Sport Team Features    Sport.co.uk meets...Matt Skelton

Sport.co.uk meets...Matt Skelton

Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 29 September 2010 - 15:01
Author: Josh Antmann
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Matt Skelton has won it all. He is the previous holder of the British, Commonwealth, European, English and not forgetting the WBU heavyweight title. Not content with boxing, Matt was previously a professional kick boxer. Skelton came into the fighting industry at a very late age with his first professional kickboxing bout taking place when he was 35 years-old. He took up boxing soon after and quickly moved through the ranks and became a big threat in the heavyweight division. After some recent defeats, Skelton is back for the Prizefighter Series starting on the 9th October.

Sport.co.uk managed to get a few minutes during his busy training routine to chat with the big man. Seconds out…

You have the Heavyweight Prizefighter series coming up. Do you think you’re the best fighter there?

Obviously I feel that I am. At the same time it doesn’t mean I’m underestimating the other fighters, but I’m very confident in my own ability.

Do you think victory in the Prizefighter could give you one last world title shot?

It’d be nice. I have to keep a realistic head on, but if I win then that’d be a great bonus. It’s pointless though thinking that far ahead at the moment. I’m just concentrating on this competition.

Do you think that Audley deserves a world title shot despite his questionable performances in the ring?

It’s questionable who’s deserving of it. He won the Prizefighter and in the end has got a title shot. You could argue how I was able to get a title shot for the WBA belt. It’s not my place to say really but he’s got the opportunity and he has to seize it with both hands. If someone came up to me and offered me a world title shot, I’m not going to say I’m not deserving of it, I’m not going to say no. He’s an Olympian but can come unstuck on occasions. He probably hasn’t proved himself over the last 10 years, but he’s got his chance now and it’s up to him to make the most of it.

David Haye has already made his mark in the heavyweight division, do you think he has the power to last?

He’s obviously doing the business at the minute. Whether it be because people like him but he definitely has all the attributes that a heavyweight needs. He’s very athletic, he looks in great shape. But if you’re asking me how he’ll fair on the world stage, well he’s got the Klitschko brothers infront of him. He’s doing the job at the moment, and he’s got a major world title, you can’t argue with that. If one day his lack of size and power are against him due to him being a one time cruiserweight, then there is nothing you can do. He’s probably in the best shape he can be physically but he will come up against boxers who are naturally bigger and stronger than him. If he beats them then it’s great for him.

Do you think Haye has the ability to beat the Klitschko brothers?

I think they’re very well schooled. They’ve got a lot of very good qualities and when you watch them box they are so natural. They control fights and they have a lot of power. They’re the dominant force out there in the weight division. But as we all know with heavyweight boxing, one punch can finish a match. You can never write someone off. If you look at it on paper he shouldn’t even get a look in.

Is the heavyweight division in a state of decline?

I’m not sure about the heavyweight itself but there is a lot of publicity in general. You look when you had the likes of Tyson and Lennox dominating the heavyweight scene, you could tell someone who the champion is. Nowadays you don’t know who the champion is. Unless you follow the Klitschko brothers, you probably don’t know who they are. They are just not the household name that fighters in the past were. You always question different eras of boxing. You may have someone who grew up in the Rocky Marciano era and they are always going to say that Mike Tyson would never beat him. Then you have the Muhammad Ali era and then Larry Holmes who was a great fighter and never got the recognition he deserved. I just think that’s always the way.

The British public never really warmed to Lennox Lewis like they did with Frank Bruno. But on paper Lennox was a better fighter and achieved more. In my mind Lennox Lewis was one of the great fighters, he was tactically superb and had great technique. At the moment I don’t think the heavyweight division is bad, it’s just that there is no household name that people can say “he’s definitely the world champion”. There are so many different versions of the world title that the public don’t understand it.

Do you think there are a lack of characters in British boxing nowadays?

I think there is a fine line. I used to like Chris Eubank, but other people weren’t fans of him. You can have a bit of arrogance and self belief and the public like you, but if you step over that line and get too cocky then they can turn against you. At one stage everyone was waxing lyrical about David Haye, but if I talk to the same person about him they’re not so keen on him now. Because of a gesture he’s made or something he’s said. My argument is just be yourself. When you’re in the ring you’re on your own and your job isn’t to please the public, in an ideal world it would be nice if you could.

Has the boom of UFC meant that boxing is taking a back seat?

I don’t know if it’s taking the die hard supporters away from boxing. You have youngsters coming up who look at UFC and how it’s advertised and it’s all glamorous and exciting. Young lads can go into a gym, learn a bit of grappling and some moves and all of a sudden they’re a UFC fighter. I just think some people just don’t understand boxing. It’s another sport and if you like fighting then it’s a good alternative. I’m involved with UFC and watch it on a regular basis.

So come on Matt, give us a prediction for the Haye v Harrison bout.

I’m not sure. I think Haye will just do it. It won’t be a stoppage; I think it’ll be on points. I think really that Audley is up for it, but that’s only in interviews and the way he’s come across. Some things about him are still questionable. But Haye will take the fight to him and try to be really positive. I can see him winning it on points.