Matthew Hatton gets shot at WBC light-middleweight belt

Matthew Hatton is to fight Mexico’s Saul Alvarez for the vacant WBC light-middleweight title on 5 March.The 29-year-old Hatton, younger brother of former world champion Ricky, will step up from welterweight having made two defences of the European crown.Hatton, who is expected to fight in California, said: “This is fantastic news. Every kid that laces up gloves dreams of becoming a world champion.”The WBC belt was recently vacated by Philippine legend Manny Pacquiao.Hatton has won 41 of his 47 fights since turning professional in 2000 while the unbeaten Alvarez, 20, has stopped 26 of his 35 victims since turning professional at the age of 15.Hatton’s last fight was a third-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Swiss fighter Roberto Belge last November – BBC