SOUTH Essex pro “Mighty” Matt McCarthy has changed his trainer and manager in an attempt to kick start his career which suffered an unexpected setback in the summer.

Tilbury-based McCarthy, 21, has parted company with old trainer Mark Bates in favour of Terry Coulter.

And the fighter says he is already feeling the benefit of making the change.

He said: “Terry’s got more than 26 years experience and already I can feel that my power and speed are better.

“I’ve signed a three-year deal with Terry and there is also a three-year promotion deal with Stephen Goodwin which should mean more bigger shows and Matchroom fights,” he added.

The move follows Bates’ move to Frinton, but it was McCarthy’s controversial loss in his last fight to Chris Truman that really stung the Thurrock boxer, who cut his teeth with Mick Worrall at Tilbury Dockers ABC.

The summer fight, on July 19, was stopped although McCarthy felt that it should have been allowed to continue.

He said: “I was not hurt, I was standing up and on my feet. There was 30 seconds left and, really, I blame the referee. No boxer likes to lose to a better man, but the referee stopped it too soon.

“I have told Truman that I want a rematch and that I will fight him anywhere – on his own turf in Birmingham – and that I will even forgo my purse to put the matter right.

“I am not in boxing for the money, I am in it for the lifestyle,” he added.

McCarthy’s frustration stems from knowing that he has the potential to be one of the best pro fighters in the country.

As a young teenager with Worrall at Dockers ABC he was knocking out national champions as a 13 or 14 year old.

And then he trained for several years with Chadwell ABC, making the ABA semi-finals before turning pro only three years ago.

McCarthy’s next bout is on November 29 where he is due to fight as part of a Goodwin show against a rival due to be announced at a press conference on Thursday.

And if this six-round bout goes well it could open doors towards McCarthy’s aim of having a tilt at the Southern Area title.

Northfleet’s Terry Coulter was enthusiastic about training the Tilbury fighter.

The Kent-based man said: “I have held a pro licence for 26 years and trained a lot of well known people including Mick Cantwell and middleweight Paul Carr.

“I’ve also looked after cage fighter Lee Murray, teaching him to use his hands and he was one of the best. I trained him for nine years.

“I’m not the sort of trainer who takes anyone on.

“I have to see them a lot and get to know them and see if we spark. You have to gel with a fighter or else it’s a waste of time.

“It is about the love and the passion for the sport. McCarthy’s got that.

“I said I’d train McCarthy because he’s got a lot of aggression and I really like the ‘switch style’ that makes him a difficult opponent.

“When I saw how he’d changed in his early pro fights I did not think that there had been enough progression in those first eight or nine pro fights.

“He’s still doing most of his training in Thurrock – and this week he’s sparring against Johnnie Garton,” he added.