Harris bags rounds as belt bid beckons

Matty Harris…taken the full six rounds in London on Saturday night

HULKING heavyweight Matty Harris banked invaluable rounds on Saturday as he moves within touching distance of a significant title.

At London’s Copper Box Arena, the 6ft 8ins Coventry colossus was taken the distance for one of the few times in his slam-bang career. Battersea’s granite-chinned Ben Vickers lasted the course, but lost every session of their six rounder, 60-54.

Vickers, who has lost five of 10, is one very tough individual. To date, no one has prevented him hearing the final bell.

It wasn’t vintage Harris, who has a sole defeat in 12, but the rounds bagged will prove invaluable when championship opportunities arise. The bout did underline the improvements in Harris’s boxing ability under trainer Peter Fury.

He’s also slimmed down considerably, weighing 17st 8lbs for Saturday’s show.

“Ben Vickers is tougher than his record suggests,” said manager Max McCracken. “I think he has a world class chin. He’s from an MMA background, if you’re not the real deal he’ll beat you. After the fight, Pete said he (Harris) can do better, which Matt needs to understand.”

It’s six rounds in the bank for Matt, that’s invaluable.”

McCracken believes the time is right to let Harris off the leash. He’d like a title on the line for the 26-year-old’s next contest, in Manchester in October.

“We’re looking at English level,” he said. “If we can’t get the English it could be an international title.”

But Max stressed Harris is far from the finished article. Physically imposing, he turned over after a limited amateur career and gained headlines through a string of quick, spectacular KOs – four of them coming in the first round.

In his sixth contest, Ukrainian Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko withstood the early bombardment and halted Harris in five. Frankly, that setback set off alarm bells.

Since then, Matty has found a new trainer in Fury, worked on technique and got back to winning ways.

“Peter is building him at his own pace,” Max stressed. “The big picture is to keep building him. Matt had seven amateurs fights, he’s come on a lot under Peter. If he stays on track, puts in the work with Peter, he will definitely reach world level.

“His boxing’s come on loads. It’s now a case of the right fights at the right time.”

Max pledged: “Next time it will be a step up.”