POCKLINGTON Rocket Harry Matthews is hoping his sparring sessions with a pair of boxing champions will help him clinch a title of his own next month.

Unbeaten Commonwealth welterweight champion Denton Vassell and British light-middleweight belt holder Prince Arron have been putting Matthews through his paces as he prepares for his British Masters rematch against Andrew Lowe at Newark’s Groves Leisure Centre on December 3.

September’s meeting between the two fighters at Elland Road ended in a 95-95 points draw but Matthews, who has also beaten Lowe in the past, is confident his choice of training partners at Ricky Hatton’s Manchester gym will help him to prevail in a third professional bout against the Lincolnshire hopeful.

Arron, who stands tall at 6ft 3in, was crowned British champion in May when he stopped Sam Webb in the 12th round. He also triumphed in last year’s Prizefighter series, ousting favourite and ex-Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce.

Matthews feels the pair’s aggressive style – Arron and Vassell boast 13 professional knockouts between them – could prove crucial when he enters the ring again to meet eager 31-year-old and one-time sparring partner Lowe.

He said: “In training for the last fight, I was sparring with guys who were better boxers rather than pressure fighters like Andrew Lowe. Prince Arron and Denton Vassell can do both so it’s ideal preparation for me.

“They are both way above the level of the guy I will be fighting and I know I can beat him. I felt I should have won the last fight by a round or two but I could have worked harder in the later rounds and I will be making sure that doesn’t happen again.

“I’ve also been running up the steps at Roundhay Park in Leeds.”

Matthews goes into the fight with a pro record of 11 wins, three defeats and one draw from 15 contests, while Lowe has eight victories from 15 bouts.

Exciting Leeds-based prospect Adil “The Platinum Kid” Anwar is also on the undercard in Newark with tickets costing £30 and available from Matthews by phoning 07854 543133.