Kazak Bantam Zhakiyanov Targets European Crown

Hatton Promotions’ latest overseas star Zhanat Zhakiyanov is closing in on the European bantamweight title.

‘The Kazakh Kid’ is the number one contender for the EBU belt and expects to become mandatory challenger after the vacant title fight between Bristol’s Lee Haskins and Stephane Jamoye.

Zhakiyanov, 24, scored his 18th win in 19 fights at the weekend knocking out useful Timur Shailezov in three rounds. It was his 11th inside the distance win, and the last punch was delivered with such force that it broke two of hapless Shailezov’s ribs!

Zhakiyanov’s team want Ricky Hatton to train him and hopes to give British fans a glimpse of his punching power in September.

Hatton Promotions European agent Philippe Fondu is part of the team overseeing the red hot prospect’s career, and believe British fans will love his style.

Fondu purred: “In the ring this kid is an animal. The Kazak school of boxing has always been a very good one, and they have now some good champions like Beibut Shumenov and Gennady Golovkin.

“Zhakiyanov is a great body puncher and a skilled boxer. I want him to come to Manchester, like another of my European fighters Sergey Rabchenko, and be trained by Ricky for the European title challenge.

“I wouldn’t ask Ricky to prepare a kid if I didn’t believe he’s an outstanding talent.”