BoxRec

Matthew Hatton steps into the ring at the Bolton Arena on Friday night to make the first defence of his European Welterweight title. He faces the mandatory challenger Yuri Nuzhnenko in what, even he admits, is the toughest test of his career so far.

Hatton TVs cameras spent 24 hours with "Magic" Matthew to find out how he prepares for a big fight and to give you a unique glimpse of family life with partner Jenna and 2 year old son Jack.

http://www.brandhatton.com/TV/Features

The 24 hour TV Profile show is guarenteed to be more entertaining than 'Magics' fights

Some shocking fights on Friday

Craig Lyon 10-0 v Anwar Alfadli 0-6-2
Crolla 17-2 v Chris Riley 2-2-2

Craig Watson still hasn't got a fight so I expect that to be a washout

Tedious for the two minutes I watched.

But just an opinion.

"Magic" Matthew Hatton makes a dangerous first defence of his European welterweight title against Ukraine's Yuriy Nuzhnenko in Bolton this Friday (July 16).
Hatton, the younger brother of Hitman Ricky, won the title with a surprise but thoroughly deserved decision over two-time world title challenger Gianluca Branco here in March and is now unbeaten in seven fights since fellow Manchester man Craig Watson outscored him for the Commonwealth title over two years ago. At 39-4-2 (15) altogether, Matthew is not a big puncher but quick, busy, precise and much-improved under trainer Bob Shannon. Branco had lost only to Miguel Cotto and Arturo Gatti before so Hatton's display ranks as a career-best one. He busted up the Italian veteran.
Nuzhnenko poses a whole new threat with just one defeat in 32 fights: in a shot at the WBA welterweight title held by fellow countryman Vyacheslav Senchenko. Tucked away largely in the Ukraine, the challenger showed what he could do when he ventured to the French Alps in December 2007 and captured the interim WBA welterweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over local star Frederic Klose. Nuzhnenko failed to build on his big victory and was outscored by Senchenko in a huge showdown in the Ukraine last year but has won both his fights since and still has to be considered world class. OK, Nuzhnenko is knocking on now at 34, five years older than Hatton, but he looks strong, durable and tidy. Crucially, he seems to retain his ambition after the crunch Senchenko defeat.
To the fight, and both men possess good fitness and skill more than one-punch power and we can expect a long, hard, technically excellent tussle. Hatton, on home turf, is likely to bust up and likely to ship plenty of punches in some rousing exchanges but he rallies hard and does enough work in the closing rounds to snatch a hard-earned, possibly controversial decision.

Nuhzenko is 2/1 on betfair to beat hatton.
I've got a ton on him,anyone with a bit of class beats hatton for me.

matthew is a good guy and very underrated, he has improved alot since the watson fight IMO, dont think he is good enough to win a world title but he hasa chance in beating nuznenko

DavidPayne wrote:Tedious for the two minutes I watched.

But just an opinion.

You've clearly got a problem with concentration - some brilliant shots of Matt & his kid plus Bob Shannon said some interesting stuff about his training regime. Worth perservering for more than 2 mins ! Just an opinion.

Robnorton wrote:

DavidPayne wrote:Tedious for the two minutes I watched.

But just an opinion.

You've clearly got a problem with concentration - some brilliant shots of Matt & his kid plus Bob Shannon said some interesting stuff about his training regime. Worth perservering for more than 2 mins ! Just an opinion.

x2

Dave is always comparing things to his sex life

HomeOfBritishBoxing wrote:matthew is a good guy and very underrated, he has improved alot since the watson fight IMO, dont think he is good enough to win a world title but he hasa chance in beating nuznenko

I think he should give Watson A shot see if he can turn it around

He must be the best paid European champ i have ever seen.To buy that house and car,hes getting looked after...

whatashambles wrote:Some shocking fights on Friday

Craig Lyon 10-0 v Anwar Alfadli 0-6-2
Crolla 17-2 v Chris Riley 2-2-2

Craig Watson still hasn't got a fight so I expect that to be a washout

Very poor match ups. The Hattons don't seem to have many headline fighters.

Robnorton wrote:

DavidPayne wrote:Tedious for the two minutes I watched.

But just an opinion.

You've clearly got a problem with concentration - some brilliant shots of Matt & his kid plus Bob Shannon said some interesting stuff about his training regime. Worth perservering for more than 2 mins ! Just an opinion.

Rob,

Perhaps, I saw him talking with his wife about a gold-fish, his son's crisps etc. All very endearing. I was hoping for some stuff about his training with Bob Shannon, I obviously quit too early.

It wasn't a slight on Matthew Hatton and I wish him well on Friday.

I'd love to see him fight Michael Jennings or Bradley Pryce.

REAL_DEAL wrote:Dave is always comparing things to his sex life :D

:o

REAL_DEAL wrote:Dave is always comparing things to his sex life

matthew hatton does come across as a very likeable lad and he has come on in leaps and bounds in his boxing; he is also very fit and takes a good punch. if he is highly paid; so what? we'd all like to be in that position. for all that though; i find it hard to remember which round it is when matthew fights; every round (and fight) is very similar to the last. he is at a decent level and got robbed against n'dou; in my opinion, matthew is just about european level, craig watson had his number and beat him handily. anyone in genuine world class would expose him somewhat but i think he'd go down throwing shots.

You should see the state of Nuzhnenko on fightnews. He gives new meaning to the word 'gnarled'.

David Payne you are correct, who cares about what colour paint Matthew was choosing for his living room?

Great concept and some good footage but as an overall piece it was a FAIL

bennie wrote:You should see the state of Nuzhnenko on fightnews. He gives new meaning to the word 'gnarled'.

Actually when you see the two of them side by side (or face to face) Matthew is actually bigger than Nuzhnenko. They both look in great shape. Having seen Matthew train close up, I know what an effort he and Bob Shannon have put in. If the fight goes the distance, which I expect it will, those tough sessions are going to be invaluable.

Matthew is a nice guy - this is a weird fight for me because in some ways I am delighted for Matthew that he has done a lot better for himself than I thought he would - I keep thinking if this Ukranian is as good as some say then he should take Hatton apart - I cant help thinking Matthew is fighting now at a level beyond what I thought his abilities would stretch - good luck to the bloke though - keeps proving me wrong.

If Matthew is geniune EBU title class (sad state of affairs when we can now say that about the EBU title) then he should win this fight.

I believe Nuzhenko's last 2 fights have been shown on Eurosport (I'm sorry I also get the names of these Eastern Europeans who have held a version of the WBA welter title mixed up).... he looked very much on the downward spiral. Strong, but very slow not much snap left in his punches.

If Nuzhenko does win, then it will show Matthew's level and I hope the leading Welters in the country will be in the queue for him.

mickey1975 wrote:He must be the best paid European champ i have ever seen.To buy that house and car,hes getting looked after...

If my older bro had earned over 40 million, i'd like to think i'd have a nice house and car.

Nightmare Roy wrote:

mickey1975 wrote:He must be the best paid European champ i have ever seen.To buy that house and car,hes getting looked after...

If my older bro had earned over 40 million, i'd like to think i'd have a nice house and car.

So would i,but not all are that generous.I know a few self made men whos brothers have nothing.