Teacher King shows better ring science

King and Team McCracken after his victory

CHRIS King, a science teacher by day, has no formula for success. He simply wants to test himself against the best.

The mystery man put a Bunsen burner under his career on Saturday by outpointing 122 bout veteran Harry Matthews at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport.

The 29-year-old light-heavyweight, who fights out of Birmingham’s busy McCracken’s gym, looked a much improved boxer from the one who featured in a messy debut win almost 10 months ago.

He showed good movement, jabbed well, but was put under pressure by Matthews in the last. The Doncaster man appeared to have sealed that fourth session, though King was judged a whitewash 40-36 winner.

“The calibre of the opponent allowed me to show my strengths a bit better,” King said. “I knew he was a dangerous counter-puncher and I had to keep to my jab. I had so much fun.”

King was born in England, spent his young life in Ghana and returned here five years ago to be  part of Birmingham’s boxing boom. It was certainly a gamble – the man had only three amateur contests to his name.

“My family in Ghana have my back, 100 per cent,” he said, “the young people I teach are really supportive and I sold more tickets for this one.” He flogged around 40.

After beating  Victor Edagha last year, King took time out to consider his ring future. “I was looking at my options,” he explained. “I was going to take a few away fights, but they didn’t come off so I decided to fight at home.

“I just want to put myself out there against good men and see how good I really am. If it comes, it comes. My job is to keep working hard, keep my place and be ready to follow my career wherever it leads me.”

That may well be at super-middle.

King added: “The power is there. In the gym, they tell me how strong I am.”

King is a work in progress. How good the finished article will be is something he and his trainer are yet to discover.