MATTHEW HATTON A NO-HOPER SAYS KID ALVAREZ -- Daily Express

By Niall Hickman, Daily Express

MATTHEW HATTON has been dismissed by Saul Alvarez as a “complete no-hoper” as they prepare to do battle this Saturday for the WBC light-middleweight title made vacant by Manny Pacquiao.

The unbeaten Alvarez, 20, is widely regarded as the best young talent in world boxing and has vowed to knock out Matthew Hatton in double quick time in Los Angeles.

“I will not only beat Matthew Hatton but I will also make it look good,” said Alvarez. “He is a complete no-hoper – I cannot lose. I know his strengths and his weaknesses and I will expose them.

“He says I am inexperienced, but I have had 36 fights and that is enough experience. I have been unbeaten in all of them and I will remain unbeaten after winning my first world title by a knockout.”

Alvarez can back up the brash talk with statistics as he has sparked out 26 of those 36 opponents – a staggering ratio bearing in mind he does not turn 21 years of age until July.

Hatton is hoping to join his brother Ricky in becoming a world champion, but he has been set a near-impossible task as the clash was originally made at the 10st welterweight limit.

Hatton, who has spent his career at welterweight, could have pulled out when it was changed to light-middleweight with the WBC title on the line, but instead he has decided to go for broke.

Three years ago Hatton, 29, looked washed up when losing to Craig Watson, but a change of trainer to Bob Shannon has done wonders for his technique and Hatton believes he will be returning home with the belt.

“I wouldn’t be going there if I didn’t think I was going to win,” said Hatton. “I have to go to the lion’s den and do the business. I know it won’t be easy but this was too good an opportunity to turn down. I had to take it.”

Source: express.co.uk