Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told FanHouse on Friday that he is close to finalizing a deal to match Mexico's 20-year-old WBC silver belt titlist Saul Alvarez against England's Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of former world champion, Ricky Hatton, in an HBO televised fight on March 5 in Los Angeles.
Schaefer had targeted Alavarez (35-0-1, 26 knockouts) for a bout against WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champ Vyacheslav Senchenko (31-0, 20 KOs).
During an interview earlier this month, however, Schaefer told FanHouse "the Senchenko people are out-pricing themselves," adding, "but Saul Alvarez will definitely be fighting on March 5, and Matthew Hatton is another consideration."
On Friday, Schaefer said that Alvarez is close to being able to pursue his 32nd straight win, having stopped 11 of his past 13 opponents, this against the 29-year-old Hatton (41-4-2, 16 KOs), who is coming off of November's third-round knockout of Robert Belge.
"We are close to getting locked in on Matthew Hatton," Schaefer said of Alvarez, who has fought just four times on American soil.
"We're just waiting for contracts and basically doing our job to get these things done," said Schaefer. "But we made big progress this week, and you know, we'll hopefully start getting signed contracts in next week."
The win over Belge is part of Hatton's unbeaten run of 8-0-1, with three knockouts, and it came against a man whose record, coming in, was 25-0-1, with four knockouts.
Marijuana Poll Finds Surprising Level Of Support
3 More Arrested In Brutal London Killing
Report: Yahoo Is Bidding On Hulu
French Soldier Stabbed In The Neck In Paris
Krugman: There's 'No Room For Independent Thinking' In The Conservative Movement
WATCH: Journalist Slams Obama For 'Embrace Of Total Militarism'
Bombshell Report Alleges Toronto Mayor's Family Ties With Drug World
Syrian Forces And Hezbollah Launch Artillery Barrage On Key Town
Joe Arpaio Violated Latinos' Rights, Judge Rules
WATCH: Is This A Responsible Use Of Force?
San Antonio Flooding Kills Woman
Pharma Giant Accused Of Paying Doctors To Push Drug
Protesters 'March Against Monsanto' In 250 Cities
Friend Of London Attack Suspect Arrested After BBC Interview
LOOK: How Bad Are Your State's Bridges?
Pacers Steal Game 2 In Miami
CNN Anchor Calls Obama Protester 'Rude' And 'Crazy'
West Shoots Down 'Doubt' About Reemergence
Marine Recruit's Letter Claims Boot Camp Instructors Hurl Anti-Gay Slurs
Abercrombie Announces Plummeting Sales Amid Controversy
LOOK: Why We Celebrate Memorial Day
Fox News Host's Outrageous Comment
Gay Soccer Player Returns To MLS
150 After Battle, Drummer To Recreate Reunion March
Female Suicide Bomber Injures 18 In Russian Region
Sectarian Violence Comes Back To Life In Iraq
Christopher Hayes: London Terror
Ohio Kidnapping Hero Disavows Free Burger Offers
State Investigating Threat Over Brewer Push
