MATTHEW HATTON bids to show he’s a world class welterweight when he makes the first defence of his European title next month.
‘Magic’ Matthew (39-4-2) will face mandatory contender, Yuriy Nuzhnenko (30-1) at Bolton Arena on Friday July 16.
Hatton, 29, is one of the most improved fighters in the division and proved that by winning the title when he outpointed Gianluca Branco in March.
Matthew said: “If I beat Nuzhnenko I will have proved I belong in world class and nobody can say I don’t deserve a world title fight.
“There can’t be any prouder European champion than me, but I am itching to move on and challenge some of the division’s superstars.”
Brother Ricky, head of Hatton Promotions added: “This is a tough fight for Matthew, but he has come on a bundle since Bob Shannon started training him.
“It is an ambition to promote him in a world title fight inside the next year. I can’t think of anything that would give me more pleasure.”
Ukrainian Nuzhnenko is a former WBA interim champion, with his only setback coming on points in a world title fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko in April 2009.
He has won two fights since then and displayed the form that has made him one of the world’s best welterweights.
Another title fight on the bill sees St Helens Martin Murray challenge for the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title. Other hot Hatton Promotions fighters in action include Commonwealth light-middleweight king Craig Watson, Kieran Maher and Rhys Roberts.
Tickets: £30, £50, £75 (ringside) and £90 (VIP Ringside) Call Box Office on 0161 775 7500
CLEVERLY CLOSES IN ON WORLD TITLE
Welsh ace Nathan Cleverly will graduate from Cardiff University in July - and wants to win a world title later this year.
Cleverly will become a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics if he passes his finals, but is promising to reach the level of professor when it comes to boxing.
And now his academic duties are at an end the British and European light-heavyweight champion believes he will massively improve as a fighter.
"I've been a part time boxer for the past four years because I've had to fit in my studies as well," said Cleverly.
"I'm not saying I've given boxing 100%, because I have, but people are going to see a much better fighter now I've only got one thing to concentrate on.
"I've just had the hardest few weeks of my life because I have been doing my finals, but it won't be anything compared to the work I'll have to put in if I want to win a world title."
Cleverly is not far off a crack at one of the big four belts, and the undefeated 23-year-old is at number three with the WBO and IBF, six with the WBC and 11 with the WBA.
It's no surprise given he is undefeated as a professional, and as well as the European title he has lifted the British and Commonwealth crowns.
"I'm probably a few fights away from a world title shot, but if the opportunity came along tomorrow then I would take it with both hands," he said.
"I'd love a defence of my European title this summer or in September, and then hopefully I can push on from there and get my world title chance.
"There are some great names at light-heavyweight at the moment and when you look at the top 10 it makes you realise it's going to be a tough road to the top.
"You've got the likes of Chad Dawson, Glen Johnson, Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jnr and Antonio Tarver in the rankings, so winning a world won't be easy."
Ali Adams, Stops Lewis In Three - Then Gets Title Shot Disappointment.
Last Saturday night Hammersmith’s Heavyweight contender Ali Adams (9-2-1) moved one step forward to the title shot he’s been longing for. His championship credentials were verified following a top class performance that proved to be too much for his opponent Mark Lewis, who decided to quit at the end of the third round.
Adams dominated the fight from the start, making the centre of the ring his own by firing vicious jabs into the face of Nottinghamshire’s Lewis every time he tried to come forward. The times Lewis did manage to get past the jabs he was greeted by some slick combinations and wickedly hard rights.
Adams, who’s current unbeaten run is now ten in a row, stepped things up in the second, letting rip with vicious rights that rocked Lewis to the core. By the end of the third the battered Lewis, who was bleeding from both the nose and mouth, looked ready to give up, and give up he did by deciding not to come out for the fourth.
Adams spoke of the recent victory, on his return to training at the Ultrachem TKO gym in Canning Town, London, on Thursday. “Yeah it was great. I trained really, really hard for the last three months as I was looking for a title shot. This was a warm up fight for me and this was my first six round. He’s never been stopped before, but I stopped him in the third round. It was an amazing performance and I was really pleased. Everyone around me was really pleased with the performance.”
However his hoped for Southern Area title shot, against Larry Olumbamiwo on the 25th June, were well and truly dashed when Frank Maloney announced this week that Olumbamiwo will instead face Dave Ferguson in a British Heavyweight Title Eliminator on that date.
Adams spoke of the disappointment that his much hoped for title fight with good friend Olumbamiwo was not going to happen, “I was supposed to fight the Southern Area title with Larry on the 25th, but Frank Maloney came up to John (Johnny Eames) and said no it will not happen as Larry will fight Dave Ferguson.
I’m bitterly disappointed because Saturday’s fight was a warm up for me, to get ready for the title fight. I was really looking forward to that. It’s disappointing, you know. Now I’m still looking for a title shot.”
With performances, like the one last Saturday, under his belt Adams has clearly earned a title shot. Hopefully that chance will come his way in the near future.
