Hatton Will Not Get Involved in Ryan Rhodes' WBC Dispute

By Mark Vester

European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton will not get involved in the WBC dispute involving junior middleweight Ryan Rhodes. David Coldwell, the trainer of Rhodes, is upset, and has every reason to be, after his boxer was ignored by the WBC for a shot at the vacant 154-pound title. Instead, Hatton will get a shot at the title when he takes on Saul Alvarez on March 5 in Anaheim, California.

The WBC claimed to have contacted at least five to six contenders who were unavailable to face Alvarez. Rhodes, and other contenders, are claiming the sanctioning body never reached out. Coldwell called it “boxing politics at its worst." Hatton says the decision by the WBC has nothing to do with him. At the same time, Hatton believes the WBC's ruling is a just reward for his decision to take the fight with Alvarez at a higher weight.

“I’ve not been getting involved in all that and let’s be clear, I took the fight before it was a world title fight because it’s a great opportunity,” Hatton said to the Sheffield Star. “I was prepared to take on Alvarez at a catchweight of 150-pounds, so I think my bravery in taking a fight like this at a weight up has been rewarded.”