Over in Ohio last night, two people celebrated a very special moment.
Ricky Hatton and Zhanat Zhakiyanov both had huge smiles on their faces when the scores were announced for the fight against the American fighter Rau?shee Warren for the WBA world bantamweight title.
Zhakiyanov?s smile was because he?d just become a world title holder and Hatton?s because the former boxer had just seen one of his fighters become the first world title holder he?d trained.
However, Zhakiyanov didn?t have everything his own way as he had to survive not one, but two knockdowns in the first round.
But the Kazakhstan fighter rallied to take the title on a split decision with the judges scoring the fight:
? 116 ? 100 (in favour of Zhakiyanov)
? 111 ? 115 (in favour of Warren)
? 115 ? 111 (in favour of Zhakiyanov)
Zhakiyanov fights at the same weight as the IBF champion Lee Haskins and Jamie McDonnell. He joined the Hatton camp in 2011 but has only been trained by Hatton for the last three years.
The win takes his record to 27-1 whilst Warren?s slipped to 14-2.
Naturally delighted after getting his first world champion, Hatton took to the social network to tweet,
‘He’s only gone and done it. Been with me years. Couldn’t be prouder.’
Our congratulations go to Ricky and Zhanat on a wonderful achievement.
Hatton Trains His First World Title Winner
