Lowe camp stunned by decision

8:13am Thu Sep 29, 2011

A controversial refereeing decision robbed Newark boxer Andrew Lowe of the chance to pick up the vacant British Masters middleweight title in a hard-fought contest against Harry Matthews.

On Saturday night Lowe, 31, and Matthews went to toe-to-toe for the second time in less than a year at Elland Road, Leeds. The Newark fighter was looking to avenge a defeat at the same venue against York-based Matthews, 23, last October.

But despite classily out boxing his younger opponent, the official gave the home fighter a reprieve, judging the contest a draw, much to the surprise of Lowe, his corner, and Matthews’ home crowd.

The Carl Greaves-trained fighter was astonished by the call.

“It stinks that I didn’t get that decision,” said Lowe.

“I boxed his head off for ten rounds. He was out on his feet. I could see he was struggling, but somehow the referee saw it differently.

“It would be an understatement to say I am disappointed but I just have to move on from here.”

The first three rounds were a cagey affair with neither fighter gaining a foothold or controlling the centre of the ring, but the fight burst into action in the fourth when Lowe suffered a cut to his eye, caused by a clash of heads.

The cut only stiffened his resolve as he dominated through the middle rounds.

Both boxers traded a flurry of punches across the final three rounds but neither could deliver the knock-out blow.

His promoter and trainer, Greaves, said he would work hard to get Lowe the rematch he deserved.

“In my eyes, and in the eyes of almost everyone watching that fight, Andrew outclassed him and won by a clear two or three rounds,” he said.

“I am going to work as had as I can to get Andrew a rematch but I am not sure Matthews will want to get back in the ring with him after that fight.

“Andrew has fought away from home a lot and it is tough to get decisions so we want to get the next fight in Newark, in front of his own fans. With that backing I am sure we can put to bed this disappointment.”