Another GB gold for unstoppable Matty
Matty Williams proudly displays the medal collected in Hungary
MATTY Williams’ rampage through the world rankings continues at speed.
On Saturday, the Birmingham super-heavy again struck gold for Team GB, winning the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Hungary.
Now those around the 21-year-old, a product of Acocks Green boxing club, can dare to dream. Asked if Matty can claim a gold medal at the 2026 LA Olympics, Max McCracken, Acocks Green’s pro trainer, said: “You can’t rule him out.”
Williams, blessed with an unbelievable engine, appears to be improving with each international outing. That’s the frightening thing.
In Hungary, the die-hard Birmingham City fan boxed four times in as many days.
In his first outing, the former council grass cutter mowed down Hungary’s Bence Bogdalik in two. Experienced Lithuanian Jonas Vivicuin managed to last the distance, losing on points, then Australian Alex Shaw was outscored in the semis.
Matty capped a memorable competition by unanimously outpointing Mark Kovaks, from Hungary. McCracken said: “Style wise, the lad reminded me of Joe Joyce. Matty beat him to the punch and caught him from all angles.”
Williams is compiling a formidable GB record. Of the five tournaments he’s taken part in, four have resulted in gold medals.
Only world number one Aibek Oralbay has beaten him – and the Kazakhstan star was pushed all the way. In Benidorm’s BoxAm tournament, Oralbay endured a torrid last round, took a standing count and came through on a majority decision.
McCracken said: “Matty’s progressing and improving all the time. What he’s doing is just crazy, he’s definitely a future star.”
And Williams has the mentality to cope with the pressure that comes with being considered the next big thing.
McCracken added: “He’s comfortable in the ring, he comes alive in the ring. Matty believes in himself.”
With each victory more and more people are believing in him, too.
Back in 2024, Matty told me: “My dreams are to fight at the Blues ground and become a world champion. My strengths are my engine and the volume of punches I throw. I like to put the pressure on.
“I went in the army in 2021 and was there for a year-and-a-half. I came out and really put the gas on as far as my career goes.”
The odds of boxing at his beloved St Andrew’s and becoming a world champ shorten with each outing.