Matthew Hilton (born December 27, 1965) is a Canadian former boxer who was the IBF light-middleweight champion of the world. He is the younger brother of former super middleweight world champion, Dave Hilton Jr.

He started boxing professionally in early 1983, and while doing so lived (along with his father/trainer and other family members) a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place in a 'movable trailer.'

Fighting style It was tough growing up for Hilton, but he transferred that toughness to the ring, at least as his career started. Though Matthew had decent boxing skills for a brawler, he preferred to press forward, back up his opponents, and detonate his punishing left hooks, and powerful overhand rights. Two of the big names he faced in his rise to stardom were former 3-time world champion Wilfred Benítez and former world middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo, who both fell victim to his devastating KO power. He won the IBF junior middleweight title, and brought Canada its first world boxing title since the 1940s, with a 15-round unanimous decision over defender Buster Drayton on ABC in Montreal, June 27, 1987, which was also named KO Magazines TV Fight of the Year for 1987. He made one defense on the Tyson-Biggs undercard on HBO in October of that year, busting and bruising up a totally outclassed Jack Callahan before the referee called things off after two rounds. His next fight was an exciting non-title bout on ESPN in the middleweight division against Paul Whitaker of New Orleans, who was knocked down and brutally battered by Hilton before being KO'd in the fourth round. Matthew then apparently had the upper hand in the early going in his next defense - a November 1988 matchup with Robert Hines on Showtime.

After knocking a bloodied Hines down twice, he let Hines back in the fight, and Hines steadily hammered a very tired and not very well prepared Hilton in winning a come-from-behind 12-round unanimous decision, after which Hilton would be champ no more. Hilton admitted after the fight that he had sustained rib injury during training for that fight (Between rounds, Hilton could be heard telling his father that he couldn't throw his left hand). Matthew later rebounded with a lackluster (though controversial) draw against Fermin Chirino, a bout in which many felt that Matthew had won by a 10-round unanimous decision, followed by two more exciting bouts against journeyman Tim T. Williams (on ESPN), who was KO'd in round 10, and Tennessee toughman Knox Brown, who had only previously been down at the hands of John Mugabi, and was again floored by Hilton in a 10-round decision victory on the USA Network. His last crack at a title was on the Foreman–Cooney undercard in January 1990, when his eyes were again swollen shut by the punches of defending WBO middleweight titlist Doug DeWitt.

Injuries and retirement This time, though he fought gamely, Hilton was the loser not by decision but rather by 11th-round TKO when his father had seen enough and did not let him fight the last round. Hilton's eyes were both swollen completely closed. His cutman only had ice to decrease the swelling, which was ineffective. Because of that fight, he suffered a retina injury which followed him for his next few fights before forcing him into retirement. Hilton received many unsuccessful surgeries for his eyes. His career began to sputter during the 1990s, and, partly due to the various troubles plaguing the Hilton family, Hilton never was really able to regain his championship-level caliber. He said he never was much motivated for training after he won the IBF's belt against Buster Drayton.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes37LossDarrell FlintUD10 (10)27/05/199336Draw32–2–2Kevin DaigleSD10 (10)11/02/199235Win32–2–1Clarence WhiteUD10 (10)12/11/199134Win31–2–1Knox BrownUD10 (10)31/07/199033Loss30–2–1Doug DeWittRTD11 (12)15/01/199032Draw30–1–1Fermin ChirinoSD10 (10)19/12/198931Win30–1Tim WilliamsTKO10 (10)10/10/198930Loss29–1Robert HinesUD12 (12)04/11/198829Win29–0Paul WhittakerTKO4 (10)29/07/198828Win28–0Jack CallahanRTD2 (15)16/10/198727Win27–0Buster DraytonUD15 (15)27/06/198726Win26–0Muhammad EltassiTKO2 (10)29/04/198725Win25–0William ClaytonKO2 (10)12/12/198624Win24–0Franklin OwensTKO2 (10)22/11/198623Win23–0Aniseto RamosPTS10 (10)Jun 13, 198622Win22–0Bobby McCorveyKO1 (10)20/05/198621Win21–0Bruce JacksonRTD5 (10)19/04/198620Win20–0Wilfred BenítezKO9 (10)15/02/198619Win19–0Vito AntuofermoRTD4 (10)20/10/198518Win18–0Lopez McGeeTKO4 (10)06/09/198517Win17–0Roberto HernandezTKO9 (10)29/04/198516Win16–0Francisco De JesusUD10 (10)22/01/198515Win15–0Bill BradleyRTD3 (10)11/12/198414Win14–0Sam GervinsUD10 (10)14/10/198413Win13–0Ronald ThermidorTKO2 (10)10/07/198412Win12–0Nino GonzalezKO8 (10)01/06/198411Win11–0Reggie FordTKO1 (10)30/04/198410Win10–0Eddie HollettTKO5 (10)04/12/19839Win9–0Hardy JonesRTD5 (8)10/11/19838Win8–0Frank MackeyTKO3 (6)23/08/19837Win7–0Harold FranceKO3 (6)29/07/19836Win6–0Clinton HarrisKO4 (6)21/06/19835Win5–0Mike EssettUD6 (6)24/05/19834Win4–0Jacques DeBloisTKO3 (4)26/04/19833Win3–0Frank MinniganUD4 (4)29/03/19832Win2–0Adrian GreenTKO3 (4)15/02/19831Win1–0Denis BrissonTKO2 (4)25/01/1983

See also Notable boxing families List of world light-middleweight boxing champions

References

External links