Chris Matthews’ Southern Area title dream is in tatters after he failed to make the weight for tomorrow’s fight - but his camp are certain the scales were wrong.

Matthews weighed in at 9st 9lb for his featherweight bout against Martin Hillman - a whopping 9lbs over the limit.

The boxer, his dad Ray and trainer Johnny Armour are furious, given he was just under 9st 1lb when promoter Joe Elfidh weighed him on Thursday night.

They can’t possibly see how the 24-year-old would have put on 8lb overnight, particularly when he’s been training non-stop for weeks in preparation for the bout.

Matthews was due to top the bill on Make or Break II at Maidstone Leisure Centre but Elfidh has now cancelled the whole show and is offering ticket refunds.

None of it makes sense to Matthews and his team.

Ray said: “Chris had the 21-day weigh-in three weeks ago and was 9st 3.75lb, so bang on course.

“He was weighed on Wednesday and was 9st 2lb, he was 9st 1lb when Johnny weighed him again on Thursday night and then 9st 0.75lb when Joe weighed him at the Sweatbox Gym just after that. Martin was even there. He saw the scales.

“It’s impossible to put on 8lb overnight. Chris has never been 9st 9lb in his life.

“It was just a set of bathroom scales at the official weigh-in. Surely you’d have calibrated scales for a title fight.

“He’s been training and running every night, he was up at 5am for work this morning, finished at 12 and then went to the weigh-in. It doesn’t add up.

“He was up for the fight and he was going to win it.

“The way’s he trained, the way he’s sparred, everything was spot on. I’ve never seen him look so good.

“He’s absolutely gutted. He feels like giving up.

“He’s being made the scapegoat for the show being called off and it’s not right.

“He’s done everything right. It’s absolutely impossible to put on all that weight.

“Joe knows what he weighed on Thursday night. He weighed him.

“He should be speaking up for Chris.”

Responding on Facebook, Elfidh says it’s simply a case of Matthews not making the weight. His post reads:

• Matthews: I should win

JE Sports Network announced on Facebook the show had been cancelled, promising a 'thorough investigation'.

They said in a statement: “Due to Chris Matthews failing to make weight for his Southern Area Featherweight Championship bout versus Martin Hillman the promotion scheduled to take place at Mote Park, Maidstone tomorrow has been cancelled.

“The Southern Area Council of the British Boxing Board of Control will in due course carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the failure of Chris Matthews to make the weight.

“Initially we considered proceeding with a watered down promotion however we have a duty to the paying public to provide what we advertised and this would not have been the case.

“Full refunds can be obtained from where you purchased your tickets.”

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