By William Mackay: On March 5th, EBU welterweight champion Matthew Hatton 41-4-2, 16 KO’s) steps up against what is easily the biggest puncher he’s faced in his entire career when he takes on Saul Alvarez (35-0-1, 26 KO’s) at the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California. Hatton may have faced better fighters in terms of boxing skills, like Craig Watson, for instance, but Alvarez is a much more powerful than him by far. With Alvarez, he doesn’t need great boxing skills for him to win.
Alvarez has so much power, he can win even when not connecting fully. Hatton must really see something in Alvarez for him to take this fight because on paper, Hatton has very little chance of winning. Sure, if Hatton can stay on his bicycle for 12 rounds, stick and move and jab Alvarez constantly, he might win. But to do that, Hatton will have to be in condition to move all night long. Hatton’s never been particularly light his feet and I can’t see him being able to run around for 12 rounds with a big slugger like Alvarez nailing him like a hunter at a duck shoot. Hatton’s chin is what worries me most.
I’ve seen him get hurt before against much lesser punchers compared to Alvarez and it’s never looked pretty. Hatton will have to be able to take some monstrous shots and then fire back enough of his own to make the judges forget the tremendous shots that Alvarez is landing in the fight. This is if Hatton stays on his feet. I can’t see him surviving for long with Alvarez lighting him up like a pinball machine over and over again.
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