By Nate Anderson: Super featherweight Derry Matthews (21-3, 11 KOs) was taken out in the 4th round tonight by South African Harry Ramogoadi (20-10-2, 6 KOs) at the Echo Arena, in Liverpool, England. Matthews had looked good through the first three rounds when he got caught by a big right hand from Ramogoadi in the 4th, knocking Matthews to the canvas.

Matthews made it to his feet at the count of nine. However, referee Michael Alexander appeared to be a second faster on his internal count and promptly stopped the fight. It might not have mattered, though, because Ramogoadi looked as if he would have finished Matthews anyway.

In the 1st round, Matthews fought well, using his height and long reach to jab from the outside and throw hooks against the slower Ramogoadi. Matthews looked sharp, throwing with power and avoiding Ramogoadi’s awkward attacks.

In the 2nd round, Matthews continued to fight well, keeping Ramogoadi at the end of his jabs and moving well around the ring to avoid his bull-like attacks. Matthews skillfully picked Ramogoadi apart with short hooks to the head and jabs as the South African would come forward. If the fight had ended right here, Matthews would have appeared as if he were on course to get his boxing career back on track. That wasn’t to be, however.

In the 3rd round, Matthews began slugging more, fighting as if he were trying to make s statement by knocking Ramogoadi out. This was exactly what Ramogoadi was waiting for, as he began landing his right hands repeatedly during the round as two fighters would exchange shots, and although Matthews continued to find him with his own big shots, he seemed to react badly to the big shots he was getting hit with by Ramogoadi.

In the 4th round, Matthews continued to fight toe-to-toe with Ramogoadi, taking his best shots and firing back with power punches of his own. However, Ramogoadi caught him with a peach of a right hand that sent Matthews down on the canvas next to the ropes.

Rather than springing to his feet, Matthews took his time getting up, not doing doing anything until the referee was nearing 10. At that point, Matthews rose to his feet, but the referee waived off the fight at 1:28 of the round, saying that he had counted Matthews out.

Obviously, Matthews was upset, but he only had his self to blame, because he should have gotten up by least four or five instead of waiting so long. He took a risk and paid for it by being counted out.

The loss was a hard one for Matthews to take, because he’s now lost three out of his last four matches dating back to his 5th round blowout to Choi Tseveenpurev in April 2008. After a win following that fight over John Gicharu, Matthews would lose again, this time to Martin Lindsay in a 9th round stoppage in September 2008, a bout for the vacant BBBofC featherweight title eliminator.

As for Ramogoadi, a fighter with not much power, he had lost three out of his last five fights coming into tonight’s action. The fact that he was able to stop Matthews seems to suggest that Derry either needs to take a long rest away from boxing or else he should consider another line of work.

In other action, lightweight John Watson (10-0, 4 KOs) defeated Martin Gethin (15-2-1, 7 KOs) by a 10-round decision for the vacant BBBofC English lightweight title. The fight had little in the way of defense between either fighter, but Watson looked to have gotten the better of the action and ultimately triumphed by the razor this margin of 96-95.