By Mark Vester
European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton has finally come out on why he turned down an offer to face unbeaten Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on December 4 in Mexico. Alvarez will now face Lovemore Ndou, who fought Hatton to a draw last year. Hatton returns on November 26 against unbeaten Roberto Belge at the Reebok Stadium. Hatton's overall goal is to land a shot at WBA welterweight champion Viacheslav Senchenko. He wants to emulate older brother Ricky Hatton by winning a world crown.
Hatton is interested in a possible fight with Alvarez, if a deal can't be made with Senchenko in 2011. He says that he turned down the opportunity to fight Alvarez in December because of the terms. Hatton would have had to fight Alvarez in his backyard of Mexico and the contract weight was at least 150-151-pounds. Considering Alvarez's star status in Mexico, Hatton saw very little chance to win a decision in the country.
“I’m definitely interested in that fight,” Hatton said to the Manchester Evening News. “I didn’t accept it this time because it meant flying out to Mexico and I was also giving away a lot with the weight as well. I don’t think I would have got the rub of the green in his home country. He’s massive in Mexico.
"But Golden Boy have been in touch since and if he comes through his next fight then it is definitely one I’m interested in. If I can’t get a world title shot and if it can be made in America then I’d look for Alvarez early next year.”
