SYDNEY—Lovemore Ndou is looking at his first Australian fight in three years after just clinging on to his IBO welterweight boxing world title with a draw against Englishman Matthew Hatton.
Making the first defence of his title, 38-year-old Sydneysider Ndou appeared to be in control after nine rounds of a closely contested fight in the English city of Stoke.
Hatton, 28, the younger brother of former junior welterweight and welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton stormed home over the last three rounds.
English judge John Coyle scored the bout 115-114 for Hatton, Australian Steve Marshall saw 115-114 to Ndou and American Tom Miller had it 114-114.
Ndou offered Hatton a rematch in either Australia or South Africa, but the Englishman suggested he had little chance of winning in a foreign ring if he couldn't get a decision at home.
South African born Ndou, who has had his last six fights outside Australia, revealed he could have his next bout there.
Hatton, who landed 13 more punches in an attritional bout fought mainly at close quarters, was very disappointed with the draw.
He insisted he had done enough to win but Ndou said he believed he was always in control and had taken a lot of the Englishman's blows on his arms.
In a bout where neither man dominated for long, 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 an Anthony Mundine supporter during that fighter's clash with Daniel Geale, also warned Hatton twice for low blows in the latter rounds of the contest.
"I never felt like I was losing I thought like I was controlling the fight," Ndou told AAP over the phone from Stoke.
"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."
Hatton, who didn't appear troubled by a cut under his left eyebrow opened in the second round, wasn't enamoured by Ndou's offer of a rematch outside England.
"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 he would leave a decision on his next opponent to his South African promoter Rodney Berman, but hinted the bout was likely to be his first at home 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.
"Its 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."
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