Skip to main content

Sky TV pulls the plug on Hatton live amidst doubts about Alvarez fight

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

WBC title fight put on delayed broadcast as row over weight threatens fight

Sky TV’s decision to show Matthew Hatton’s WBC 154lb title bout with Saul Alvarez is a further blow to a bout that is already skating on thin ice after the British fighter’s brother Ricky stated that if Alvarez comes in over 150lbs, then the fight is off anyway.

This could have had a huge bearing on Sky TV pulling out of paying for the rights to show the fight live as they may not have wanted to gamble on shelling out for a fight that has more chance of being called off, than actually going ahead in the first place.

The bout, between the two predominantly welterweight fighters, was originally signed at a catchweight of 10st 10lbs (150lbs) and was a non-title fight. Then the WBC announced that both boxers would fight for the 154lb title vacated by Manny Pacquaio, when he moved back down to 147lbs where he holds the WBO belt.

Then less than two-weeks later, on March 1st, the WBC scrapped plans to hold the bout at a catchweight, allowing both fighters to come in up to 154lb. That decision suits the Mexican fighter more than Hatton, who was happy at the arrangement and now brother Ricky has threatened to pull his brother out if Alvarez comes in over the contracted weight.

With the weight-in also brought forward to Friday lunchtime in the US, more controversy has followed, as that gives Alvarez more time to put on extra weight before the fight if he chooses to do so, something that Ricky and Matthew are trying to make sure doesn’t happen to keep the fight fairer for both boxers.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...
Read more

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...
Read more

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