By Chris Williams: Welterweight contender Matthew Hatton (38-4-2, 15 KO’s) says he’s up for the challenge of facing fellow welterweight contender Saul Alvarez (30-0-1, 22 KO’s) on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley undercard on May 1st. In an interview at Blandhatton, Matthew Hatton says “It’s [the Saul Alvarez bout] definitely a fight that I’m interested in. Robert Diaz with Golden Boy Promotions spoke to me last week sometime mentioning a possible fight with Saul Alvarez. I’m always up for a challenge to fight on the Mosley-Mayweather boxing card. These chances don’t come along a lot, so obviously it’s a chance I would jump at. I told Robert I was very interested in the fight, and he said he would be back in touch with me. So far, they haven’t, but I’m up for the challenge so the ball is in their [Golden Boy Promotions] in their court. Nothing concrete has been put to us.”
Hatton would be a very tough fight for a fighter like the 19-year-old Alvarez. I’ve seen a number of Alvarez’s fights and he’s pretty much a pure slugger with only a right hand going for him. He has no power in his left and looks awkward when he uses his left at all. His accuracy is terrible, as he misses a lot with his shots and Alvarez’s defense is entirely missing.
Alvarez is currently ranked high in the welterweight division at #4 WBC, #5 WBO, and #7 WBA. I think Hatton beats this guy based on his better boxing ability. Hatton may not be a big puncher, but he can box well and has that crafty in and out style of fighting that would likely give a guy like Alvarez fits. Hatton looked damn good in his fight against Lovemore N’dou in November 2009, and I think Hatton should have that fight easily by at least four rounds. The bout was scored a 12 round draw but Hatton clearly should have won that. N’dou can punch, but Hatton did a great job avoiding his big punches through most of the fight. N’dou is faster than Alvarez and probably hits about as hard.
Hopefully Golden Boy matched Alvarez up with Hatton, because I think this would be a good match up style wise for Hatton. However, I have my doubts that they’ll want to put a green fighter like Alvarez in with Hatton at this point. I can see Hatton pulling off an upset, if you want to call it that, and thus ruining Alvarez’s big U.S. debut fight.
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