Big man Matty is on course for big things

Matty Williams…fights in the national semi-finals on Sunday

BIRMINGHAM’S big boxing names are getting excited about a big man who’s a near fanatical Blues fan.

Matty Williams – 6ft 4ins tall and 17 stone – is carving a real name for himself in the amateur ranks. He’s beaten very, very good fighters, including current elite super-heavyweight champ Derrick Osadolor and Leamington top talent Big Joe Bourne.

The Acocks Green ABC boxer has already captured a national NAGBC title and fights in the semi-finals of this year’s competition on Sunday in Blackburn.

Excuse the puns, but the former Birmingham Council grass cutter is mowing down the opposition. He’s a turf nights work for any heavyweight.

And Matty, who has lost seven of 30 contests, is surrounded by very well known names on the Second City fight scene.

Former world amateur champ Frankie Gavin will be in his corner on Sunday. Top pro trainer Max McCracken is loudly banging the drum for the 20-year-old from Marston Green. He, too, helps the lad.

“He’s a special talent,” Max told me. “His work rate and punch volume are phenomenal.

“And he’s still growing, still filling out.”

Matty is certainly being groomed for big things and has sparred such top pros as Solomon Dacres, Joe Joyce and Hughie Fury.

There are still honours to be achieved in the unpaid sport, but Matty is destined for the professional ranks. That move is probably a year away.

“My dreams are to fight at the Blues ground and become a world champion,” Matty said. “My strengths are my engine and the volume of punches I throw. I like to put the pressure on.

“I’ve been doing this for six years. I went in the army in 2021 and was there for a year-and-a-half. I came out and for the last two years I’ve really put the gas on as far as my career goes.”

Council cutbacks resulted in Matty losing his job as a lawnmower man. He’s now fully focused on reaching the top as a boxer.

He used to cut down grass. Now he’s cutting down opponents in the ring.