The best advice i s to s ta y away
MATHEWS WON’T MAKE COMEBACK
IT’S seven months since Derry Mathews quit.
But those who are also ready to walk away from the ring can learn from him.
The Liverpool lightweight lost to Ohara Davies in March but cried tears of joy in the dressing room with family and friends.
It was the relief that it was finally over, even though he had already realised he was not going to be a world champion long before he faced the up-and-coming Londoner.
Mathews, 34, still has the addiction though – and the craving that calls so many back to the ring is present as he talks about how his retirement is going.
“It’s a drug, that’s all I can think of,” he said. “I’ve been tempted to come back but I’ve listened to the best advice I can. That is to stay away – and I will.”
The former world title challenger is the perfect example of how boxers should deal with retirement by avoiding comebacks that can lead to taking needless punches. He had a good professional career with boxing politics playing a big part in him never getting a world title.
But he didn’t earn the millions that would mean he never has to work again, and he now runs a gym and owns a small cafe.
Grafted
He is in the gym from 7am until 9pm coaching seven pros with George Vaughan, running fitness classes, and training his new amateur club, Derry ABC.
Mathews monitors the amateur career of his son, Derry Jnr, so there is little time to spend with his wife, Michelle, and their new daughter, never mind consider a comeback. “There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is always another career,” he said. “I’ve worked hard all my life, I’ve grafted in the gym. If I can put that into the management and coaching side of things I can be successful at that.”
Mathews’ other advice to young fighters is that unless you earn the kind of money Anthony Joshua gets, then watch the pennies while you are fighting.
He added: “How many boxers retire and don’t own a house? They just want to spend their money, be in nightclubs and want to be known as a superstar.
“Once your boxing career is over, where do you go? I’ve been lucky enough to buy a house, I’ve bought a business. I’m one of the lucky ones – but I’ve earned my own luck.
“When I first turned professional I was a d***head, I was buying stupid cars, wanting watches, the best clothes, £400 trainers. It’s all no good when your career is over.
‘‘Over the last couple of years I’ve been sensible.”