Ricky Hatton is Backing Rhodes To Upset Canelo

By Phil D. Jay

Former two-weight world title holder Ricky Hatton believes Ryan Rhodes can cause an upset on Saturday night as he takes on 37-fight unbeaten Saul Alvarez in his own backyard of Jalisco, Mexico. Hatton, 32, is now acting as the challenger’s promoter and sees the Sheffield fighter’s experience as being the key to unlocking the door to beat the WBC champion.

“Alvarez has had a lot of fights under his belt, but he’s still a baby,” Hatton said of the 20 year-old world champion on Hatton TV.

“Ryan has to go out there and use his experience, Alvarez has been shaken up before by Miguel Cotto’s brother (Jose) and Ryan has to think ‘I am in the form of my life’ and turn the crowd on him.

“There’s going to be 16,000 Mexican’s there baying for his blood.”

Hatton’s brother Matthew took the newly-crowned world title holder the full twelve rounds in March as ‘Canelo’ became the youngest light-middleweight champion of all time and the ‘Hitman’ believes that Rhodes can take heart from Matthew’s performance and have every belief that he can bring home the coveted belt.

“I have been there before with My brother Matthew, but he wasn’t’ big enough for Alvarez whereas Rhodes definitely is.

“I have every confidence that Ryan can do it," added Hatton.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net