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Matthew Hatton suffered defeat at the hands of Chris Van Heerden in South Africa on Saturday night. Van Heerden retained his IBO Welterweight Title by Unanimous Points Decision 118-110, 117-112, 116-112.
‘Magic’ got off to a confident start against the Champion and Referee Howard Foster warned Van Heerden for use of the elbow mid-way through the opener. Van Heerden finds success with the right in rounds one and two and seems to start taking control at the end of the second frame.
Van Heerden sustains a cut to the right eye in round three. Both men seem to be punching back-of-head and Van Heerden is warned for it in the fourth.
Van Heerdens eye is bleeding in the fifth and the Champion dabs at it. Hatton warned again for holding at the end of the round.
A good first half of round six for Van Heerden despite the cut . But Hatton lands a swinging right which lands smack on the face of the Champion and a gasp goes up from the crowd. Van Heerden takes a few shots but with thirty seconds to go of the sixth – lands a great left hook.
A messier round seven but Van Heerden lands a head-shot right in the closing seconds which Hatton clearly felt but looked to stand strong as if to say ‘I’m fine, that was nothing’!
Later rounds began to get messy with lots of holding by Hatton who spent much of the final round grappling his opponent.
A brave effort from the Manchester man but Van Heerden retains his Title by Unanimous Points – his record now stands at 19 wins (10 by KO) 1 loss and 1 draw.
Hatton drops to 43 wins (17 by KO) 7 losses (1 by KO) and 2 draws.
On the same Bill in South Africa, Matty Clarkson of Preston stopped local Light-Heavyweight Boxer – Tshepang Mohale in the seventh round of their scheduled eight round Contest.
Clarkson improves to 9 wins (2 by KO) 1 loss and 2 draws, while Mohale drops to 9 wins (8 by KO) 6 losses (5 by KO)
