Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Matthew fights for IBO welterweight belt in February
WBN Editor
Matthew Hatton will challenge for his third world title on February 2nd as the former European welterweight champion takes on IBO belt holder Chris Van Heerden in South Africa.
The Showpony Promotion will form part of the Nelson Mandela boxing tribute scheduled for the soccer stadium in Cape Town on February 2nd and could attract up to 30,000 spectators for the show, which will also include some famous veteran fighters participating in exhibition bouts.
Hatton, 31, lost out to the undefeated Kell Brook last March to suffer his second loss in his last three bouts and the Mancunian is in need of a confidence boosting victory to get his career back on track.
The world title tilt follows two failed attempts by ‘Magic’ Matthew after a loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in March 2011 up at a catchweight of 150lbs and a closely contested draw in 2009 with Lovemore Ndou for the strap Van Heerden now possesses.
Hatton, 31, lost out to the undefeated Kell Brook last March to suffer his second loss in his last three bouts and the Mancunian is in need of a confidence boosting victory to get his career back on track.
The world title tilt follows two failed attempts by ‘Magic’ Matthew after a loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in March 2011 up at a catchweight of 150lbs and a closely contested draw in 2009 with Lovemore Ndou for the strap Van Heerden now possesses.
25 year-old Van Heerden has just one contentious defeat in nineteen contests and dominated tough Argentinian Sebastian Lujan last time out to add to his impressive win over former world champion Kaizer Mabuza when 'The Heat' claimed the belt in September last year.