Thread: Hatton: Still on the Rise or on the Decline?

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=8363&more=1

26.09.06 - By Neil Thompson: 2006 has been a mixed year for Ricky Hatton. On one hand he has become a 2-weight world champion, secured a contract with HBO and continued his unbeaten run. Whilst on the other hand his reputation took a bit of a dent when Luis Collazo was a whisker away from beating the ‘Hitman’. Not only was Ricky almost beaten in Boston but also he has fought only once in 2006 and failed to get a fight with any other elite P4P fighter.

Ricky Hatton is at the crossroads in his career. During a meteoric rise through the junior welterweight division he looked unstoppable with victories over Ben Tackie, Eamon McGee, Ray Oliveira, Micheal Steward, Vince Philips, Mikhail Kripolapov and Freddie Pendleton. Impressive victories such as these earned Hatton a shot at the Australian/Russian legend and linear world champion Kostya Tyszu. Having wiped out Sharmba Mitchell only a few months before, Kostya was a big betting favourite with fans, bookies and sports writers alike.

On 4th June 2005, I attended the fight at the M.E.N Arena and witnessed Hatton outwork, out fight and out-punch Tyszu into submission. This proved what Ricky Hatton fans already knew, that Ricky was the real deal and not the over-hyped and over protected fighter that the ‘haters’ would have you believe.

In November the same year Ricky added the WBA version of the title to the IBF and Ring Championship belts already in his possession, He did this by impressively beating Carlos Maussa. This Colombian fighter was tough, awkward and heavy-handed. He had also previously shocked the boxing world by destroying the respected champ Vivian Harris. When the two champions squared off Hatton got off to a nightmare start by getting cut over both eyes, yet he stayed focused and calm to win every round before flattening Maussa in the 9th. Hatton’s performance may not have shown outstanding boxing skills in beating Maussa, like Miguel Cotto did when beating him, but having won every round, fighting through two badly cut eyes and knocking the Colombian clean out, Ricky’s performance was still superior to the Puerto Rican power puncher.

Ricky had now captured two versions of the 140 lb world championship as well as the even more prestigious ‘Ring Championship belt’. Also, he had made it into most peoples ‘pound for pound’ lists. Only the ‘haters’, jealous of his huge mainstream popularity (which other P4P fighters can only dream about) refused to give Hatton the recognition he deserved. To cap-off a fine year the respected ‘Ring magazine’ made Hatton the ‘Fighter of the Year’ which no British fighter had ever received before.

Ricky’s next assignment would be a move up in weight to challenge for the WBA welterweight title against the unheralded and virtually unknown Luis Collazo. Most Hatton fans thought this would be a walkover yet Hatton was given the fight of his life. Although Hatton gained the decision over 12 hard rounds, many people thought Collazo did just enough to win. Having read many different fight reports and examining the comments left on Eastside Boxing, it appeared the boxing community was split 50 – 50 on who actually deserved the win. I myself had it very, very close and could have gone either way. The fight was too close to be called a ‘robbery’ but I have to admit had it not been for the first round knockdown Collazo would of won.

Hatton did not look good against Collazo, the head movement was missing, and he struggled with Collazo southpaw stance, his height, his strength and his workrate. For the first time in Ricky’s career he was competing with a fighter who could match his own workrate and a fighter he could not dominate as he did to everyone of his opponents at the lower weight class. More alarmingly, Hatton’s technique seemed to have gone backwards. Collazo hit Ricky with every punch in the book and almost stopped him in the last round. How much of this was due to Collazo’s southpaw stance and his ability not be dominated by Hatton’s strength and style I’m not sure. Thankfully Hatton has decided to compete back down at junior welterweight (140 lb). In hindsight he should have stayed there in the first place.

So now he’s lined up to win back his own IBF 140 title against Urango, a fight that should be well within Hatton’s ability to win. Unfortunately this will not be happening until January 2007 which means Hatton has only fought once in 2006. For a fighter who blows up in weight in-between fights, this is not a good sign. If Hatton is successful a super-fight with Jose Luis Castillo is in the works. Hatton and Castillo will apparently share the same bill in January and face each other in the summer. Castillo is a huge test for Hatton, the biggest since his win over Tyszu. Can Hatton put on that kind of performance outside of Britain? Well time will tell. Personally I think it’s a fight Hatton can win as Castillo is made for Hatton, but on the other hand Hatton is made for Castillo. This makes a Hatton v Castillo fight a very intriguing contest. This of cause will leave the newly crowned WBC champ, Junior Witter out in the cold. However, Witter has to understand that Castillo is a bigger name than himself and the Urango fight was arranged before Witter beat Corley. Although a Hatton-Witter fight would be huge in the UK, it wouldn’t have the same appeal on a global scale. Hatton-Castillo is the bigger fight and must take priority.

Whilst I’m on the subject of Junior Witter, I don’t feel Ricky Hatton has too much to worry about. Witter has a similar counter punching style to Kostya Tyszu. Just like Tyszu I don’t feel Witter could handle Hatton’s workrate, fitness and aggression. Witter’s stamina has looked suspect in the past and he hasn’t looked impressive in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, Witter is world class but Hatton is simply better.

Looking to the future, I really hope 2007 is a better year for Ricky Hatton fans than 2006 was. Hatton fighting only once in 2006 has me worried. Is he loosing his drive and ambition? Will this inactivity hamper any future success? Many experts feel a fighter like Ricky needs to fight more regularly, I agree.

In 2007 I expect a dominant performance against Urango, Once that’s out of the way we should get a summer superfight against Castillo. If Hatton comes through that tough fight a unification contest with Junior Witter would give us British fans a night to remember.

Whatever the future holds for Hatton, he needs the big fights to happen as soon as possible. History tells us that most fighters with Hatton’s type of aggressive, offensive all action style do not have a long career. Fighters like Barry McGuighan, Ray Mancini, Mike Tyson, Paul Hodgekinson etc all seem to peak early and burn out by the time they reach 30. Hopefully, the Collazo fight is not an indication that Hatton’s decline has already set in. I do believe Ricky can continue to mix it with the elite for another couple of years. As a Ricky Hatton fan myself, I hope we see the real Ricky Hatton back in 2007.

Thanks for the read ! El Gamo, CC as always ! .

Hatton is on the rise , even if he were falling down ! The guy is a thrill ride, and brings it, I have lots of respect for this fighter ! He will always risk losing to win, and will always Thrill the crowd. win or lose.. Thats when you know you have a great fighter, even in defeat, Ricky would show so much heart and determination that he wouldn't lose anything .

CC'ed you today,owe you in 24 bro. I agree,Hatton is an exciting fighter but this year has been a HUGE decline compared to last year where he was fighter of the year. What happened to the activity? Poor management too,1 fight at 147 and then back down again?? 2007 will be better though with Urango( a title) and JLC in a mega fight then maybe Corrales or another big name in 2007? That would make up for this year!

tbh if hatton fights castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fights castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

Very interesting way of looking at it,Cc.Nice! Hmmm,very true,Hatton should have stayed at 147,I mean the excuse used is that he only had 7 weeks to train,why not train longer and prove he can beat Collazo more covincingly? I hope Cotto never comes back to 147,he was hurting himself and Floyd coming back to 140 is probably highly unlikely too!

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fight castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

To many big tall Welterweights like Margarito and Paul Williams, It's got nothing to do with lack of balls ,Ricky is like a pitbull when that bell rings . Hatton is one of the ballsier fighters out there, How can you say he does not have balls? .. the lad is short 5"5 and belongs in this Jr welterweight Division, can't change the size ,height god created .. Ricky is not in "true boxing condition "at 147, he is right on at 140 . I commend him and his team for realizing this, and staying at the weight where he belongs at. Why climb in against bigger stronger taller opposition ? 6'1 Paul Williams. 5"11 Margarito.. Even Floyd is 5'8 5'9 . Its like saying Kostya Tszyu had no balls because he stayed at his correct weight? don't make any sense to me at all ?

Originally Posted by El Gamo

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fights castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

Very interesting way of looking at it,Cc.Nice! Hmmm,very true,Hatton should have stayed at 147,I mean the excuse used is that he only had 7 weeks to train,why not train longer and prove he can beat Collazo more covincingly? I hope Cotto never comes back to 147,he was hurting himself and Floyd coming back to 140 is probably highly unlikely too!

The thing hatton has now is that if he goes to light welter which is......he is going to be the favourite to rule the devison when you look at is this way

WBC-Junior Witter..............i do think this will be a good BRITISH fight.....but it wont do much for hatton on the world title front. people will look at hatton is weaker if anything.

WBA- Souleymane M'baye..................wont do anyting but just put another W on hattons record.....we know hatton will win and what does he prove with this fight? another world title....


IBF-Juan Urango- same goes for this guy!

WBO- If cotto is fighting for the WBA belt he will vacate this one so it will proably be sum bum who will pick it up..........hatton if all goes to he lightwelter plan will bag this one.



so i really do think going to light welter will do noat for hatton. look at the welter champs......MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!! he needs to get a fight against somebody like luiz beat him easily and move on to a bigger name like Paul williams an undeafted prospect...hatton must think to himself this is the right track he should go down it and be a real man

Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fight castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

To many big tall Welterweights like Margarito and Paul Williams, It's got nothing to do with lack of balls ,Ricky is like a pitbull when that bell rings . Hatton is one of the ballsier fighters out there, How can you say he does not have balls? .. the lad is short 5"5 and belongs in this Jr welterweight Division, can't change the and size ,height god created .. Ricky is not in "true boxing condition "at 147, he is right on at 140 . I commend him and his team for realizing this, and staying at the weight where he belongs at. Why climb in against bigger stronger taller opposition ? 6'1 Paul Williams. 5"11 Margarito.. Even Floyd is 5'8 5'9 . Its like saying Kostya Tszyu had no balls because he stayed at his correct weight? don't make any sense to me at all ?

having fighting balls in the ring is totally differnent to having them out of the ring....hatton has got nothing to prove at 140 he may as well give his all at 147 and atleast try and dominate. what does he prove at 140 when you think about it??

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fight castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

To many big tall Welterweights like Margarito and Paul Williams, It's got nothing to do with lack of balls ,Ricky is like a pitbull when that bell rings . Hatton is one of the ballsier fighters out there, How can you say he does not have balls? .. the lad is short 5"5 and belongs in this Jr welterweight Division, can't change the and size ,height god created .. Ricky is not in "true boxing condition "at 147, he is right on at 140 . I commend him and his team for realizing this, and staying at the weight where he belongs at. Why climb in against bigger stronger taller opposition ? 6'1 Paul Williams. 5"11 Margarito.. Even Floyd is 5'8 5'9 . Its like saying Kostya Tszyu had no balls because he stayed at his correct weight? don't make any sense to me at all ?

having fighting balls in the ring is totally differnent to having them out of the ring....hatton has got nothing to prove at 140 he may as well give his all at 147 and atleast try and dominate. what does he prove at 140 when you think about it??

Having balls in the ring is what matters tho, Hatton is the most exciting Jr. welterweight going, He beat one of the best Jr. Welterweight champions ever in Kostya Tszyu, , Ricky has nothing to prove to anyone in my opinion, he has done that already . i feel 140 has lots of good fighters in there, how can you discredit the whole division like that.. this ain't the heavyweights mate !

Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

tbh if hatton fight castillo and corrales what is he proving? that he can brush up the lightweights as well as the lightwelters? hatton should show some balls and offer cotto out at 147 he knows its right and he was complaing about maturing into 147.........well this is his chance........there is nothing for him at lightwelter except keeping his undeafted record and this is a sign of not showing balls. imo hatton should stay at 147 fight fight luiz and see him off and look for cotto and maybe this could lead to floyd......this was hattons aim and tbh he should go for it.

To many big tall Welterweights like Margarito and Paul Williams, It's got nothing to do with lack of balls ,Ricky is like a pitbull when that bell rings . Hatton is one of the ballsier fighters out there,  How can you say he does not have balls? .. the lad is short 5"5 and belongs in this Jr welterweight Division,  can't change the and size ,height god created .. Ricky is not in "true boxing condition "at 147, he is right on at 140 . I commend him and his team for realizing this,  and staying at the weight where he belongs at.  Why climb in against bigger stronger taller opposition ?  6'1 Paul Williams. 5"11 Margarito.. Even Floyd is 5'8 5'9  .   Its like saying Kostya Tszyu had no balls because he stayed at his correct weight?  don't make any sense to me at all ?

having fighting balls in the ring is totally differnent to having them out of the ring....hatton has got nothing to prove at 140 he may as well give his all at 147 and atleast try and dominate. what does he prove at 140 when you think about it??

Having balls in the ring is what matters tho, Hatton is the most exciting Jr. welterweight going, He  beat one of the  best Jr. Welterweight champions ever in Kostya Tszyu,  , Ricky has nothing to prove to anyone in my opinion, he has done that already . i feel 140 has lots of good fighters in there, how can you discredit the whole division like that.. this ain't the heavyweights mate ! 

i know the fighters are good...........imo any boxer is good...but you have to look at what is better.........the welter devison is better and hatton imo can do things in this devison as well as the light welters......beating tszyu and now that cotto and mayweather leaft therefore means he aint got much else to prove...so by going to welter he can prove he is the best by fighting the best and he can only do that by staying at 147.

enjoyed the chat Tam Seddon ! Cool click Brother

Originally Posted by Lords Gym

enjoyed the chat Tam Seddon ! Cool click Brother

me 2 mate cc you buti really do hold this opinion high about hatton staying at 147...........going at 140 is the wrong thing imo

kostya Tszyu stayed at 140lb and became a legend, No one said he has no balls for staying there, Why is hatton getting slated for going back to his NATURAL weight?

Yes the better opponents seem to be at welter at the minute but tell me this:

If you are the best at your job and getting paid 'VERY WELL' for it, would you give it up and try a new job which is harder on you phsyically (due to your body shape) just because people say you have no balls if you dont

Originally Posted by RHHatton

kostya Tszyu stayed at 140lb and became a legend, No one said he has no balls for staying there, Why is hatton getting slated for going back to his NATURAL weight?

Yes the better opponents seem to be at welter at the minute but tell me this:

If you are the best at your job and getting paid 'VERY WELL' for it, would you give it up and try a new job which is harder on you phsyically (due to your body shape) just because people say you have no balls if you dont

If somebody told me you will be remember as a BRITISH legend for staying at welter and my name would be rememberd as being the man who is fighting above his limit i would say yes and take it. hatton will be rememerd as the guy who stayed at light welter and didnt want to prove himself as the guy who wanted to fight at a higher weight class. or he could stay there and be the guy who fought at welter and is a chamion...............look at it like that!

or you could look at it like this..................hatton goes to light welter and dominates the devison which is fair enough.......he eventually cant make light welter and has to go to 147...........by this time nobody will be fighting at 147 they will be at light middle! what does hatton do now? domintate the welters? and fight nobody but bums to do it?