Matthew Hilton (boxer)

Last updated
Matthew Hilton
Born (1965-12-27) December 27, 1965 (age 58)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7+14 in (171 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins32
Wins by KO24
Losses3
Draws2

Matthew Hilton (born December 27, 1965) is a Canadian former boxer who was the IBF light-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 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. [1] 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. [2] 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 never was much motivated for training after he won the IBF's belt against Buster Drayton.

Professional boxing record

37 fights32 wins3 losses
By knockout241
By decision82
Draws2
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Loss32–3–2Darrell FlintUD10 (10)27/05/1993 Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
36Draw32–2–2Kevin DaigleSD10 (10)11/02/1992Verdun, Quebec, Canada
35Win32–2–1Clarence WhiteUD10 (10)12/11/1991 Verdun Auditorium, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
34Win31–2–1Knox BrownUD10 (10)31/07/1990 Northlands AgriCom, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
33Loss30–2–1 Doug DeWitt RTD11 (12) 15/01/1990 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBO middleweight title
32Draw30–1–1Fermin ChirinoSD10 (10)19/12/1989 Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31Win30–1Tim WilliamsTKO10 (10)10/10/1989 Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Loss29–1 Robert Hines UD12 (12) 04/11/1988 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost IBF light-middleweight title
29Win29–0Paul WhittakerTKO4 (10)29/07/1988 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28Win28–0Jack CallahanRTD2 (15) 16/10/1987 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained IBF light-middleweight title
27Win27–0 Buster Drayton UD15 (15)27/06/1987Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWon IBF light-middleweight title
26Win26–0Muhammad EltassiTKO2 (10)29/04/1987Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
25Win25–0William ClaytonKO2 (10) 12/12/1986 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win24–0Franklin OwensTKO2 (10) 22/11/1986 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
23Win23–0Aniseto RamosPTS10 (10) 13/06/1986 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Win22–0Bobby McCorveyKO1 (10) 20/05/1986 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
21Win21–0Bruce JacksonRTD5 (10) 19/04/1986 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
20Win20–0 Wilfred Benítez KO9 (10)15/02/1986Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
19Win19–0 Vito Antuofermo RTD4 (10)20/10/1985Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
18Win18–0Lopez McGeeTKO4 (10)06/09/1985Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
17Win17–0Roberto HernandezTKO9 (10)29/04/1985 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
16Win16–0Francisco De JesusUD10 (10)22/01/1985Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
15Win15–0Bill BradleyRTD3 (10)11/12/1984Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
14Win14–0Sam GervinsUD10 (10)14/10/1984Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
13Win13–0Ronald ThermidorTKO2 (10)10/07/1984Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
12Win12–0Nino GonzalezKO8 (10)01/06/1984Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
11Win11–0 Reggie Ford TKO1 (10)30/04/1984Hall de l'Exposition, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
10Win10–0Eddie HollettTKO5 (10)04/12/1983 Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
9Win9–0Hardy JonesRTD5 (8)10/11/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8Win8–0Frank MackeyTKO3 (6)23/08/1983Le Carrefour Sports Centre, Laval, Quebec, Canada
7Win7–0Harold FranceKO3 (6)29/07/1983Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
6Win6–0Clinton HarrisKO4 (6)21/06/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
5Win5–0Mike EssettUD6 (6)24/05/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4Win4–0Jacques DeBloisTKO3 (4)26/04/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3Win3–0Frank MinniganUD4 (4)29/03/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2Win2–0Adrian GreenTKO3 (4)15/02/1983Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1Win1–0Denis BrissonTKO2 (4)25/01/1983 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

See also

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References

  1. "Matthew Hilton of Montreal scored a second-round knockout of..." United Press International. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  2. "Hilton Scores TKO Over Whittaker". Los Angeles Times. 30 July 1988. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF light-middleweight champion
June 27, 1987 – November 4, 1988
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by Youngest light-middleweight champion
21

June 27, 1987 – February 5, 1989
Succeeded by