'I'm ready for the European title' - Matthew Hatton interview
This Friday night Matthew Hatton climbs into the ring at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, to challenge for the vacant European welterweight title.
Matthew (38-4-2) took the fight at late notice and only had three weeks to prepare for two time world title challenger and former European light-welterweight champion Gianluca Branco (43-2-1).
The well travelled Italian veteran has enjoyed a very successful career to date and knows how to fight, Matthew knows he didn’t get his world title shots with a padded record.
“Oh yeah, absolutely, like you say he’s got a fantastic record he only has two defeats in forty six fights and those defeats were against Miguel Cotto and Arturo Gatti who are two modern greats.
“His record speaks for itself and he’s still a quality fighter. I am expecting a tough fight and I’m well prepared and very confident going into it.”
When asked about his opponent Hatton knows what to expect but feels he has an edge in most departments. “My boxing skills are much improved and I’ve shown that in recent fights. I’m a very fit fighter, fitness is one of my main strengths. I’m feeling very strong now and he has campaigned down at light-welterweight for much of his career. Obviously I am the younger man but come fight night I do believe I will be the stronger, fitter man and the better fighter at this stage of our careers.
“He is a very good technical boxer and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes but I wouldn’t say he’s an awkward fighter. At this stage of both our careers it’s a massive opportunity and as I said earlier I’m really confident am I’m sure I will win this fight.”
A draw last November in an IBO world title fight versus Lovemore N’Dou hasn’t slowed down Hatton's career. He was out in February keeping busy by stopping Mikheil Khutsishvili in five rounds and is delighted that another big fight has been signed so soon after the IBO shot.
“It’s all respect to the team around me - Gareth Williams, Richard, my dad and Ricky - everyone involved in the promotion. Full credit to my team for getting me this chance. They got me the fight with N’Dou and I know I won that fight but I didn’t get the decision. Now they have got me this opportunity which has come at only three weeks notice.
“I always keep in good shape and have only had a week out of the gym since my last fight. I’m the sort of fighter who is always in the gym and I’m fortunate enough to not have a job outside of boxing. My job is to stay in shape all year round, If I put on a load of weight and let myself slide I would not be able to take this opportunity on Friday.”
Even though Matthew is climbing the world rankings he made it clear he would still love to fight for the British belt. The “traditional” route to the top doesn’t always fit the career of a fighter trying to make a living.
“That’s something that’s always disappointed me , I would have loved to fight for the British title I’ve been desperate to fight for it in the past but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened.
"If you find yourself not getting the chance to fight for a title then you have to go down different avenues, like the IBO for example. But I would still like to fight for the British title one day. Im not very happy that I haven’t had the chance because I do feel I have been deserved a shot at some point.”
A lot of people ringside though Hatton did enough to win the IBO belt even though the judges couldn’t pick a winner. “I’m still very annoyed about that night, I thought I did more than enough to win that fight. I threw more punches and landed more punches throughout, so how they scored it a draw I do not know to be honest. But what can you do?
"Like I say that decision is still in the back of my mind and im not going to leave any doubts in this fight. You can’t dwell on it you have to learn from it and move on. I don’t believe it was a close fight against N’Dou I thought I won it comfortably, it’s all about learning and now I’m ready to be European champion.”
Some boxing fans may say that winning the European title has more substance than winning a minor world title such as the IBO strap.
“This is certainly the biggest fight of my career so far. I don’t like to compare the titles but with the type of opponent and the European belt at stake I do believe this fight is my biggest so far."
A good win on Friday could open the door to more big fights over the coming years. “I never like to look past my next fight, obviously im fully focused on this fight. The winner of this fight has to take on tough Russian Yuri Nuzhnenko in a mandatory, so I really am fighting at world class now.
“If I win Friday and look good doing it then the next two or three years are going to be huge for me. These fights are coming to me at the right time as I move towards my peak.”
A change of trainer is working well for Hatton. "I’m very happy with my new trainer Bob Shannon, I’m improving all the time in the gym. I didn’t have too long working with Bob before my last fight and we were looking forward to a good long, hard training camp towards my next fight, but due to the circumstances that came about with the three weeks notice that wasn’t possible.
"For a big fight like this I would have liked a longer preparation but things don’t always work out like that in boxing. This is a fantastic opportunity and I am in excellent shape anyway and I’ve had good quality sparring.”
There has been talk of retirement from Ricky Hatton over the last few months but nothing concrete. Matthew feels he still has a good career ahead of him with plenty more to offer the sport.
“It all depends on how things go really, I wouldn’t put a time scale on it, some fighters say that will retire by a certain age. I’m a fighter who is really enjoying my boxing, getting better and better all the time. Like I said before I think the best years are yet to come and I can see me boxing a few more years yet.”
Finally, as Matthew and Ricky seem to be following different career paths at this moment in time I thought I would see which of the two trades, promoting or fighting seems to be the harder work.
“I would say doing the fighting. Ricky’s probably the better person to ask that one but I would still say the fighting. We definitely get the harder job.”
Matthew’s bout is part of another quality Hatton Promotions bill including Anthony Small vs. Sam Webb for the British and Commonwealth belts plus appearances from Denton Vassell and Joe Murray. The action is televised on Sky Sports 1 at 22.00.
