• Boxing

Hatton in control as Abramenka is brushed aside

Matthew Hatton bounced back from his defeat to Saul Alvarez © Getty Images

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Matthew Hatton claimed the IBF international welterweight title with a unanimous victory over Andre Abramenka.

Hatton, in his first fight since suffering defeat to Saul Alvarez in a rare outing at light-middleweight, clearly had too much size and speed for his Belarussian opponent, as all three judges awarded him the fight by a clear margin: 118-110 118-109 118-109.

It was clear almost from the first bell who was going to win the contest in Blackpool, with Abramenka looking more like a light-welterweight as he tried to make Hatton uncomfortable early on. The 30-year-old was unfazed, however, and had Abramenka reeling over the course of the first three rounds as the contest looked to be heading for an early conclusion.

However Abramenka - who came into the fight with a record of 15 wins and two draws - showed great heart and resolve to stay toe-to-toe with Hatton - showing no willingness to lose his unbeaten record via a stoppage. Nevertheless he had no answer for Hatton's greater array of punches, as the scorecards began to take on a one-sided look.

In the eighth round Hatton was warned for a low blow, a moment that led to the deduction of a point for a repeat offence two rounds later. However, rather than spur on Abramenka the decision seemed only to harden Hatton's resolve - as he unleashed a flurry of punches to ensure the judges would not mark him down.

With his brother Ricky watching on, Hatton boxed clever for the closing couple of rounds - confident that the judges would award him the fight. And that they did - with Abramenka left to nurse what appeared to be a left hand injury as Hatton claimed the vacant IBF international welterweight strap.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.