By Jacob Kilbride

Jacob.Kilbride@nqyne.co.uk

Twitter @Jacob_Kilbride

FORMER professional boxer Harry Matthews has laid out his ambitions to train amateur boxers following his retirement.

The 31-year-old announced that he was hanging up his gloves earlier this month after 66 pro bouts.

Now Matthews’ is looking to combine his job as a personal trainer and ambitions in acting and writing alongside his goal to have the young boxers he trains go into their first amateur bouts.

Matthews trains several young fighters at the Roko Health Club in Clifton Moor and he thinks that future amateur contests is the natural next step.

“I feel like from boxing, through the highs and the lows of my career, it’s given me experience to be able to pass onto the people that I train,” he explained.

“Without wanting to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet, but I don’t think that there’s anybody who has had as much experience in the ring as I have had.

“I’m more than confident of being able to pass on my knowledge and have a few champions of my own.

“As long as I’m still involved in the sport, even if that’s helping some of my current coaches out with fights on the road.

“But, I’ve got my England Boxing badges and I’m training five or six lads who I’m looking to get out into fights this year.

“They’ll be training at Roko’s with me, but I take them around other gyms too.

“We’ve been to Almond’s Boxing Academy in Doncaster.

“Sometimes I take them down to the York Masters Club where Gary Kelly and all his lads are.

“There’s always good variation for them.

“I think that boxing in York is on the rise and there’s a lot of good prospects in the city now.

“Leaving boxing I can now sit back and enjoy watching these young kids that are now on the rise.”