Harris issues chilling warning with KO win

Matty Harris…second round demolition job. Picture: Queensberry

COVENTRY City fans may already be shaking the champagne bottles as promotion beckons.

But they may soon have something else to celebrate as one of their own – Sky Blues diehard Matty Harris – makes strides towards the heavyweight big time.

On Saturday’s major O2 Arena show, topped by Wilder and Chisora, promoted by Queensberry, the 26-year-old issued a chilling warning to Britain’s big men.

Greenwich may still be trembling from the chopping right hand that poleaxed Franklin Ignatius.

The Dagenham boxer had managed to lift his back off the canvas, but was fumbling for the ropes like a drunk attempting to clutch a bottle-opener when the count was stopped at five.

It was a knockout in all but name.

It was a statement.

On paper, Ignatius, with only one loss in 11 going into the scheduled eight rounder, looked a stern test. He’d faced better men, he’d taken British champ Jeamie Tshikeva into the six.

Under the bright lights, he was blitzed.

Harris, trained by Peter Fury and looking trim at a career lightest 17st 8lbs, moved and jabbed sharply in the first, giving a taste of what was to follow with one heavy right hand.

In the second that right – short and sweet – connected with wrecking ball power. It was all over 20 seconds into the session.

Matty, a 6ft 8ins man mountain, can certainly punch. He’s now won 10 of 11, seven by stoppage, five inside the first round.

Manager Max McCracken said: “He’s a freakish puncher and he’ll be doing it at a much higher level.

“Franklin Ignatius had faced the better opponents, but I felt his style was made for Matty’s style. He was going to come forward and try to walk through Matty – you can’t do that with Matty Harris.”

Harris, who turned pro after a fairly limited amateur career, is a very different boxer from the one who grabbed national headlines following four successive first round victories.

He was being touted as the next big thing, then iron-chinned Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko burst the bubble by halting Harris in five. Matty appeared to run out of gas that night.

To his credit, Harris has emerged from that shattering setback a better boxer.

“He was in great shape,” McCracken said after the Ignatius destruction. “He came in at 17st 8lbs when, in the past, he’s been up at 19 stone. You could see the improvements, you could see the difference.

“Back then, I don’t think he was putting the work in he should’ve been putting in. He realises that, he’s on the job with it now. The sparring has made a big difference, he’s sparring two or three times a week.”

McCracken believes Harris has the tools to become something special.

“Honestly, I think the world is his oyster,” he added. “He’s a sharp boxer, has fast hands, good feet – he’s got it all. Seven or eight fights and I think he will be ready for anyone.

“We want the English next if we can find someone to fight for the vacant title.”