Grant Dennis robbed of English title, says team
Elliot Matthews (20-0-1) claimed the English middleweight championship with a unanimous points decision over Grant Dennis (11-0) on December 1 at York Hall.
The three ringside judges all scored it in favour of the home fighter on the British Warrior Boxing Promotions event.
But manager Joe Elfidh disagreed intently with the decision, claiming, “We won the fight but didn’t get the decision.
“I’ve offered the rematch already, I even said we’ll take the rematch without the belt on the line. I said we can do the rematch with no title on their show and, when we beat them, they can even have the trilogy fight on their show as well.”
Chatham’s Dennis lost his unbeaten record and the chance to move up from Southern Area to English honours.
The 34-year-old, who sparred with WBO middleweight king Billy Joe Saunders in preparation for this bout, agreed with his manager, “I didn’t get the decision but it’s all good. We all know who won that fight.
“2018, I’ll come back for my belt, it was a bad decision last night, I was on the end of a bullshit boxing decision. I enjoyed it, great experience, he gave me a good fight, but I should be standing here with that English belt right now.
“It is what it is, we’re go-getters, I’m gonna’ chill today, back in the gym tomorrow. But, let me tell you something, I should be standing here today as the English middleweight champion.”
Younger brother Jordan, a 3-0 light-heavyweight, also commented, “Proud of my big bro, he won that fight and should be English middleweight champion.”
It was always due to be a close contest between Rickmansworth’s Matthews, 36, who is a former Southern Area middleweight champion unbeaten in 21 bouts now, and Dennis, unbeaten in 10 (going into the fight) is the current holder of that Area title.
Dennis, trained by Veron Quammie at the Medway Boxing Club, is hopeful for the rematch in early 2018.