Ringside Boxing Report: Matthew Hatton Vs Lovemore N’Dou
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
On Friday night at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on Trent, England, Hatton Promotions hosted a fightnight which would see Mathew Hatton face South African born Champion Lovemore N’Dou for the first defence of the IBO Welterweight Title which N’Dou won in July this year.
Bearing an impressive 59 fight record with 47 wins and 31 of those being by way of knockout – The Black Panther had faced a number of ‘quality’ opponents. This would be a big step-up for ‘Magic’ Hatton – a World Title win would propel him ‘out of the shadow’ of brother Ricky.
A packed Fenton Manor gave huge support to Mancunian Hatton but boo’d when Champion N’Dou entered the ring.
It was a close first round, with Hatton keeping busy but missing shots as N’Dou dips low. Both men start to settle in during the second round. N’Dou throws a decent swinging left to the cheek of Hatton – his punches are heavy, thudding blows.
Hatton sustains a cut to the left brow in the final minute of the round. N’Dou throws a right to the head of Hatton who counters with a good right hook (almost an uppercut) which lands on target.
Both men lock together at the start of the third. N’Dou throws a swinging left and Hatton immediately returns with two lefts. He does look to be quicker in this fight.
In the closing minute, Hatton drives forward with a left that finds it’s mark and he forces N’Dou into the corner. But ‘cool’ N’Dou looks undeterred and an exchange of punches sees the champion landing the heavier shots. “Watch the head†Referee Marcus McDonnell tells N’Dou in the closing seconds.
N’Dou starts to land decent body-shots in the fourth round and sneaks a left through Hatton’s guard.
In the opening minute of the fifth – N’Dou lands a body shot which strays below the belt of Hatton and Referee McDonnell tells him to ‘keep them up’. N’Dou gets another boo for that one! But a minute later he lands another low shot and Referee McDonnell tells him ‘That’s two. No more.’ and N’Dou gets booed again!
When they’re told to break – Hatton is the one who reacts quickly and jumps straight back in without hesitating. This works well and he catches N’Dou with a right to the body while N’Dou is backed on the ropes in the final half minute of the round.
N’Dou gets off to the better start in round six. He puts Hatton under pressure at the mid-way point – submitting him to a barrage of shots and ending in a solid right which rocks back the head of the challenger. N’Dou looks very strong this round.
In the seventh frame Referee McDonnell calls both men together to get them to ‘clean it up’. In the second half of the round Hatton puts N’Dou under pressure in the corner landing a decent right before stepping back. N’Dou isn’t fazed by it and gets back to work. Hatton seems encouraged and goes in with a left-right-left combination which is mostly blocked by N’Dou who immediately returns with a solid left hook which Hatton clearly ‘felt’.
Sky Sports Fight Stats reveal that so far Hatton has thrown the more punches (252 – 202) but N’Dou has the slightly better success rate (21% – 19%)
As they start the eighth – Referee McDonnell calls to ‘stop boxing’ but N’Dou throws a punch after the break (..yet more boo’s). Hatton is more aggressive this round.
Hatton loses his gumshield in the second half of the frame and as they resume fighting – both men fly at each other with punches.
In the last half minute of the ninth – N’Dou unleashes a barrage of shots on Hatton who can only defend himself. Hatton forces N’Dou back into the corner a lands a notable left which rocks back the head of the Champion (who still looks unfazed!).
It’s a messy start to the tenth round. N’Dou throws a couple of wild swinging shots that miss there mark. This time it’s Hatton who lands a low blow and Referee McDonnell warns him “keep them ‘up’ not belowâ€. Hatton is busier this round.
Hatton keeps busy in the eleventh but a big left from N’Dou in the closing half minute sends ‘Magic’ stumbling backwards, but it’s a better round for Hatton and he raises his arms aloft as he goes back to his corner.
The twelfth and final round and N’Dou flies straight at Hatton. Ricky Hatton – who has stood throughout most of the fight – continues to shout instruction to his brother.
N’Dou looks to be winding up for a big punch. In the closing minute he unleashes a huge swinging overarm right which just skims past Hattons’ face.
The bell sounds the end of the contest and Sky Stats show that Hatton continued to throw more punches (442-356) with N’Dou having the slightly better success rate (21% – 20%)
115-114 in favour of N’Dou; 115-114 in favour of Hatton; 114-114 even, the result – a draw.
N’Dou retains the IBO Welterweight Title.
Many felt that Hatton had won the contest – including a clearly disappointed Hatton. Afterwards, N’Dou said he felt he’d won the contest but gave respect to Hatton saying that ‘he was tougher than I thought he’d be’. Hatton said he ‘didn’t care what Lovemore said, I know I won the fight’.
Cello Renda (Peterborough) v Paul Samuels (Newport, Wales)
8 x 3 Middleweight Contest
Round one and both men score with shots. Samuels lands with a left in the opening minute which jolts Renda, but – backed on to the ropes – the Peterborough man lands a peach of a left hook and Samuels goes down to the canvas. Samuels gets up shaking his head in disbelief. Renda goes after Samuels but Samuels ‘gives it back’ and both men trade punches.
Renda lands a decent body-shot but Samuels continues to drive forward. In the closing minute – Samuels backs Renda into the corner and he lands a solid right hook which seems to wobble Renda. Samuels has Renda pinned in the corner – he lands a solid left and a right to the head of Renda followed by an uppercut – but Renda manages to get out of the corner and throws a right-left, Samuels covers up momentarily but lands a body-shot which Renda clearly ‘felt’.
Samuels lands another big right and left and then is bundled to the canvas. Renda sustains a cut to the left brow but finishes the round throwing punches.
Both men go at it again in the second frame but Renda – although still throwing punches – seems a little unsteady. Then with just over a minute of the round remaining – Samuels lands a left as Renda lands a left and both men (like two felled trees!) fall back on the canvas – a simultaneous knockdown!
The crowd (me included) are stunned – half laughing and half gasping at the spectacle of two boxers laid out on the canvas. Renda gets up first while Samuels takes his time – just getting up for the count.
Round three and both men land with punches – but with less than a minute gone, Samuels pressures Renda on the ropes landing lefts and rights to head and body and Renda cannot return a punch. Referee Terry O’Conner jumps in to stop the contest.
A clearly ecstatic Samuels – growls at us ringside photographers as if releasing his energy. “Time!†he shouts – gesturing to his watch – perhaps suggesting it’s ‘his time now’ (or maybe – it’s about time he did it!?). He then drops to the canvas to do some press-ups (!)
Samuels wins by TKO Round 3. His record now stands at 20 wins (12 by KO) 7 losses (4 by KO) and 2 draws, while Renda drops to 18 wins ( 11 by KO) 8 losses ( 5 byKO).
Gary Buckland (Cardiff) v Istvan Nagy (Hungary via Ukrania)
Dynamo Buckland made short work of Ukranian born Nagy. An uppercut sees Nagy on the canvas mid-way through the round. Reluctantly he gets to his feet but fast-fisted Buckland gets straight back to work and Nagy is back on the canvas just seconds later. Buckland lands a right hook to the head and literally seconds later the Hungarian is back on the canvas and Referee O’Connor waves the contest off.
Buckland wins by first round TKO. His record improves to 17 wins (6 by KO) and 1 loss while Nagy drops to 12 wins (7 by KO) 6 losses (2 by KO).
Rob Norton of Stourbridge was to defend his Commonwealth (British Empire) Cruiserweight Title against Nigerian born – Akinyeme Laleye. But (for reasons unknown) Norton now faced last minute opponent Ismail Abdoul – in a six round Cruiserweight Contest.
Southpaw Norton won convincingly on points 60-54 and improves to 32 wins (19 by KO) 4 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw. Abdoul drops to 32 wins (13 by KO) 16 losses (1 by KO) and 2 draws.
‘Black Country Bodysnatcher’ – Darren McDermott, defended his English Middleweight Title against Danny Butler of Bristol. McDermott sustained a cut to the left brow early on in the contest then a cut to the right brow later, but both cuts (worked on by Dean Powell) seem to heal quickly and didn’t cause too much of a problem.
A closely matched contest till Butler went down to the canvas in the fifth from an uppercut. McDermott securing the points win 96-95 to retain the title. McDermott improves to 17 wins (9 by KO) 2 losses (2 by KO) and 1 draw. Butler drops to 18 wins (3 by KO) and 2 losses.
Local Boxer Scott Lawton dropped down in weight and faced Derry Mathews of Liverpool in a Super- featherweight contest. A fairly even first half between these two in this scheduled eight-rounder with both men scoring shots. Lawton concentrated on the long-reaching jab but dug in a couple of body-shots in the closing minute of round five which sees Matthews take a deep breath.
At the start of round six, Lawton lands two rights to the head and almost stumbles over with the effort, digging in a couple of body-shots before Referee Rob Chalmers calls them to break. Fighting resumes and Lawton follows up the attack with three or four sweeping shots – putting Matthews on the back foot.
Lawton lands a big right to the head and Mathews covers up but the Stoke man goes after him throwing a number of shots forcing Mathews into the corner. Mathews throws a left hook as he stumbles backwards and the shot finds its target but Lawton lands a final right to the head before Referee Chalmers jumps in to stop the contest.
Lawton wins by TKO Round 6 and improves to 27wins (6 by KO) 5 losses (3 by KO) and 1 draw while Mathews drops to 21 wins (11 by KO) 4 losses (4 by KO).
Other results include:
Dean Harrison (Wolverhampton) v Darren Askew (Cumbria)
Fast-handed Southpaw – Askew, secured a third round TKO over ‘Deano’ Harrison. Having been on the canvas in the first round, Harrison was stopped when an uppercut in the third sent him down again. Although he got up for the count – Referee O’Connor waved it off.
Askew wins by TKO Round 3 and improves to 6 wins (1 by KO) 3 losses. Harrison drops to 15 wins (4 by KO) 3 losses (2 by KO)
Paul Economides (Connahs Quay) v Stephen R. Russell (Paisley, Scotland)
Economides suffered his first defeat to Scotsman Russell after a first round TKO. Russell improves to 7 wins (1 by KO) no losses while Economides drops to 7 wins 1 loss (1 by KO).
Alex Dilmaghani (Worthing) v Jason Nesbitt (Birmingham)
Dilmaghani secured his third victory with a points win (40-36)over tough veteran Nesbitt. Nesbitts record now stands at 7 wins (5 by KO) 97 losses (11 by KO) and 2 draws.
Adrian Gonzalez (Las Vegas) v Steve Gethin (Walsall)
Gonzalez notched up his fifth pro-win over experienced Gethin. Gethin drops to 11 wins (6 by KO) 52 losses (10 by KO) and 3 draws.