Ricky Hatton: Hitman will have more targets than bullets

Ricky “the Hitman’ Hatton will have more big name targets than bullets if he defeats WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo in Boston on May 13. Hatton’s co-promoters, Fight Academy, say that the exciting southpaw from New York is the key to not only breaking Hatton into the American market but also the gateway to eventually getting voted into the boxing Hall of Fame.

Click for larger image © Team Hatton

Fight Academy’s Dennis Hobson said: “Collazo was the best available opponent in terms of quality of the fighter himself. He’s a world champion, he’s coming off some very impressive performances – crucially exciting performances – and HBO were very happy with the match. And HBO viewers have seen Collazo in the trenches before, because had a thriller against Felix Flores in October 2004 on HBO’s Trinidad v Mayorga PPV.

“For those who may not have seen Collazo in action, let me say putting Ricky in with Collazo is like putting a load of nitro-glycerine into a tumble dryer: there’s going to be an explosion – guaranteed.”

Hobson added: “A good win against Collazo will not only be a tremendous achievement in itself, with Ricky becoming the first British fighter ever to beat three world champions in consecutive fights, but also set him up for the kind of fight which will transform him from one of the world’s best active fighters into a legend who will be a shoo-in to the Hall of Fame.

“If Ricky wins this fight May 13, he’ll stand astride both the junior welter and welterweight divisions. He’ll have defeated the WBA welterweight champion in Collazo and will remain the undisputed consensus junior welterweight king after beating linear champion Kostya Tszyu and WBA champion Carlos Maussa. We’ll have so many options.

“The winner of the Diego Corrales v Jose Luis Castillo is a possibility HBO is very interested in, as is the winner of Arturo Gatti v Carlos Baldomir. And Floyd Mayweather – who is Ricky’s and the fans’ dream opponent – is there at welterweight, too. Mayweather has been talking a lot about an Oscar De La Hoya fight in September but even if that does happen there’s no reason
Ricky couldn’t fight Mayweather around Christmas time.”

Fight Academy’s Robert Waterman added: “Mayweather is the Hitman’s prime target and one of the reasons Ricky is fighting at welterweight is to put the pressure on Mayweather. Mayweather has accused Ricky of avoiding him, but it is Mayweather who fled the junior welterweight division before facing the No.1 in that weight category – Ricky Hatton.

“If and when Ricky takes down a reigning world welterweight champion, Mayweather will be under even more pressure to face the Hitman. With respect to Henry Brussels and Sharmba Mitchell, Ricky’s first incursion into the higher division is a much more meaningful, and as a consequence, difficult fight than anything Mayweather has done in the division thus far. Collazo is a real test for Ricky at the higher weight.”

Tickets for Hatton v Collazo are available NOW.
In the UK: telephone 01142 560 555 for details

In the US: Tickets are available at: The TD Banknorth Garden Box Office, located on the West Side of the North Station Platform, to the right of the Pro Shop. Open Monday – Sunday: 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (The TD Banknorth Garden Box Office does not accept any incoming phone calls); and all TicketMaster outlets, By phone at 617-931-2000, Online at TicketMaster.com.

Ticket prices: $50, $100, $150, $250, $400, $500.