Hatton vs Branco is Turned Down By The IBO

[w.smith '86]

Honestly, it sucks that people don't take the IBO more seriously. I think they're the only sanctioning body with a shred of integrity. It's really cool that they said hell no to the "interim" belt. Ed Levine has something good going on. People tend to forget that no one used to think of the WBO is nothing more than a fringe belt too.

[D-MiZe]

First Judah ducked Matthew Hatton and now Ndou.

Fact is that he's the most avoided fighter at 147.

[josenoway]

haha, how embarassing, the IBO of all the bodies, turns them down. Thank god for that, we don't need another overhyped Frank Warren creation.

[El_Cholo]

Stoke-on-Trent will host a world title bout for the first time on 13 November at Fenton Manor Sports Complex.

Ricky Hatton's promotional company is staging the show, in which his brother, Matthew, will challenge Lovemore N'Dou for the IBO welterweight title.

Ricky said: "When I boxed Floyd Mayweather in Vegas, there seemed to be hundreds of people from Stoke there.

"They were a lively bunch and they kept asking me when I would be boxing in Stoke. I've done the next best thing."

Hatton is taking a break from boxing following his devastating defeat by Manny Pacquaio in May, and is yet to decide whether to retire from the sport in favour of a career as a promoter.

Fenton Manor has staged British and European title fights before, but never previously for a world title.

Stoke-on-Trent's Scott Lawton will also be on the bill, and will fight for the first time at super-featherweight in an attempt to win the British title that has eluded him at lightweight.

"I can't wait to box on this show," said Lawton. "I've already been to a couple of Hatton promotions and they really do put on a great show.

"I'm hoping that this move down will really suit me. I think I can keep my strength at that weight and I should have quite a reach advantage over the other lads in the division."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8291386.stm