Barnsley man Matty Askin says he will ignore the 90,000 Wembley Stadium crowd tomorrow evening to focus on defeating Lawrence Okolie and possibly securing a shot at the world title.
The 29-year-old cruiserweight is part of a high-profile show at the national stadium, topped by Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight against Alexander Povetkin.
The bill will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office and is the biggest stage Askin has ever fought on, but he says he will not be caught up in the atmosphere. He told the Chronicle: “I don’t care where the fight is. I’d fight him at his house. I won’t be thinking about 90,000 people, I will just be thinking about beating him.
“It will probably only be next week when I am back at home with my missus and we watch the fight back on TV and I’ve got a glass of whiskey in my hand that I think ‘wow, what a massive event to be part of.’
“It could be a very important night for me. We’ve had talks already and, if I win, the world title has to be looming. Okolie is the posterboy in our division for Sky and Matchroom but, when I beat him, I will get my shot at the big time which is long overdue.”
Londoner Okolie, billed as one of the rising stars of British boxing by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sports, has won all nine of his fights while Askin is four years older and has won 23, drawn one and lost three. Askin believes his experience will be crucial in the fight as he looks for a fifth win in a row including successes against other unbeaten men Craig Kennedy and Tommy McCarthy.
“I am the underdog with the bookies but I was against Kennedy and McCarthy as well. It just means my friends and family can make a bit more money by backing me.
“I think it’s too soon for Okolie. He clearly has good punching power, and people who I have sparred with who know him say he punches like a mule. “But I am a good puncher myself and I know how to beat him.
“He will be strong in the first three rounds but I will get through them and then I will be in for a pretty easy night because I will be too clever, calculated and experienced for him. In my head, he’s getting knocked out, I don’t see this going to points.”
Askin has been living in a caravan on his own for the last two months as he trained in preparation for the fight. He said: “Everything has gone absolutely perfectly. I say that before every fight, but this time it is actually true. I’ve been sparring unbeaten fighters and big heavyweights. I am ready.
“I just wake up in the morning, train for a few hours, go to the caravan to read a book, then do some running or a gym session, then go back to the caravan again to get to sleep for 9.30pm. It’s boring but it’s the right way to prepare.”
Askin was born in Barnsley to parents from Darfield and Wombwell and, although he later moved to Blackpool where he now lives, he thinks of the South Yorkshire town as his home.
“I definitely consider myself a Barnsley man. It’s in my blood. I love going back there and I have lots of friends and family there. I always have at least 50 people from Barnsley at all of my fights. There will be plenty going down to Wembley and hopefully some of the pubs in Wombwell and Darfield will be packed with people watching it on Sky.
“I’ve always said I want to fight in Barnsley one day and that would be a good reward for all the fans who have come over to the north west and down south to watch me over the years.”
Askin is planning to attend the October 5 show at the Metrodome which is due to feature fellow Barnsley fighters Josh Wale, Robbie Barrett and Andy Townend.
He said: “It’s a great time for Barnsley boxing. They sell a lot of tickets at the Metrodome and it’s always a good night there. I am planning to go to the show next month and cheer all the Barnsley lads on. Josh has done really well and me and him are both shining examples of how to bounce back from losing fights and still get to the top level.
“It’s probably because we’re from Barnsley and we’re hard as nails. Robbie is from Darfield so we know a lot of the same people. He’s a good fighter as well and hopefully he’ll get another win.”
