UNBEATEN Blackpool cruiserweight Matty Askin now knows his opponent at Altrincham Leisure Centre a week tomorrow.
South Shore pro Askin, who has won all his four fights to date, takes on Zimbabwean veteran and David Haye victim Hastings Rasani in a six-rounder on the Sky-televised show.
Rasani, 35, who is based in Birmingham, has been round the block – and back again – more than a few times.
The 6ft 2in boxer is certainly ring-savvy, having had 70 fights to date – 23 wins, 43 losses and four draws. Rasani has been in with some good fighters: Dean Francis, Bruce Scott, Neil Simpson, Carl Thompson, Tony Oakey and, best of all, Haye, Britain’s latest world heavyweight champion.
Haye stopped Rasani inside a round at Wembley Arena. 
The Askin v Rasani contest is scheduled for six rounds on a Hatton promotion that is headlined by a British and Commonwealth title bout between Rob Norton and David Dolan. Askin will go into the fight oozing with confidence after his blast-out of Bobby Scott in less than a minute at Wigan.
Rasani has won his last three fights, a sequence that grants him maximum respect from Askin, who turned professional after winning the ABA cruiserweight title.
Askin said: “I have watched some of Rasani’s fights and I was surprised how fast he was. He is big and quite strong, and he will definitely come to fight. He has fought for the Commonwealth title.
“It will be the first time over six rounds for me, but if I take him out early so be it. “I can’t wait for the fight and it is nice to have that feeling,” added Askin, who expects to enter the ring at around the 14-stone mark.
Askin’s preparations have been affected by the weather. He trains in Manchester but could not get there this week because of the snow.
However, he added: “I can still get in pad-work in Blackpool and I had a five mile run on Wednesday when I couldn’t get into Manchester.”
By Blackpool Gazette
