Skip to main content

Hatton to finally get world-class test

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

European champion faces 'Canelo' test

“Magic” Matthew Hatton may have to live up to his name on March 5th as the Englishman steps up two or three gears in class to face undefeated WBN Young Boxer of the Year Saul Alvarez (35-0-1) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Hatton, 29, is the younger brother of two-time world champion Ricky, who impressed American audiences in the late 2000’s until being wiped out by pound for pound world champions Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in bad knockout defeats.

The Manchester fighter (41-4-2) now attempts to grab the US markets attention in a tough looking test against one of the hottest prospects in the boxing world at the moment. Hatton has largely stayed out of world-class in his 46 fight career and now dips his toes into the lion’s den.

Distinctive looking Alvarez, who’s nickname translates as “Cinnamon” currently holds the WBC silver title at 147lbs and has already clocked up 36 fights in his six-year career. The Mexican hasn’t even celebrated his 21st birthday and has only failed to stop nine opponents, which is ominous for the EBU titleholder.

In his last two performances, Alvarez, who is one of a clan of boxing brothers, has defeated former world champions Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore N’dou and will see Hatton as just another obstacle to overcome, on his way to his destiny as a future world champion
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...
Read more

Ashley Theophane talks US return, Ricky Burns sparring and future fights

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...
Read more

WBO #4 Orlando Cruz comes out as the first openly gay boxer in history

Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.” Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history.  “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz.  “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.  I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican.  I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.” Orlando Cruz began boxing at the age of 7 and posted an amateur career record of 178-11.  He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title's and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team.  Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments.  His amateur career culminated as a representative of the 2000 ...
Read more