Jennings wanting to make up for lost time in the ring

MATT JENNINGS hopes for more of a challenge when he tops the bill at the Open Show at Beau Sejour tomorrow night. The golden boy of Guernsey boxing is not being arrogant when he says that, it is just that when he returned to the ring last month after four opponents in a row failed to show up, it lasted just two minutes before his opponent was knocked out.

Another no show looked on the cards for the sold-out Open Show, which sees Guernsey take on the Manchester Select team, as the 28-year-old was due to fight one of the best light-heavyweight amateurs in the British Isles, Joe Ainscough, until he pulled out with injury.

The Kirkdale fighter reached the ABA finals last year but fortunately for Jennings and the 700-odd Guernsey boxing fans who will be in attendance, Dwayne McCanon has stepped into the breach.

'I don't know too much about him,' said Jennings.

'I might get to have a look at this one. I would like this one to go a little longer and to have a strong fight to push me the distance.

'Last season three of them were called off and the first one this season was as well. It's now good to have some consistency.'

Out of the ring Jennings is cool and calm and when he gets in to it, these character traits remain and develop so that he turns into a cold-hearted assassin.

Against the Irish Select team at the end of January, his opponent, Connor Tohill, was no slouch as a former Irish Championships semi-finalist, but was reduced to a cowering figure in the corner after a number of devastatingly pinpoint-accurate body shots.

More bad news for the little-known McCanon is that Jennings had been training hard for the bout with Ainscough.

'I was quite looking forward to the other guy but he tore a muscle in his shoulder when he fought in the Four Nations tournament a couple of weeks ago,' said Jennings.

'I was expecting an ABA champion and I have been training hard.

'We're going to try and get him on one of the shows next season.'

The Open Show is undoubtedly Jennings' favourite event in the boxing calendar.

It is the only boxing competition in Guernsey that is open to the local public and he believes the home crowd gives the Guernsey boxers the advantage.

'It's the best show,' he said.

'To actually have a good fight at the show is what everyone wants to do. Even to take part is a buzz.

'The atmosphere is brilliant and I think the crowd actually does give you an advantage. It's people you know and it gives you an edge.'