PREVIOUSLY undefeated world title kick boxing hope Warren Brown was sensationally overturned by a fellow Warrington fighter in a major upset at the weekend.

Relatively little known 19-year-old Mark Matthews, in only his sixth professional fight, took the points decision in the super lightweight bout at Monaco Ballroom in Wigan.

Matthews, of Penketh, who fights with the Warrington Kick Boxing Studio, is now to be offered a re-match with Brown at the Parr Hall in September with Brown putting either his British or European lightweight title on the line.

Neil Holden, Matthews' instructor, was delighted with his pupil's win.

He said: "The only people who knew Mark could beat Warren was myself and Mark. But Mark absolutely took him apart and it brought the house down. This was a major upset.

"His strength in the use of the knee was what done it for him and I am really pleased for Mark as he has had some bad luck with decisions in previous fights. His record is now one loss, two draws and three wins.

"Of course, we wish Warren luck and hope he does well in Italy."

Mark won the Northern Area title with his win over Brown while clubmate Rhys Edwards beat experienced Colin Armstrong of Birmingham to lift the English welterweight title on the same bill.

It was only his 10th pro fight in contrast to Armstrong's 65th.

Holden concluded: "I am very proud of them both. It's good to have had a double win for the school."

Brown needed a warm-up fight prior to his world super lightweight title shot in Italy, which has been delayed until May 20, but he was left stunned by Matthews.

Brown's instructor Dave Jackson said: "We can't take anything away from Mark. He fought the best I have seen him fight, rose to the occasion and did well.

"The problem for Warren is that he is a 5x3minute round fighter but Mark would only fight him at 1.5 minute rounds.

"Warren doesn't warm into rounds until about the 1.5 minute mark whereas Mark starts rounds fast."

Brown was aware of Matthews' danger but did not work to the right pace to get the result.

Jackson said: "It ended up being a split decision with one judge giving it to Warren but I didn't think Warren had won it.

"This will shake Warren up, put his feet back on the floor. He was upset and angry with himself that he had lost.

"But it won't do him any harm. It will remind him he is not infallible and that there are fighters who, on their day, can beat him.

"Warren needed a fight before his world title fight, he's had one and now he needs to get back to the drawing board and get down to some hard work."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.