World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor South African building up to title defence IBO welterweight champion Chris Van Heerden was hoping to face both Hatton brothers in 2013, but watched on last month as his chance was shot down in flames by Vyacheslav Senchenko. The 25 year-old is set for the biggest challenge of his career on February 2 as he tackles former European title holder Matthew Hatton on home soil in Cape Town and previously told WBN that he wanted a win over the younger brother to lead him to a fight with Ricky. “I am disappointed as it would have been an honour to fight Ricky Hatton,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News. “We could all see it was not the Ricky the world knew and Sencenko can be happy for that because the old Ricky would of killed him. Ricky is still an big Icon in my eyes and it would now be interesting to look at maybe fighting Senchenko in my view.” Van Heerden had hoped to have a warm-up fight before his clash with Hatton early next year, al...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Heat’ ready for anything in IBO defence IBO welterweight champion Chris Van Heerden is pleased that future opponent Matthew Hatton came through his warm-up bout with Michael Lomax so impressively in Manchester last night. The 25 year-old was given the news that ‘Magic’ Matthew demolished Lomax with some crunching first round body shots by WBN and is delighted with the chance to face Hatton at his best when the pair clash next year. “It is great news about Matthew’s win,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News. “My thoughts on the victory are simple, that Michael Lomax is not me! “I am very happy for Matthew’s win and hats off to Hatton. As a champion I congratulate him. “This is what we wanted. Because now after I beat Hatton, people will know just how good I really am and it will make our victory so much better. “I know Hatton likes the body shots, but my body will be ready to take whatever he has to offer on the night and ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Younger sibling right behind ring return Former European welterweight champion ‘Magic’ Matthew Hatton has a new rival in his division and it is none other than his elder brother Ricky, who returns to ring following a three-year absence on November 24. Matthew, the younger brother by 31 months, fights for a world title next year after a warm-up next week at Bowlers in Manchester, whilst Ricky will face former world champion and one-time rival of Matthew, Vyacheslav Senchenko at Manchester Arena. With both brothers now fighting at the forefront of the 147lb weight-class, WBN spoke to Matthew about Ricky’s decision to come out of retirement on the back of his crushing knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in 2009. “When I first heard of Richard's return to the ring it came as a big surprise to me,” Matthew told World Boxing News using Ricky’s full name out of brotherly respect. “I obviously think the world of my brother and it...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor South African confident of February win IBO welterweight champion Chris Van Heerden is hoping to become the first fighter to defeat both Hatton brothers when ‘The Heat’ tackles the returning Ricky Hatton’s brother Matthew on February 2nd 2013. The 25 year-old is due to announce a warm-up fight before his toughest career challenge against the younger Hatton next year and then hopes to elder sibling Ricky to avenge the defeat he promises to inflict on his brother. “Right now I am 200% focused on my fight with Mathew, but I am very confident in beating him and after beating Matthew I would love to face Ricky,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News. “A fight with Ricky would mean the world to me as he’s the real Hatton. He’s an idol to me but "The Heat" wants him even if it means I have to fight in England.” Van Heerden enhanced his growing reputation with a dominant win over Sebastian Lujan in his previous bout and has his eyes on so...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Trainer convinced ‘Magic Man’ can claim IBO belt Matthew Hatton can go on to win and defend a world title in future, according to reunited trainer Lee Beard, who is approaching a third week back in tandem with the former European champion. Beard, who briefly trained Matthew’s older brother Ricky between 2008 and 2009, is preparing the ‘Magic Man’ for his warm-up bout against Michael Lomax in Manchester next month after the two decided to rekindle their partnership following an amicable split. “Matthew has just finished his second full week now and is coming along real good,” Beard told World Boxing News. “He has always been a good trainer and is very dedicated and disciplined.  “He was a little heavy starting off due to his recent time out, but his weight is good now and his strength and conditioning is improving day by day.  “It has been very easy to get back to the way things where before,” said Beard. “I've known Matthew...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor IBO champion to scout next opponent Welterweight world title holder Chris Van Heerden will be keeping an eye on February opponent Matthew Hatton’s October bout with Michael Lomax as the South African prepares for second defence of his IBO belt. The 25 year-old is stepping up his preparation for a November warm-up himself, and will be an interested onlooker from afar as the ‘Magic Man’ attempts to get back to winning ways following his disappointing loss to Kell Brook in March. “I just want to take the time to wish Hatton good luck with his next fight, before he faces off with the champ,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News. “I am happy to say that I'm hard in training and mentally strong and fit. Thanks to Jesus for lifting me up and blessing me with the best coach out there in former heavyweight world challenger Peter Smith. “I have sparing partners lining up to help me out, with former world champions in the ilk of Kaizer Mabuza (wh...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Welterweight ready for South Africa trip after warm-up Former European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton is just one fight away from a third world title shot as the Mancunian faces Michael Lomax on October 12, before jetting off to South Africa to face Chris Van Heerden in February. The experienced 31 year-old, who has 50 fights behind him in a twelve-year career, suffered the sixth defeat in March when going down on points to Kell Brook in Sheffield and is ready to get back to winning ways on the Coldwell Boxing show at Bowlers in eight weeks’ time. ‘Magic’ Hatton has reunited with former trainer Lee Beard after amicably parting ways with Bob Shannon and hopes to enjoy more success with the coach in the coming months. “I am very pleased to back training with Lee. I had a good run of results under Lee and produced some of my best work,” Hatton told World Boxing News. “I know we will gel really quickly. I believe he can bring the...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor South African confident of victory over Briton IBO welterweight champion Chris Van Heerden is hoping a victory over former world title challenger Matthew Hatton will raise his profile significantly enough to seal a unification fight with WBA belt holder Paulie Malignaggi in 2013. The 25 year-old will fight the younger Hatton brother on February 2nd at the Nelson Mandela Boxing Tribute in Cape Town, South Africa and is aware that the one-time European title holder will be his toughest test to date. “This fight is a new step for me as opponents like Hatton are the key to taking me to a new level,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News. “Fighting Hatton is firstly, a big honour for me and I fully respect him as a boxer. He has been around for a long time and deserves another shot at a world title. “The sad thing is that I will simply beat him, as I am too young, hungry and too damn quick for him, although I know the fight with Hatton will be ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Matthew fights for IBO welterweight belt in February 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 n...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Welterweight belt on the line in February South African southpaw Chris Van Heerden will put his IBO welterweight title on the line against former European champion Matthew Hatton in early 2013, it has been confirmed to WBN. 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. 25 year-old Van Heerden, who has just one contentious defeat in nineteen contests, dominated tough Argentinian Sebastian Lujan last time out to add to his impressive win over former world champion Kaizer Mabuza when he claimed the belt in September last year. 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 ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Special One’ stakes title claim in Sheffield Unbeaten welterweight Kell Brook produced a punch-perfect display against Matthew Hatton at the Motorpoint Arena in front of a capacity crowd to set himself up for a world title shot later this year. The Yorkshireman made his ring walk to a rapturous welcome and with a 9,000 strong clan of Yorkshire fans behind him, produced his best performance to date against the brave Mancunian. Brook easily took the first four rounds without breaking sweat, bloodying Hatton’s nose and frustrating the former European champion through the middle rounds to build an unassailable lead on the scorecards. The WBA Inter-Continental champion planted some hard shots on Hatton's chin that rocked his opponent on more than one occasion leading into the second half of the fight. Hatton’s best moment in the fight was a sweet left hook that seemed to make Brook have a second thought, but the 25 year-old came back str...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Mexican superstar claims WBC 154lb belt 2010 WBN Young Boxer of the Year Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez cemented his place among the elite boxers in the world, with a dominant twelve round decision victory over Britain’s Matthew Hatton at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California last night. The 20 year old, who was also named WBN’s 'One to watch' for 2011, became the youngest light-middleweight champion of all time in the process as he proved too big and strong for the 147lb European champion, with all three judges scoring the fight 119-108. Hatton, 29, drops to 41-5-2 after the one-sided defeat, in which he lost every round, with only Alvarez being docked a point for hitting on the break in the seventh, saving him from a total shutout on all three of the judges scorecards. The Manchester fought bravely though, taking heavy shots in the second round and having to deal with a cut that opened up in the fourth, but was never in with a chance of be...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor WBC title fight put on delayed broadcast as row over weight threatens fight Sky TV’s decision to show Matthew Hatton’s WBC 154lb title bout with Saul Alvarez is a further blow to a bout that is already skating on thin ice after the British fighter’s brother Ricky stated that if Alvarez comes in over 150lbs, then the fight is off anyway. This could have had a huge bearing on Sky TV pulling out of paying for the rights to show the fight live as they may not have wanted to gamble on shelling out for a fight that has more chance of being called off, than actually going ahead in the first place. The bout, between the two predominantly welterweight fighters, was originally signed at a catchweight of 10st 10lbs (150lbs) and was a non-title fight. Then the WBC announced that both boxers would fight for the 154lb title vacated by Manny Pacquaio, when he moved back down to 147lbs where he holds the WBO belt. Then less than two-weeks later, on March 1st,...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Manchester fighter suffers blow as world title shot is shown on delayed broadcast When European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton steps into the ring at around 4am on Sunday morning, UK time, nobody in the UK will be able to see him in his quest to claim the WBC light-middleweight champion and become Britain’s fifth world title holder. Sky TV, who usually broadcast the younger Hatton’s fights, have chosen not to broadcast the fight live, when the 29 year-old faces his toughest test yet against undefeated Mexican Saul Alvarez at the Honda Center in California and instead will show the fight delayed on Sunday evening. It’s a huge blow for British fight fans who expected, maybe even took it for granted, that any British boxer fighting for the WBC title would be shown live, but as WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has also learned in the past, its not always the case. It now seems that you have more chance of seeing a Briton fight a Mexican in ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor WBC to insist on 154lb limit for title contest As Matthew Hatton prepares for his first world title quest on Saturday night, the World Boxing Council are expected to announce that his bout with natural Mexican superstar Saul Alvarez will be made at the full 154lb limit, therefore scrapping the proposed catchweight limit. The 29 year-old, who is natural at the welterweight limit seven pounds lighter than light-middleweight and was hoping that the WBC would agree to another 150lb weight contest as they did when Manny Pacquaio fought Antonio Margarito last November at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The European welterweight champion is now facing the daunting task of fighting over 151 pounds for only the second time in his career, with the first being a six-round middleweight contest in 2002 against Paul Denton, for which he weighted in at 157lbs. Since then, Hatton (41-4-2, 16 KO’s), has bounced between 146 and 151 pounds, whilst Alvarez (35-0-1, 26 KO’s) ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  European champion faces 'Canelo' test “Magic” Matthew Hatton may have to live up to his name on March 5th as the Englishman steps up two or three gears in class to face undefeated WBN Young Boxer of the Year Saul Alvarez (35-0-1) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Hatton, 29, is the younger brother of two-time world champion Ricky, who impressed American audiences in the late 2000’s until being wiped out by pound for pound world champions Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in bad knockout defeats. The Manchester fighter (41-4-2) now attempts to grab the US markets attention in a tough looking test against one of the hottest prospects in the boxing world at the moment. Hatton has largely stayed out of world-class in his 46 fight career and now dips his toes into the lion’s den. Distinctive looking Alvarez, who’s nickname translates as “Cinnamon” currently holds the WBC silver title at 147lbs and has already c...

“I am going after bigger fish” – Canelo WBC “Silver” light-middleweight champion Saul Alvarez has distanced himself away from a potential all-Mexican showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr by calling the unbeaten 24 year-old, “A good fighter, but that’s it.” Speaking on Mexican TV, Alvarez stated his intention to avoid middleweight Chavez Jr, in search of better known fighters in order to raise his profile, whilst Chavez hit back by saying “He called me out on TV, I didn’t even know who he was.” Although it’s highly unlikely that the pair will meet in the near future, it could happen later down the line. If both fighters acquire a world title in their respective weights, then a Mexican super-fight in two, maybe three years could be one of the biggest since Barrera v Morales. It has been mentioned that Alvarez’s promoters, Golden Boy have put an offer on the table to European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton, brother of two-weight world champion Ricky, to fight Alvarez in Mexico...

Family fued fight is possible  After Junior Witters pot shots in a recent interview with the BBC, Matthew Hatton has retaliated by saying it’s a fight that the current EBU Welterweight champion would not refuse. Speaking to the Daily Mirror , Hatton, 29, recalled how “The hitter” has been slagging off the Hatton family for years and how he could be in a position to shut Witter up once and for all.  Former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion Witter, 36, spoke to BBC Sport last week about plans to end his fifteen-month absence from the ring and sees Matthew Hatton as ideal cannon fodder. "I don't see winning Hatton’s title as being a problem at all, then I want to move up to the world scene and get a title shot. "Andre Berto's WBC title is the one I want, but there are other champions out there." At 36, and with only five fights in four years behind him and two defeats in his last three bouts, It’s a little bit audacious for Witter to be calling ou...

Hatton to make decision on future when license returns After a week of speculation of a comeback by the “Hitman”, Ricky Hatton has spoken about his dramatic weight-loss and the rumours about a possible return to the ring against American legend Oscar De La Hoya. Hatton, 32, according to livefight.com , has been enjoying the build up to his brother Matthew’s European welterweight title defence, spending time in the gym and sites fitness supplements as a helping hand in his slim physique. “I am not working as hard as I did when I was fighting, but it is all down to products from this company Vyomax Nutrition. I am down to 12 stone and feeling fantastic and happy,” said Hatton. Hatton also spoke about the rumours in the Daily Mail about a possible summer bout with Oscar De La Hoya, who himself has come out this week and told of his annoyance about the possibility of the two fighting. “Oscar said he was angry over the story and I don’t blame him. “I can say its absolute rubbis...