THUD and plunder is back in the city of York tonight when professional boxing returns for the first time in a decade.

The six-fight show put together by East Yorkshire upcoming prospect, Harry “The Pocklington Rocket” Matthews, opens at Oaklands Sports Centre tonight at 7.30pm.

Not since the halcyon days of York’s boxing titan – European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Henry Wharton – has a pro show been staged in York.

But that absence will end tonight when the notes of the first bell heralds the opening bout.

Matthews is topping the bill, which also features two other home-grown pro boxers – New Earswick warrior Graham Fearn, whose last outing was against world title prospect Frankie Gavin at the MEN Arena in Manchester, and Heworth’s Matt Doyle, who will be making his pro bow at the outset of his career.

Both have told The Press how getting to fight in their own city realises a dream each have held.

With the demise in professional boxing shows staged in the city, coinciding with the loss of the Barbican Centre as a venue, it was thought unlikely a pro show would ever be staged again in York.

But Matthews and his Hull-based promotions team have assembled a bill restoring the paid-ranks version of the sport to York.

Said Glen Banks, Matthews’ trainer: “It’s not before time to get professional boxing up and running again in the city.

“It’s been a good ten years since it last happened and the city’s boxing fraternity has been crying out for something like this.

“Both my boxers (Matthews and Doyle) are in great condition and they are ready. They are buzzing at the idea of this show.”

Banks added that the interest generated by the show has sparked several other wannabe professionals to contact him about joining his stable of fighters.

“I’ll wait and see what happens after tonight’s show,” he said.

“Oaklands is a cracking venue for a good small-hall show and this is what this is.

“It’s all about a learning test, certainly for my two boxers, so it should prove an interesting night.”

One of Banks’ lads, Matt Doyle, said: “Everything has gone great. I feel like I used to in the past. I am ready now. I am nice and relaxed and I can’t wait to get into the ring. This is what I have trained to do. It is just a great feeling right now.”

The venue is thought to be able to house around 600 to 700 fans and estimates put the number of tickets sold to have topped the 500-mark.

Oaklands bill

• Harry Matthews (Pocklington) v Duncan Cottier (Chigwell) – middleweight, four three-minute rounds

• Matt Doyle (York) v Matt Seawright (Tamworth) – welterweight, four two-minute rounds

• Graham Fearn (York) v Daniel Thorpe (Sheffield) – lightweight, six two-minute rounds

• Luke Allon (Hull) v Jamie Norkett (Newark) – middleweight, six two-minute rounds

• Lee Murtagh (Leeds) v Paul Royston (Sheffield) – middleweight, six two-minute rounds

• Phil Goodwin (Hull) v Lee Nicholson (Doncaster) – light-heavyweight, four two-minute rounds