Williams is one fight from national glory

Matty Williams flanked by Frankie Gavin and Max McCracken

MATTY Williams, the Birmingham powerhouse many believe is destined to become the heavyweight division’s next big thing, has a dream.

He wants to win a major professional title at St Andrew’s, home of his beloved Birmingham City football club.

It is not a pipedream, says respected pro trainer and manager Max McCraken, who is helping the 20-year-old in his quest for ever more amateur titles.

“I think it’s very possible,” said Max. Williams, who stands 6ft 3ins tall and weighs 16-and-a-half stone, takes a step closer to that goal on Saturday when he bids to lift the senior elite ABA super-heavyweight title. Williams is also being assessed for an England and GB call-up.

Victory will earn Matty his third national crown in a 36 bout career.

Williams, a former council grass cutter, has made a habit of mowing down the opposition. And the Acocks Green ABC boxer is doing it with a formidable team on his side – club founder and coach Craig Storer, former world amateur champ Frankie Gavin who acts as cornerman, and McCracken.

In Matty, Birmingham City fans, already rejoicing promotion, have something else to celebrate.

He clinched this weekend’s final with two fine performances at David Ross Sports Village, Nottingham, on Saturday and Sunday.

In the quarter-finals, he piled on the educated pressure until the Army’s Toby Lawall could take no more. After enduring two standing counts, Lawall was halted in the second.

In the semi-final, England representative Alex Williams made a bright, fast start. But by the second, the Oxford fight was being dragged into the Matty meat-grinder. After three standing counts and with Alex hurt and tired, the ref called a halt in the third.

Now only Yorkshireman Joshua Simms stands between Matty and another slice of national title glory. They meet at Derby Arena on Saturday.

“Alex Williams can punch, he has a lot of skill,” McCracken said. “Matt worked him out, walked him down and broke him down.

“He’s got to get the job done on Saturday, but he is coming on with each contest. He is a high volume puncher, very dedicated, a very likeable kid and he is still so young. He won’t realise his full potential until 26 or 27.

“I have never seen a heavyweight with an engine like his.”

Max added: “When was the last time we had someone like this from Birmingham?” Among the heavyweights, a very long time ago.

And when someone like McCracken describes a boxer as “something special”, you have to sit up and take notice.

Matty Williams is the Bluenose who, in the ring, is giving the opposition bloody noses.