The current Central Area and British Masters featherweight champion was born in Grimsby on July 14, 1980.

He joined the Grimsby School of Boxing in 1995 as an amateur along with brother Luke and was soon picked out a boxer of immense potential, and won most of his bouts.

In 2000 he reached the final of the ABA Novice Class B championship, for fighters with between 10 and 20 bouts, and took out Frank Croswell inside a minute with a searing left hook to the body.

His great uncle on his mother’s side, Arthur Aisthorpe, a bantamweight, was one of the best fighters to come out of Grimsby.

Matty made his professional debut at Hull in November 2002 and his victory over Danny Wallace in Leeds to win his his two titles in December 2005 took his pro record to nine wins and just two defeats.

In that biggest night of his career he damaged an injury-prone right hand and was aiming at a comeback in 2007.

Co-managed by former Midland Area light-heavyweight champion Stuart Fleet and trainer and ex-pro Steve Pollard.