09.11.07 Thirwall gunning for British

By Richard Cawley

MATTHEW Thirlwall believes his boxing career is back on the right road - after landing a job tarmacking them.

The Bermondsey super-middleweight, 26, is due to make his third outing of 2007 when he faces Lee Noble in a six-round contest at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Wednesday.

Thirlwall has been working with twin brother Mark since the beginning of the summer and reckons it will have a major impact on how he performs in the ring.

"Once I'm at the gym I train hard but it's when I was out of it there was a problem," said the former Fisher amateur star. "I don't drink or smoke but I used to have a lot of late nights, which really messed me up.

"But now I'm working on the roads I have got something to get up for in the morning. There's been no nights out for five or six months - which is unheard of.

"I was waking up before and wondering where all my money had gone, but now the only time I spend it is when I take my girlfriend out.

"Before, even when I was just out on the streets seeing my mates, I was always spending loads of cash.

"I think I've grown up a lot and realised I do need to work. I needed to get my priorities straight and sort my life out."

And Thirlwall, who has won 16 and lost just two of his professional bouts,is now hoping for a crack at either the English or British title,both of which are vacant.

But the South Londoner will need to steer clear of the injuries which have caused his career to stutter in recent years.

First he tore a bicep which sidelined him for nine months and he also needed an operation after his last fight, a points victory over David Kirk in May, after a cut got infected.

"I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I can build up some momentum because at the moment there always seems to be something stopping me from doing that,"said Thirlwall.

"I would like to see just how far I can go. I am more than capable of winning the British belt -the European and world titles is more of a tricky one because it's about being there at the right time. But all the top Americans seem to be moving up the weights - there's no one there making me think 'I wouldn't want to fight him'.

"I'm up there in the domestic ratings and hopefully if I have a real good performance this time, the British Boxing Board of Control will nominate me for a title fight.

"My trainer Robert McCracken says I'm ready and my promoter Mick Hennessy is brilliant at putting things together - hopefully he will steer me in the right direction."

Thirlwall goes into his bout against Noble - who has lost four of his last five outings - as a big favourite.

But he added: "Noble is a typical Brendan Ingle-trained fighter. He is an awkward switch-hitter who throws shots from strange angles. But once I slow him down it will be a different fight."

For tickets call 0870 060 1795.

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