Ton up for solid scrapper Scriven

Mansfield warrior Matt Scriven is the latest Midlands-based fighter to clock up a hundred professional fights.

The durable and well-thought-of 38-year-old, who lost over six to first-timer Sammy McSpadden over six in Cleethorpes on Friday [October 14] to reach the milestone, joins other centurions Delroy Spencer, Billy Smith and Kristian Laight on the active paid circuit.

And it's a well-deserved reward for a hard-nosed former soldier who always comes to fight, usually leaving the ring bloody-nosed and bruised, and had enough talent to hold the Midland Area and British Masters light-middleweight titles in 2003.

He tamed Worcester's Leroy Williamson over ten rounds for the brace of belts at the now-mothballed Victoria Leisure Centre, Nottingham, in the March of that year and followed it up with a successful Masters defence over 30 minutes against Cumbrian Wayne Shepherd at the same venue three months later.

Those were probably his greatest nights. But despite having only 14 wins [two inside] and a draw [earlier this year against seven-bout unbeaten Bobby Gladman] in his 100 contests, he has pulled off the odd upset and is rarely halted before the final bell, with several of his early defeats arriving via cuts.

Most recently, on the undercard of Carl Froch's WBC world title defence against Andre Dirrell at the Capital FM Arena in 2009, the canny and willing East Midlander hammered touted Nottingham debutant Terry Maughan to a two-round stoppage defeat to show that, when in the mood, he's capable. 

Scriven, who also trains - leading Andy Bell to a British title - and promotes [under the Robin Hood Promotions banner] in Nottinghamshire, has met ex-Olympians, Area, English, British and Commonwealth champions along the way and even took recent world title challenger Matthew Hatton into the fourth round before losing on cuts. As ever, he complained bitterly and begged the referee to let him continue.

That's typical of the man. Happy 100, Matt.