlining a Sky or BoxNation TV show,” said promoter Steve Wood. “McCarthy’s an exciting fighter; his win over Jon-Lewis Dickinson was unexpected and he’s got people in the game believing he could be a big future name. He has a good KO ratio, so anything can happen in this fight. Matt Askin has the pro pedigree though; he’s only lost to good fighters, with Glowacki going on to win a world title, and McKenzie coming very close. This will be a great contest, it could be the fight of the year and I’m pleased fans can watch it live and completely free on vipboxing.tv.”
“He’s racked up a couple of good wins and is undefeated, but I think it’s a step too far,” assessed ‘Assassin’ Askin, 27. “I’m too fast, too strong and I can see a lot of flaws in him. People shouldn’t be reading anything into our results against Dickinson. I definitely fought a better Dickinson, he’d just won Prizefighter and was much fresher. When McCarthy boxed him, he’d been beaten off Courtney Fry, stopped by Ovill McKennzie and was at the end of his career.
People think this is a 50-50 fight but I can’t wait to get in there a do a job on him. I’ve fought much better opponents. I boxed Glowacki at two weeks notice, who’s now a world champion, and I’ve learnt a lot over the years and that will show dividends in the fight. This is the best I’ve been for a long, long time. I’ve been sparring lots of different opponents, fighters who are probably better than him [McCarthy] and I’m looking forward to getting in there and smashing his head in! On paper this its a great fight but he’s not in my league, and I’ll show that on fight night.”
VIP Promotions presents an evening of boxing at Bolton’s Macron Stadium on October 22.
Headlining will be Blackpool’s Matty Askin versus Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy in a British cruiserweight title final eliminator.
Appearing on the undercard will be Blackburn’s Qasim Niaz; Lancashire’s Luke Blackledge, Arthif Daniel, Ben Swarbick and Lee Gillespie; Bolton’s Jack Flatley and Jack Cullen; Blackpool’s RP Davies; Manchester debutants Omar Dusary and Danny Wright; Oswaldtwistle’s Adam Machaj; Darwen’s Mickey Ellison, and London’s Ryan Taylor.
Tickets priced at £30 (general) from vipboxing.tv, £50 (ringside) are available from all boxers.
The show will be streamed live and free at vipboxing.tv
Keep updated on VIP Promotions’ news by visiting vipboxing.tv or follow on Twitter @vipboxing and Facebook.
