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Matthew Hatton is hell bent on never getting beaten again admitting: I’m the world’s worst loser.
‘Magic’ Matthew attempts to make a winning return at Blackpool’s Tower Circus on Friday night (Aug 19) when he meets Belarussian Andrei Abramenka for the vacant IBF intercontinental welterweight championship.
It is the Manchester man’s first fight since going down on points to Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez in a WBC light-middleweight title bout in March.
Hatton who has tasted defeat five times in 48 fights said: “A lot of people praised me for my performance against Alvarez, but I am a fighter and I was there to win.
“Things didn’t work out and I look at it as a failure. Although people were coming up congratulating me the next day I was thinking, ‘What are you doing that for? I lost.’
“You show me a good loser and they are a loser. Nobody is happy when they lose a fight even if they perform well – it is all about winning.”
If the 30-year-old shines against Abramenka, he could challenge for the European or a version of the world title later this year.
Hatton defeated his rival’s older brother Aleksandr in March 2006 and promised: “I beat his brother and this fella is in for a little bit more of the same.
“This fight is about getting the win. It has been a frustrating time for me because it is never nice coming off a defeat. I am going to take the last few months of frustration out on him and get back to winning ways.”
On the same card local Central Area cruiserweight champion Matty Askin meets tough Argentinian Juan Manuel Garay.
Askin’s occasional sparring partner, Rik Turba is up against Dutchman Mitchell Balker over eight rounds
Other prospects on the bill include welterweight hopeful Adam Little who tackles Liam Griffiths and middleweight Tom Scott whose debut opponent is Bobby Wood.
In a six round bantamweight attraction Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Zhakyanov faces Anwar Alfadi.
The show promoted by Robert Waterman will be televised live by Eurosport and ticket are available prices £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222 and www.ticketline.co.uk
