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Hatton at 147 "I'll be stronger and more explosive"
Yesterday, members of the press were invited to a luncheon in Manchester to promote Ricky Hatton's next fight with WBA Welterweight champion Luis Collazo. Although the fight is in May, the media attention Hatton now commands was apparent as many of the big papers and news channels were present.
The luncheon was followed by a trip out to Hatton's gym in nearby Denton, where he went through a work out with trainer Billy Graham.
The 'Betta Bodies' gym where Hatton trains is indicative of Hatton himself. It is an un-flashy, no nonsense place where men (and women) come to do serious training. Littered with body builders and tough looking types (an alarming ratio being women), Graham has his boxing room connected to back of the gymnasium.
Having finished his workout, the 'Hit Man' took the time to chat amiably with the press about his move up to Welterweight, and facing a guy he describes as "one of the best kept secrets in American boxing".
"We had certain opponents that pulled out and we had other opponents that I don't think were worthy of the money that we were offering," said Hatton, when asked about why he was fighting someone relatively unknown.
"Then we had certain opponents who were good fighters, but the TV stations weren't too keen on" he continued, "so it's been a bit unfortunate, and it's taken a while till we found someone."
And why the move up to Welterweight?
"I mean, I can still do Light Welterweight, and I can do Welterweight and be strong at Welterweight," he replied. "I can stay at Welterweight if I win a belt up there, or I can come back down, depending on what the best challenge is out there."
"If a fight like Castillo, or Corrales is offered, then I'll come back down" he continued, "but if a fight at Welterweight like Gatti or someone like that, then I'll move up. It just depends on what the best offer is put to me".
Does Hatton believe that he will retain all his power and strength at Welterweight?
"Absolutely, yeah", he replied casually. "I mean, I've always been very, very big for a light welterweight. With my nutritionist, and my weight training I will be equally as strong at welterweight. In fact, I'll probably be a bit stronger and more explosive in my movements because my diet wouldn't have to be as severe. I mean, I normally go 100 miles per hour at light welterweight, and my conditioning is exceptional at Light welterweight, but with the extra nutrition I should be able to put it in turbo".
Having watched tapes of Collazo, how dangerous does the Mancunian believe he is as a fighter?
"Very dangerous," asserted Hatton immediately. "He's a southpaw, he's young, he's ambitious, he's only lost one out of 26 fights, the word is, he's the best kept secret in American boxing. He's very, very quick, my debut topping a bill in America, first fight at Welterweight. That's a dangerous challenge to say the least."
And what doe Hatton have up his sleeve to counter all the possible disadvantages?
"I'm quicker than what people realise," he stated confidently. "You could tell that against Tszyu, how quickly I moved in on him, and that would be the key against Collazo. I'm very, very strong, he may have a weight advantage, and he may be the naturally bigger man, but he won't have a strength advantage"
"It's a challenge", he said plainly.
"And that what I need after beating Kostya Tszyu, fights that are going to keep me hungry."
Source: http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=19056
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Originally Posted by CutMeMicK
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