TITLE TARGET
IT has been an exciting year so far for the boxing world, and after five years as a professional I feel it’s time to make my move on the domestic scene. Having turned pro at 18, I’ve had a steady apprenticeship and, after a recent rust-shedder against tough Yorkshireman Danny Little, it’s now time to push on for titles, at superwelterweight or even welterweight.
I have a good team behind me in exciting promotional outfit MTK, and I’m busy preparing at the Sweet Science Studio in Chelmsford, awaiting the opportunity I feel I have earned with 17 wins from 18 contests.
Southern Area and English titles are now within my grasp, even an eliminator for the coveted Lonsdale Belt is in my sights. I just need the right opportunity, with the right amount of notice.
With my brother Kyle Mccarthy recently making a winning pro debut, it will be interesting to follow his journey, but I’m now ready to contest a belt.
Any takers?! Matt Mccarthy, Pro boxer, Tilbury
LEWIS ABOVE CALZAGHE
IN response to David Clark’s letter in the June 22 issue, I have to disagree with his opinion that Joe Calzaghe should have been ranked higher than Lennox Lewis in Boxing News’ 100 Greatest British Boxers bookazine. Jeff Lacy had been hyped up before facing Calzaghe, but had not previously fought anybody of real note. Lewis, on the other hand, beat Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko, Frank Bruno, Gary Mason, Tony Tucker, Ray Mercer and Tommy Morrison to name just a few. And he also easily defeated David Tua, who was tipped for greatness.
Yes, Lewis lost to Hasim Rahman and Oliver Mccall, but he avenged both of those defeats. Calzaghe did finish with an unblemished record, but there are a couple of bouts where you could say he won controversially. For example, against Robin Reid. So, I believe it’s right that Lewis is placed higher than Calzaghe in the rankings. Gary Longmore
A LEAP TOO FAR
I AM a big fan of Andre Ward, yet in his post-fight interview, I started to think that maybe Sergey Kovalev had hit him harder to the head than originally thought when he suggested he might take on Anthony Joshua. With his athleticism, size and power, Joshua would knock Ward into next week. Ian Ratcliffe, Styal
EASY PICKINGS
SO Floyd Mayweather is going to box Conor Mcgregor, and people are going to pay ridiculous amounts for a ringside seat – talk about having more money than sense! Mayweather is going to play with him like a cat toys with a mouse. Owen Hollifield, Bargoed