THIRLWALL KNOCKOUT MEANS BIG FIGHTS ON HORIZON

Southwark News John Prendergast28th May, 2009

The big fights Bermondsey's Matt Thirlwall has yearned for are set to be lined up for him, after he scored a stunning knockout victory last weekend.

A sweet left hook on the bell of the fourth round accounted for Canning Town's George Hillyard, after Thirlwall took his time to find his feet in the contest.

Thirlwall's opponent was well known to him, having boxed numerous rounds in sparring with Hillyard over the years, but the Bermondsey man showed no mercy between the ropes.

On the evening after a slow first round it was clear who had the superior technique and skills, and Thirlwall finished the fight with a flourish.

Speaking to the 'News' after the fight the Bermondsey boxer said the rounds of sparring with Hillyard had not really helped him find a chink in his opponents armour.

He added: "It was one of those shots that you just get on the night, in sparring you just don't get the opportunity to pick out one of those clean shots. But it was a very good shot on the night."

The punch was so late in the round that Hillyard managed to get to his feet and make it to his corner, but did not come out for fifth after advice from his seconds.

With the stunning victory behind him, it seems that Thirlwall's promoter Mick Hennessy is now ready to put the 28-year-old up for bigger and better things.

"We haven't had a chance to sit down and discuss it properly but Mick has said he wants to put me up for the bigger fights now, which I hope will lead onto titles.

"I still have my arm injury and I am not going to get rid of that, and I will just have to live with it. But I am enjoying training, and the only thing is to get those big fights now which I am really excited about."

But he is refusing to set himself any targets in the near or distant future. He added: "I did that at the beginning of my career and when you get a setback it can be a real kick in the balls. I will just take on the next fight, which we hope to be a big fight, and take it from there.

"There is nobody out there who I am worried about and I am happy to take on anyone who is put in front of me."