HBO
B.A.D. Saturday noche offering saw popular
Mexican Saul "Canelo" Alvarez remain unbeaten
over a gusty but outgunned veteran Matthew
Hatton, in a twelve round lopsided
decision win for the vacant WBC
Jr. Middleweight strap.
Alvarez quickly took charge from the opening
bell with a poised, effective style that offset
the Manchester, UK Hatton attempted offense,
that was sadly short of
needed clout.
Still, as the one-sided Alvarez chalked up round
after round, on occasion, he would become
careless and catch a roundhouse right hand - but
it was clear Hatton lacked the proverbial
punchers chance.
Alvarez docked a point for rabbit punch in
stanza seven was the closest Hatton got to
winning a round - problem is, with Alvarez far
ahead on points, numero seven would enter the
books as 9-9 stanza.
Official scoring was all Alvarez at 119-108 on
all cards, my unofficial had it Alvarez 119-107.
Rest
of story: "Canelo" Alvarez ( 36-0- 1, 26 KOs) ~
age 20 - grabbing the vacant WBC 154 pound
bauble is great boost for the ego - but also
converts a relative rookie from prospect to
champion. Entertaining style, on this night
took batting practice round after round - still,
Hatton was alive and well at the final bell.
Jury still out if the likable kid is rushed into
unification game.
Matthew "Magic" Hatton (41-5-2, 16 KOs) ~ age 29
- closest thing to the sobriquet came late in
the bout in the form of trickery. Seeing referee Lou Moret charging
Alvarez a point for hitting behind the head, he
grabs the opportunity to go to his knees for a
rest. The old third man in charge quickly told
Hatton to pick himself up. Hatton during post
fight interview said he'll return to
welterweight where he's better suited.
Televised opening bout between veteran Ponce de
Leon (41-3, 34 KOs) ~ age 30, in with rookie
Adrien Broner (20-0, 16 KOs) ~ age 21, for the
WBO international minor league strap was more
ESPN2 level than HBO.
Ponce baby no longer a force that he was at
bantam and junior feather, tossed more punches
than the over careful Broner over most the fight
but came up short in the scoring department.
With
beauty in eyes of the beholder in mind, the
California hacks all had it for Broner to the
off-beat tune of 96-94, 96-94, 99-91 -- on my
unofficial I had it for De Leon who was out of
the gate the quicker of the two.
GEL