BoxRec

Well, I am looking forward to this fight - should be the best fight on the bill.

What peoples predictions for this one then?

Hatton to win - TKO 9

Just in case people haven't read this and are interested: http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3465- ... atson.html

Tough fight to call IMO - I think its going to go the distance. Both have got sound chins.

Hatton by a close decision for me - but I wouldn't bet on it.

Watson's last fight was a bit of a shocker, see how much that has taken out of him.
I think Hatton will have a bit to much punch variety for him, i'm going for late round stoppage

Old bones Ian wrote:Watson's last fight was a bit of a shocker, see how much that has taken out of him.
I think Hatton will have a bit to much punch variety for him, i'm going for late round stoppage

Don't think it will have taken anything out of him - how old is he 25?

I think Watson could spring a surprise here. Hatton seems a nice enough lad but I nearly choked on my food when he talked about eventually challenging for a world title - don't like that kind of bulls**t when he hasn't even come close to proving himself at British level yet.

Watson did have Khan all over the shop in the amateurs.

E wrote:Watson did have Khan all over the shop in the amateurs.

And he was prepared to travel to Italy for his last fight - for that alone I hope he beats Hatton, who in direct contrast has been happy to take 'easy' fights against 'made-to-order' opponents.

Hatton has improved in recent years but I would like to see Watson beat him and he just might do.

Deserter wrote:

E wrote:Watson did have Khan all over the shop in the amateurs.

And he was prepared to travel to Italy for his last fight - for that alone I hope he beats Hatton, who in direct contrast has been happy to take 'easy' fights against 'made-to-order' opponents.

That is basically how it is.

Watson by KO is most likely, I doubt he will outwork Hatton, Hattn has improved, but he is not way too protected.

Shame it's not Ali! I agree this is a close fight. I'll go with Hatton decision.

I'll take Hatton on points - his experience should be too much for Watson but I didnt think Watson could beat Ali....

I'll go for Hatton. i think he's better than a lot of people give him credit for, basically because I dont think we know or respect a lot of his recent (foreign) opponents. People havent seen them box other fighters they know, which makes it difficult to judge a fighters performance... yep, Hatton for me.

big fight for matt.

this is the sort of fight he should have been having a while ago now.

not wasting his time fighting journeymen on ricky's undercard.

hatton on pts.

All about the money though isnt it.

Also, I'd say Edwin Vasquez is better than most of our welters, he went on to take Judah the distance in his next outing.

Hatton is a much improved fighter, I expect nothing less than a hard fought victory for Matthew.

Terry D wrote:
No offence to anyone involved, on both sides, but the other all British fight on the card, Facey-McDonagh, makes me want to cry.

It could be one of the ugliest contests known to man, in terms of style.

When is McDonagh going to deliver on his early career promise?

At least Hatton v Watson should be a decent enough scrap - Facey-McDonagh has all the makings of a stinkfest

Hatton should win but I think its his toughest test so far and it wont be easy. I think Matt is a good British/Euro level fighter but I cant see him at world level, TBH.

Hatton to win a hard fought but messy battle.

You can get 3-1 for Watson on points so had a little go. I think Hatton should edge but for a 55-45 kinda match-up 3-1 is good value. Watch Watson stop Hatton now

I think Hatton is a tough customer but I think Watson is a more naturally talented fighter. This is reflected in their comparative progress through the ranks after the same amount of fights.
I'm very surprised the BN went for Hatton, and most on here have as well. Sure, Watson stopped Nuumbembe on a cut but after 9 rounds or so he was most definitely in the fight, possibly winning as I remember it, so it was no fluke victory. Given thatHatton is not IMO in the same bracket as Nuumbembe that can only bode well for Watson.
Also you've got to say Watson takes chances, Hatton seems to like to avoid them. Stepping in with Ali, a champion both amateur and pro after relatively few fights and then taking on the Itay away from home.
I'd like to see Watson win it but tough game that it is may the best man win on the night. (ouch). If it goes to points Watson's got problems IMO.

Watson has more talent but should be fighting at light-welterweight, and Hatton has the experience and is more battle hardened which will tell late on

there are some decent names on Hattons record as well, Marcus Portman, Francis Jones, Bosworth and Vazquez. Plus he's fought abroad as well. So not much difference in the boxers for me.
But i think Hatton has more strength at welter than Watson.

how did this one go anybody?

them decisions looked pretty wide (specially for an away fighter).