KELL BROOK VS. MATTHEW HATTON PREVIEW: THE WAR OF THE ROSES

KELL BROOK VS. MATTHEW HATTON PREVIEW: THE WAR OF THE ROSES

This Saturday, March 17th – undefeated welterweight contender Kell ‘Special K’ Brook (26-0, 18 KO’s) faces one of his sternest tests to date as he takes on the former European champion & always game veteran ‘Magic’ Matthew Hatton (42-5-2, 16 KO’s) at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield. Hot on the heels of worldwide superstardom, Kell Brook has been tipped as one of the UK’s next world champions and has even been mentioned as a possible future opponent for Amir Khan, but the  ‘Steel City’ native refuses to be distracted away from Hatton. “He is a dangerous opponent and I’m full of respect for him. If I take him lightly, he will beat me,” said Brook. He added: “I have to be 100% focused on him and I’ll let others do the talking about these fights in the future, but right now it’s all about Hatton.” “Whoever wins this fight is going on to a world title so it’s going to come down to who the better fighter is and who the number one in the division is. I believe it’s going to be me.”

Matthew Hatton has compiled a 42-5 record since turning pro in 2000. He’s spent most of his career at British & European level and has held European 147 lb title in the past, but when he’s forayed into the upper echelons of the divisions best – most notably in a valiant but failed effort against Mexican Saul Alvarez for his WBC light-middleweight title, he’s found himself in way over his head. Hatton readily accepts that he’s the underdog but he sees this as a fight he can win. He’s got a lot of spirit, even if things are going against him – he won’t cave in and will keep throwing until the final bell, as we saw when he fought Saul Alvarez.

So it’s Brook’s stylish speed, power & youth against Hatton’s stubborn resistance and heart. Personally I find it hard to see any way the younger Hatton sibling can win this fight, and I think Brook will beat him to the punch in every exchange in a fight that becomes more like a beat down in the second half.

The undercard features tough 27 year old prospect Grzegorz Proksa (26-0, 19 KO’s), the European middleweight champion defending his championship vs. Welshman Kerry Hope (16-3, 1 KO). Proksa produced the performance of last year when he battered Sebastian Sylvester in three rounds on the German’s home turf last October. Look for Proska to win – and win big, as he’s a massive talent and one to watch.

Follow REAL COMBAT UK BOXING WRITER JAI SINGH on TWITTER @REALCOMBATMEDIA

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