POCKLINGTON Rocket Harry Matthews lost his fifth fight as a professional at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Leisure Centre but insisted that he was boosted by his performance against Liam Cameron.

Matthews answered a call to face Cameron at two days’ notice when the home fighter’s original opponent was forced to withdraw after failing to make the weight for the middleweight contest.

The bout lasted the six-round distance, meaning Matthews is still to be stopped in any of his 17 pro fights, but the judges ruled 59-56 in favour of Cameron, who is being touted for a possible British title shot.

Cameron, with a career record of 12 wins from 13 in the ring, finished strongly against Matthews after an even first three rounds between the Yorkshiremen.

The Beverley-born, 24-year-old had previously turned down last-minute call-ups to face Lee Noble and Chris Eubank junior but was pleased that he accepted the invitation to tackle Cameron on the undercard of Doncaster bantamweight Jamie McDonnell’s successful Sky Sports-televised European title defence against Spain’s Ivan Pozo.

Matthews, whose mates had to find another designated driver for a Saturday night out in Manchester when he answered the late call from Frank Maloney Promotions, said: “I decided to take the fight because I have been posting my best times in the sprints and sparring really well.

“I train like a professional nearly every day of my life and I’m a fighter at the end of the day who doesn’t duck anybody. I believe in myself and still do after Saturday’s fight.

“I don’t want to be pitched against journeymen all the time and Liam Cameron was not just another boxer. He’s a prospect who has won two ABA titles and is being lined up for a British title.

“That made Saturday night practically a British title eliminator and I’ve shown that I can cut it at that level. I just need to tweak a few things.

“I didn’t have much time to prepare for the fight so I was proud of my performance. I was boosted by it, not down-hearted.

“I thought the fight was closer than the points decision suggested. He did not catch me with anything that made me wobble but I thought I wobbled him a few times.”

Matthews went on to thank his trainer Nick Manners and sponsor Matt Wilcox, who is helping the boxer become a personal trainer.

On the show Matthews put on against Cameron, Manners added: “It was a good experience for Harry against a good kid.

“With more time, more notice and more preparation, the result would probably have been a different story but all our preparations have been with March 23 in mind.”

March 23 will see Matthews in action at Hull City Hall and he is then due to face Kris Agyei-Dua in Brentwood on April 14.

Tickets for the next fight cost £30 and are available by phoning Matthews on 07854 543133.

“It would be great if my fans from York come and supported me,” Matthews added.