GAVIN Rees will defend his EBU European lightweight title against Derry Matthews in Newport on October 1.

A hand injury prevented the Newbridge battler from taking on Matthews in Cardiff last month but the fight has now been rearranged for the Newport Centre.

Liverpool fighter Matthews beat local rival Stephen Jennings in the sixth round of their vacant British Masters lightweight title meeting at the Green Bank Sports Centre in his home city on Saturday night. And, despite five defeats on his professional record, the confident Scouser believes he will have too much for former world champion Rees.

Matthews has fought nine times in the last 12 months, losing only once – to Newport’s Gary Buckland.

He avenged defeats to Scott Lawton and Choi Tseveenpurev, while also capturing the IBO International and English lightweight titles.

“I’m at a good point in my career,” said Matthews. “I’ve had a few bad defeats, and a few personal problems.

“But I have come back the last 12 months bigger and stronger and I think I’ve proved the doubters wrong.”

“After I beat Gavin Rees, we will sit down and plan the future – maybe another big world title shot.

“It is going to be a good fight,” he added.

“It is an excellent fight. Gavin is a proven guy, a good, strong fighter and former world champion so I’ve got respect for him but think I can beat him.

“I don’t think Gavin will be as strong as Stephen was.

“I’ve got the tools to beat him, I want to win the EBU title and move on from there.”

But Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett believes his man is in a different class to Matthews.

And, despite concerns over Rees’ fitness when he won the title against Andy Murray in June, Lockett believes Matthews will be beaten.

“I like Derry, he’s a nice lad with good ability,” said Lockett. “He’s got a good trainer, Oliver Harrison, who I respect a lot, and he’s turned his career round but he’s lost five times and been knocked out every time.

“Gary Buckland is not a big hitter but he managed to stop him and when you look at the people he’s fought there is nothing to justify his claim that he’ll be too hot for Gavin.”