Hatton was a very good fighter and was very good inside. Chavez was a very great fighter and was very great inside. How can Hatton possibly win?
Nightmare match up for Hatton. Hatton fights right into JCC greatest strengths (primarily on the inside and banging the body). Hatton wades time in the early rounds smothering and grappling Chavez but its all wasted movement. Chavez finds small openings on the inside and busts him. Remember that Ricky's eyes used to swell up real bad in most of his fights and he took lots of punishment from Luis Collazo on the inside who isn't anywhere near Chavez's league. Ricky also doesn't have any cut defensive skills to escape, even Rosario was able to stretch the fight out despite taking the mother of all beatings due to his defense. JCC bulldozes Ricky by the 9th round with a Tko.
I'm trying to think how declined Chavez has to be for Hatton to have about a 50/50 chance. What year would it have to be? 96' Chavez? 97? Because a late 80s to early 90s version of Chavez beats Hatton at 140, without a doubt. Hatton was a very good fighter, Chavez was an ATG and there's no stylistic advantages that come into play here to help Hatton.
I think post Chavez/Randall II, prime Hatton would have a shot, so around 1995 Chavez. Certainly he'd have a very good shot at beating the 1997 Version that De la hoya beat and certainly 2000 version that Tsyu beat.
Would be great while it lasted Chavez did everything better than hatton but Ricky wouldn't go out quietly. Chavez in about 9 all action rds.it reminds me a bit of ward nerery. fighters with similar styles but one is a class above that other.