Derry Mathews has won the interim WBA lightweight title after being handed a unanimous points decision over Tony Luis in Liverpool . Mathews saw Richar Abril twice pull out of a fight due to illness to be striped of the belt and just this week replacement Ismael Barroso was forced to pull out after failing to obtain a visa . Derry Mathews celebrates after victory over Tony Luis at Echo Arena on Saturday night . Mathews celebrates with his family after claiming the interim WBA lightweight title . Luis was drafted in at the last minute and while the Canadian will have won a lot of fans with his relentless style , he did not win over the judges and Mathews was handed a 114-112 , 114-112 , 115-112 decision . Mathews made the brighter start and kept Luis contained behind the jab while landing a decent uppercut at the end of the second round . Mathews throws a right punch during interim WBA lightweight title fight in Liverpool . Luis ( right ) was drafted in after Richar Abril and Ismael Barroso both pulled out . The Liverpudlian continued to still largely control the fight but Luis showed plenty of aggression himself , coming forward and making life difficult for Mathews , landing a good uppercut of his own at the end of the sixth . Luis ' pressure and all-action style was beginning to tell on Mathews , who was more and more often going to the ropes and both men were deducted a point in the eighth , Mathews for a low blow and Luis for use of the head . Luis was in the ascendency in the closing rounds and looked to be pulling some points back on the cards but it was not enough as Mathews was handed a tight decision after a thrilling encounter .
Derry Mathews handed a unanimous points decision at the Echo Arena . Tony Luis was drafted in after Richar Abril and Ismael Barroso pulled out .