Schaefer: Hatton is Coming To Fight, Not To Get a Check!
Jan 20, 2011 • 5:11 AM ET
By Lem Satterfield
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is very happy to have finalized a deal to match Mexico's 20-year-old superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (35-0, 26 KOs) in an HBO televised, March 5 bout in Anaheim, California against England's Matthew Hatton (41-4-2, 16 KOs), the younger brother of former world champion, Ricky Hatton. Alvarez-Hatton will take place at the Honda Center.
This won't be a walkover for Alvarez. Schaefer expects a real fight with some fireworks.
"Matthew Hatton has an 11-fight winning streak, so he's really come into his own. He made it clear to us that he's not coming to pick up a check, but that he's coming to pick up a win. But Matthew really wants to show what he's all about, and to continue with that winning streak," said Schaefer. "We told Canelo to be careful of Matthew Hatton, because he does have that Hatton blood in him, and there is a good reason why he is the European welterweight champion."
Schaefer's first choice was WBA welterweight champ Vyacheslav Senchenko (31-0, 20 KOs), but that fight did not come to fruition. The two sides were unable to agree on the money. Because of their styles, Schaefer expects a much better and more exciting fight between Hatton and Alvarez.
"Matthew Hatton has a lot of experience, and he's strong and comes forward and he's an exciting fighter. So, it's not Senchenko, but I have to tell you that in many ways, Matthew Hatton is a better fighter, is a more exciting fighter, and is a much better known name," said Schaefer.
"We're very happy to be able to put this fight together, because I can assure you that this will be a fantastic night at the Honda Center because I know that Canelo always comes to fight and wants to entertain the crowd. And the same can be said for Matthew Hatton. When you have two guys like that together, you just know that you're going to have fireworks. They say that styles make fights, and those two are made for each other."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
