Matt Wilton begins British title charge with ‘Belfast Boy’ win

Matt Wilton moved to 16-0 this evening with a good run out in Belfast

Fighting on the Burnett-Haskins undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena, Wilton outpointed veteran journeyman Willie Warburton over six with relative ease.

Warburton had scored a second round knockout win over Conor Seymour (then 7-0-2) the last time he appeared on a Matchroom show back in February – but there would be no repeat in the Titanic City

A quiet start saw both boxers look to feel each other out before Wilton upped the pace in the second. Warburton would look to respond but the greater activity was coming from the Eastside 27 year old.

Wilton forced Warburton to the ropes in the third before the Englishman began to take centre-ring – until the Belfast man finished strong.

Warburton went southpaw for a period in the fourth with little success before going back orthodox.

The fight, Warburton’s strongest, saw the Manchester boxer outland Wilton in some intense exchanges.

Wilton would push hard in the sixth and ended the bout very strong, pushing Warburton to the ropes and unloading.

After six rounds of action, Wilton was awarded a wide 60:54 win.

The win sees Wilton improve his record, one of Irish boxing’s longest, to 16(3)-0. Warburton falls to 23(4)-116(2)-9 following his night’s work.

With the British title scene opening up, Wilton now hopes to build on this win and move into contention

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

LISTEN: Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill speak to Luke Keeler and Paddy Barnes on Episode 6 of The Irish Boxing Show: