Matt Windle (born 30 September 1990) is an English professional boxer and poet. He is a former Commonwealth light-flyweight champion and three-time Birmingham Poet Laureate.
A professional since 2015,[3] Windle faced Tommy Frank for the vacant British flyweight title at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on 18 September 2021, losing via unanimous decision.[4][5]
In his next fight, he dropped down a weight division to claim the vacant Commonwealth light-flyweight title by stopping previously unbeaten South African boxer Siphelele Myeza in the 11th round at Premier Banqueting Suite in Burmantofts, Leeds, on 8 October 2022.[6][7]
Windle challenged Commonwealth flyweight champion Connor Butler at Liverpool Olympia on 9 June 2023, with the vacant European title also on the line. He lost by unanimous decision.[8]
Dropping back down to light-flyweight, he made the first defense of his Commonwealth title against Craig Derbyshire at Lions Centre in George Town, Cayman Islands, on 8 December 2023. Windle took heavy blows throughout the contest and lost when his corner halted the fight at the end of round five to avoid him sustaining further damage.[9][10]
Windle is a three-time Birmingham Poet Laureate.[11][12] Using the nickname Poet with a Punch, he has written poems for the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the World Badminton Championships and the BBC.[12] Windle also teaches poetry and creative writing in schools.[3][6]
