Matthew Hilton (boxer)

Last updated
Matthew Hilton
Born (1965-12-17) December 17, 1965 (age 58)
Nationality Canadian
Statistics
Weight(s) Light Middleweight
Middleweight
Height171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins32
Wins by KO24
Losses3
Draws2

Matthew Hilton (born December 27, 1965) is a Canadian former boxer [1] who was the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. He is the younger brother of former super middleweight world champion, Dave Hilton Jr.

Contents

He started boxing professionally in early 1983, and while doing so lived (along with his father/trainer and other family members) a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place in a 'movable trailer.'

Fighting style

It was tough growing up for Hilton, but he transferred that toughness to the ring, at least as his career started. Though Matthew had decent boxing skills for a brawler, he preferred to press forward, back up his opponents, and detonate his punishing left hooks, and powerful overhand rights. Two of the big names he faced in his rise to stardom were former 3-time world champion Wilfred Benítez and former world middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo, who both fell victim to his devastating KO power. He won the IBF junior middleweight title, and brought Canada its first world boxing title since the 1940s, with a 15-round unanimous decision over defender Buster Drayton [1] on ABC in Montreal, June 27, 1987, which was also named KO Magazines TV Fight of the Year for 1987. He made one defense on the Tyson-Biggs undercard on HBO in October of that year, busting and bruising up a totally outclassed Jack Callahan before the referee called things off after two rounds. His next fight was an exciting non-title bout on ESPN in the middleweight division against Paul Whitaker of New Orleans, who was knocked down and brutally battered by Hilton before being KO'd in the fourth round. Matthew then apparently had the upper hand in the early going in his next defense - a November 1988 matchup with Robert Hines on Showtime.

After knocking a bloodied Hines down twice, he let Hines back in the fight, and Hines steadily hammered a very tired and not very well prepared Hilton in winning a come-from-behind 12-round unanimous decision, after which Hilton would be champ no more. Hilton admitted after the fight that he had sustained rib injury during training for that fight (Between rounds, Hilton could be heard telling his father that he couldn't throw his left hand). Matthew later rebounded with a lackluster (though controversial) draw against Fermin Chirino, a bout in which many felt that Matthew had won by a 10-round unanimous decision, followed by two more exciting bouts against journeyman Tim T. Williams (on ESPN), who was KO'd in round 10, and Tennessee toughman Knox Brown, who had only previously been down at the hands of John Mugabi, and was again floored by Hilton in a 10-round decision victory on the USA Network. His last crack at a title was on the Foreman–Cooney undercard in January 1990, when his eyes were again swollen shut by the punches of defending WBO middleweight titlist Doug DeWitt.

Injuries and Retirement

This time, though he fought gamely, Hilton was the loser not by decision but rather by 11th-round TKO when his father had seen enough and did not let him fight the last round. Hilton's eyes were both swollen completely closed. His cutman only had ice to decrease the swelling, which was ineffective. Because of that fight, he suffered a retina injury which followed him for his next few fights before forcing him into retirement. Hilton received many unsuccessful surgeries for his eyes. His career began to sputter during the 1990s, and, partly due to the various troubles plaguing the Hilton family, Hilton never was really able to regain his championship-level caliber. He said he's never been as much motivated for training after he won the IBF's belt against Buster Drayton.

Professional boxing record

32 Wins (24 knockouts, 8 decisions), 3 Losses (1 knockout, 2 decisions), 2 Draws
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss32–3–2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Darrell FlintUD1027/05/1993 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Draw32–2–2 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin DaiglePTS1011/02/1992 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Verdun, Quebec
Win32–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Clarence WhiteUD1012/11/1991 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Verdun Auditorium, Verdun, Quebec
Win31–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Knox BrownUD1031/07/1990 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Northlands Agricom, Edmonton, Alberta
Loss30–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Doug DeWitt RTD1115/01/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey For WBO World Middleweight Title
Draw30–1–1 Flag of Venezuela.svg Fermin ChirinoPTS1019/12/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win30–1 Flag of the United States.svg Tim WilliamsTKO1010/10/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss29–1 Flag of the United States.svg Robert Hines UD1204/11/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada Lost IBF World Light Middleweight Title
Win29–0 Flag of the United States.svg Paul WhittakerTKO429/07/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win28–0 Flag of the United States.svg Jack CallahanTKO216/10/1987 Flag of the United States.svg Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Retained IBF World Light Middleweight Title
Win27–0 Flag of the United States.svg Buster Drayton UD1527/06/1987 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecWon IBF World Light Middleweight Title
Win26–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Muhammad EltassiTKO229/04/1987 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win25–0 Flag of the United States.svg William ClaytonKO2 12/12/1986 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win24–0 Flag of the United States.svg Franklin OwensTKO222/11/1986 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win23–0 Flag of the United States.svg Aniseto RamosPTS1013/06/1986 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win22–0 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby McCorveyKO1 20/05/1986 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win21–0 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce JacksonTKO5 19/04/1986 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win20–0 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Wilfred Benítez KO915/02/1986 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win19–0 Flag of Italy.svg Vito Antuofermo RTD420/10/1985 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win18–0 Flag of the United States.svg Lopez McGeeTKO406/09/1985 Flag of the United States.svg Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida
Win17–0 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Roberto HernandezTKO929/04/1985 Flag of the United States.svg Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Win16–0 Flag of Brazil.svg Francisco De JesusUD1022/01/1985 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win15–0 Flag of the United States.svg Bill BradleyRTD311/12/1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win14–0 Flag of the United States.svg Sam GervinsUD1014/10/1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win13–0 Flag of Haiti.svg Ronald ThermidorTKO210/07/1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win12–0 Flag of the United States.svg Nino GonzalezKO801/06/1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win11–0 Flag of Guyana.svg Reggie Ford TKO130/04/1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Hall de l'Exposition, Quebec City, Quebec
Win10–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eddie HollettTKO504/12/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win9–0 Flag of the United States.svg Hardy JonesRTD510/11/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, QuebecJones retired after the fifth round.
Win8–0 Flag of the United States.svg Frank MackeyTKO323/08/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Le Carrefour Sports Centre, Laval, Quebec
Win7–0 Flag of the United States.svg Harold FranceKO329/07/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cornwall, Ontario
Win6–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Clinton HarrisKO421/06/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win5–0 Flag of the United States.svg Mike EssettUD624/05/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win4–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jacques DeBloisTKO326/04/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win3–0 Flag of the United States.svg Frank MinniganUD429/03/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win2–0 Flag of the United States.svg Adrian GreenTKO315/02/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win1–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Denis BrissonTKO225/01/1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, QuebecPro Debut

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References

  1. 1 2 Berger, Phil (4 November 1988). "Boxing; Hearns Has Shot at 5th Title". New York Times . Retrieved 26 February 2011.
Achievements
Preceded by IBF Light Middleweight boxing champion
June 27, 1987 4 November, 1988
Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Youngest Junior Middleweight Champion
21

June 27, 1987 February 5, 1989
Succeeded by