Chris van Heerden vs. Matthew Hatton

**** it; I'm going for the underdogs. Hatton and Mabuza by UD.

 

The highlight of the undercard - which is set to air from 6pm UK/1pm EST/8pm local time - is an eight-round crossroads/grudge match between Kaizer Mabuza and Isaac Hlatshwayo, both onetime world class operators who have been slumping badly. It's actually the 3rd time they've met. Hlatshwayo beat Mabuza by KO1 in their mutual pro debut, and then took a 12-round decision over him in their rematch three years later. Mabuza, however, arguably went on to perform better against high-level opposition despite the fact that he never acquired a major belt and Hlatshwayo did.

Hlatshwayo got two gifts over Delvin Rodriguez - the second time for the vacant IBF world title - and questionable decisions over Nate Campbell and shot Phillip Ndou, but has otherwise lost almost every time he stepped up internationally. His best legitimate victories are the pair over Mabuza while both were green, one over another countryman in Cassius Baloyi, and over Aussie puncher Robert Medley . Mabuza on the other hand gave Sergei Fedchenko his first loss and beat up Kendall Holt... and very nearly Zab Judah (out-boxing and out-slugging Zab and probably well up on the cards until caught with a big counter uppercut).

Interestingly, their common opponents cancel each other out. Kendall Holt dominated Hlatshwayo (dropping him multiple times) while Robert Medley comfortably beat Mabuza. Both also beat Sam Malinga.

 

The odds keep shifting. :think

 

Yeah, the Over is almost "can't go wrong".

Remember the last time I said that, however?

(lost 10k on the Over in Senchenko vs. Malignaggi; Slava's scars may have healed but mine have not!!)

 

Rob, you think The Animal will finally get his revenge on The Angel?

It'll kind of be one of those times where it barely counts because the revenge is being exacted on someone who's totally shot (like Fenech vs. Nelson III, Maske vs. Hill II, or Hopkins vs. Jones II) - when you get down to it, Isaac hasn't clearly beaten a meaningful opponent since Medley five years ago, if you exclude the gift over D-Rod - the but I'm sure Kaizer wants payback on his domestic rival even after so many years. :bbb

 

Yeah, but it still doesn't count as "vengeance" the way it would've if they were both still near their primes, nahmsayin?

Same as Hopkins vs. Jones II or Fenech vs. Nelson III - and with Mabuza vs. Hlatshwayo III tomorrow.

 

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You mean...you don't carefully pore over my every OP, hanging on each word??

:twisted:


:readthre:

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:yep

 

Chris van Heerden 66kg/145.5lbs

Matthew Hatton 66.6kg/146.8lbs

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On air in four hours, main event in six hours.