Matt Skelton

Matt Skelton ( born January 23, 1967 in Bedford, United Kingdom) is a British heavyweight boxer.

Career

Skelton began his career as a professional boxer in 2002 at the age of 35 years already. Previously, he ran the professional martial arts Muay Thai and K -1. In 2004, he won against Julius Francis the English and against Michael Sprott the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title. On February 25, 2006 Skelton boxed against Danny Williams. In this fight Skelton narrowly lost on points and had thus suffered his first defeat. However, a rematch against Williams on July 8, 2006, Skelton decide relatively clear on points for themselves.

Promoter Frank Warren announced before the fight that negotiations would run that the winner should fight against WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. An offer to enter into a voluntary title defense against WBC titlist Oleg Maskajew, refused Skelton.

In December 2006, Skelton was supposed to start in London against Audley Harrison, he had to struggle, however, just 1.5 weeks to cancel before the fight date because he had broken in training the hand. Instead, he pushed on January 19, 2008 in Dusseldorf against the Uzbek Ruslan Chagayev the WBA World Championship, but lost well over twelve rounds on points.

On 19 December 2008 Skelton defeated the Italian Paolo Vidoz in Milan in the fight for the vacant European Heavyweight prematurely Vidoz gave up the fight after the ninth round on. Surprisingly lost Skelton then in February 2009 against the undefeated though, but little respected 37 -year-old Northern Irishman Martin Rogan by technical knockout in the eleventh round. On September 19, 2009, he lost by task ( TKO ) against Francesco Pianeta due to a hand injury during the break for the 10th round.