British Scene: Matthew Hatton vs Yuriy Nuzhnenko Preview

Dave Oakes previews Friday night's European welterweight title match-up between champion Matthew Hatton and challenger Yuriy Nuzhnenko.

Matthew Hatton will be hoping to keep his recent successful run going this Friday night when he makes the first defence of his European welterweight title at the Bolton Arena.

Momentum is vital at this stage of Hatton’s career and a defeat against former WBA interim champion Yuriy Nuzhnenko would be a disaster. Nuzhnenko, 30-1-1 (14 KO’s), is slightly past his best, much like a lot of Hatton’s recent foes, but is still a tough fighter who should give the Mancunian a hard night.

The Ukrainian was unbeaten in twenty-nine fights until losing to fellow countryman Vyacheslav Senchenko in a world title fight in April of last year. Senchenko was too quick and skilful for Nuzhnenko and picked him off for the majority of the fight. Nuzhnenko kept battling to the end and gave a good account of himself but it was apparent that he wasn’t as good as his record suggested and would struggle against any top level boxer.

Whilst Matthew Hatton isn’t a top level boxer, he has improved considerably throughout his career and has done magnificently to capture the European title. He survived a scare in the second round against Gianluca Branco- when he was wobbled by a straight right – but came back to outbox the Italian veteran to take a comfortable points decision.

Hatton boxed well against Branco but I feel he was made to look better than he is by the ageing Branco’s lack of sharpness, speed and endeavour from the fourth round onwards. Still, Hatton did what he had to do and arguably produced the best performance of his career in the process.

I believe Nuzhnenko will be much tougher for Hatton to negate, the Ukrainian has more left in the tank than Branco did and is capable of boxing at a fast pace for the full twelve rounds.

I feel the fight will undoubtedly go the distance, neither fighter is a big puncher and both have solid chins. I believe the boxer who can last the pace better may edge a points decision in what will be a close fight. Hatton is the clear betting favourite, and is the fighter in form, but I’ve got a feeling that Nuzhnenko may cause an upset here.

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