Decorated amateur, Matthew Rennie, will begin his pro career at the Liverpool Olympia on November 30.
The first fighter from the Isle of Man to ever box for England, and a Commonwealth Youth Games Silver Medallist, Rennie is now fighting under the VIP Promotions banner and promoter Steve Wood is delighted to have him in the stable:
“I’m looking forward to Matthew’s journey; to see how far we can take him. He’s proved in the amateurs he has plenty of talent, and I’m sure he’ll have lots of success in the pros.
“We’ve got an excellent headliner on this card, with Liverpool’s Tom McGuinness against local rival, Colin Day. And there’s some real talent on the undercard too, including former Commonwealth Lightweight Champ Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd. So, this will be a good night for Matthew to make his debut.”
Rennie boxed all over the world in the unpaid, amateur code. The 20-year-old is now based in Liverpool, after relocating from the Isle of Man, and says he has a fan-friendly style that he is hoping will take him to the top of the game.
“I got a bit stale, and I knew if I wanted to do anything in boxing then I had to get off the Island to achieve bigger things,” said Rennie, who started boxing aged just seven.
“So, I came to Liverpool and joined the Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club. I had a few fights for them but eventually decided I was going to turn pro and put one hundred per cent into it. And I think I’m getting a decent head start because in a few years I’ll have some good experience behind me.
“I’m not your normal come-forward, or backwards, kind of fighter. I’m a bit in the middle and try to do a bit of everything, and I have a lot of different skills. But I think I’ll be good to watch though.
“I like all the ‘old school’ boxers like Muhammad Ali and Pernell Whitaker, and I try to take bit from all of them and put it into my style, if I can.
“My dad is normal working-class guy, and he’s instilled in me about getting your head down and working your way up. So, I have set myself goals, but I don’t want to say I’m going to do this or that. I’ll keep going, see how far I can get and I’ll aim for the moon because if I don’t land on it then I’ll land on a star at least!
“I just can’t wait to debut at the Olympia. I’ve done all the training, and it’s all gone well. It’s going to be a bit of a shock when I’m there, the realisation of when I get in the ring, but it’s something I’ve dreamt of.”
VIP Promotions presents an evening of boxing at the Liverpool Olympia on November 30.
Headlining will be Liverpool’s Tom McGuinness versus Sklemersdale’s Colin Day.
Also appearing will be Liverpool’s Luke Willis, Sean Cairns, Marcel Braithwaite, Jay Farrell, Matthew Rennie and James Collins; Birkenhead’s Sean Dodd; Wales’ Cameron Halfpenny; and Warrington’s Mike Mckay.
Tickets priced at £30, £35, £40 and £60 (ringside) are available from all boxers, or at vipboxing.tv
The show will also be streamed live and free at vipboxing.tv
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