Cervantes for about 10 years was either Jr. Welterweight WBA Champ or highly rated. He was beaten by Nicolino Locche, Wilfred Benitez, & Aaron Pryor; but later beat Locche, and the top Jr. Welter challengers including Esteban de Jesus, Hector Thompson, Peppermint Frazer, and a young, underrated Saoul Mamby. WBA had both Roberto Duran & Cervantes as Panamanian Champs at that time, and was probably the reason of no 'super showdown' (Kinda like Monzon & Galindez down in Argentina). Another, potential interesting fight might have been moving up against Jose Napoles, when Napoles was fading at the end of his career, late 1974-75.
Cervantes is all wrong for Hatton. Tall, rangy, good defence etc. I think this one ends up resembling the De Jesus-Cervantes fight, with Hatton, like De Jesus, getting stuck on the outside, eating the jab and being reduced to leaping in with looping, ineffective power shots. Might seem harsh on Hatton, but he struggled with good boxers. Based on styles, I think he might well have been able to beat even a prime Tszyu in a similar way to how he beat the 2005 version - and Kostya arguably ranks above Cervantes as a Light-Welter based on records and accomplishments at the weight. But I don't think Hatton can rough Cervantes up and force him back with any regularity. Cervantes by clear decision.
Great post (as always, L), thanks. Although Cervantes was from the coast of Colombia(I believe Cartagena, although not sure), not Panama. On a side note, however, Panama was part of Colombia for awhile.
Probably Cervantes, though I've never seen footage of him in with a strong, body-punching pressure fighter like Hatton.
I remember arguing against Hatton in the Bradley poll (I think Bradley is very underrated at 140), but I couldn't remember who won.
Hatton vs Cotto at 140 would have given a better understanding of Hattons abilities and/or short comings. Wished we had that one to draw something from...and yes...again I would favor Hatton in that one
I am sure this is a joke lol! But just in case....I wouldn't recommend that choice! I picked Hatton the first time and had to eat a whole lot of humble pie. *sigh*
Hey Philly, I think you said you're a Hatton fan .. Didn't it bother you that Hatton was the fighter that went to the bar drank beer for months, always ballooned up with party weight, then cut the 40 lbs to fight .. I mean it's his life, but I always thought Hatton woud have been a better boxer if he did things a lot different focus wise ..or am I off base here? You seem to know about him better than me .. your thoughts?
You are right ^^^. My bad. I just remember the WBA was always protecting some of the Central American fighters back in those days.