Ndou retains title with draw against Hatton
Lovemore Ndou has retained the International Boxing Organisation welterweight title with a draw against Matthew Hatton in Stoke, England.
South Africa-born Sydneysider Ndou, 38, making the first defence of the title, appeared to be in control after nine rounds of the closely contested fight, but Hatton, 28, the younger brother of former junior welterweight and welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton, stormed home in the final three rounds.
English judge John Coyle scored the bout 115-114 for Hatton, Australian Steve Marshall gave it to Ndou 115-114, and American Tom Miller scored 114-114. Both men were warned twice for punching low by English referee Marcus McDonnell.
The referee, who attracted attention in Australia last May, when he was verbally abused by a supporter of Anthony Mundine during that fighter's bout against Daniel Geale, also warned Hatton twice for low blows in the latter rounds of the contest.
Hatton, who landed 13 more punches in an attrition filled bout fought mainly at close quarters, was very disappointed with the draw. He insisted he had done enough to win, but Ndou believed he was always in control and had taken a lot of the Englishman's blows on his arms.
"I never felt like I was losing, I thought like I was controlling the fight. He fought a lot better than I expected, but I don't think the ref was doing me any favours. I think the ref was just looking for any excuse to take a point off me, and I had to be very careful, especially with body punches. I believe you have got to take the title away from the champion, and I don't think he did enough" said Ndou.
Ndou offered Hatton a rematch in Australia or South Africa, but the Englishman said he had little chance of winning in a foreign ring if he couldn't get a decision at home.
"After that decision, what chance have I got over there,'' Hatton said in his post-fight television interview.
"I thought I won that fight by three or four rounds. I don't care what Lovemore says, I won that fight clearly."
Ndou said that he would leave the decisions about his next opponent to his South African promoter, Rodney Berman, but he said the bout was likely to be his first at home in Australia since February 2007, when he defeated Naoufel Ben Rabah.
"There's already talk of doing a fight in Australia, and (pay television network) Main Event have got a date for us in March, so the chances are I will probably fight in Australia," Ndou said.
"It's a good thing. I haven't fought in Australia for a while. I think it will be good to make a title defence in Australia for a change."