Exclusive Interview: Ricky “Hitman’ Hatton.

Ricky Hatton Click for larger image © Mike Cleary

How many of today’s top fighters went unbeaten in there first thirty-seven fights? Not as many as you might think. Even fewer won all thirty-seven. Therefore, it’s mighty puzzling why a fighter with a record of 37-0, who regularly attracts crowds of 15,000-20,000 to each fight, still has a question mark hanging over his head. That is, of course, if you ask your average American fight fan. To those in the know, and to those who have had the pleasure of watching Ricky Hatton tear

through one opponent after another, there is no doubting his quality. A veritable tornado when on peak form, you’d be hard-pressed to find a greater exponent of the British fight game. Indeed, our Ricky has had to fight tooth and nail to get himself into a position where he can no longer be ignored. Even now, doubts still hang over whether he’ll be first in line to get a shot at the light welterweight king, Kostya Tszyu. Ricky was kind enough to give us his thoughts on such matters ahead of his not exactly low-risk, tune-up fight against Ray Oliveira on Saturday the 11th of December.

Don’t miss this essential, no-nonsense interview with the “Hitman.’

SaddoBoxing: How’s your training been going?

Ricky Hatton: It’s been going fantastic really. I didn’t have much time off since the last fight, against Mike Stewart, just had a few weeks, so it wasn’t too difficult for me to get back in shape. I just went straight back in the gym, kept on top of things, started sparring earlier than what I would normally be, and I feel a lot better for it. And my sparring partners have been good, training’s gone well, the usual hard slog. Everything couldn’t be going better. You know, in the last few fights I’ve picked up a few niggling injuries unfortunately, but nothing as such for this fight. So everything couldn’t be going better at the minute.

SB: Oliveira has promised to “school’ you the same way he “schooled’ Vivian Harris. Could you give us your thoughts on that and what the fans should expect from the fight?

RH: Well, I think, you know, styles make fights and obviously, you know, funnily enough Ray Oliveira is a guy that throws more punches than me, which is a fair achievement in itself because obviously that’s a part of my game-work rate, volume of punches. So he stands there, he can have a fight, you know, throws plenty of punches. I don’t think, from a fan’s point of view, you can get a more perfect two styles that should make for a cracking fight. You know, he’s never been stopped, so the reality is it’s probably not gonna go in the first couple of rounds, so the fans are gonna be in for a treat and get their value for money.

SB: There seems to be a certain degree of risk in taking this fight because he has got a decent record…

RH: (Interrupting) There is, yeah, and a lot of people say that maybe I didn’t need to have a fight, with me already having secured my mandatory shot against Kostya Tszyu. Many people see it as a risk and a chance I don’t need to take. But I mean, that’s a negative way of thinking of things I think, because if you do believe you’re the best in the world you shouldn’t be worried about whoever you’re fighting, no matter what you’ve got, if you truly believe you can beat anybody you step in the ring with. That’s the way I feel. So I don’t see it as a risk, I see it as another fight, another good fight, a tough fight, but a fight that, if Ricky Hatton does what he knows he can do, a fight I should come through. And I think when the fight does come of against Kostya Tszyu, my activeness will hold me in good stead.

SB: The fight is going to be held in London. You’ve had a lot of success at the MEN Arena in Manchester, so why the change of venue?

RH: Last year I had three fights, and obviously at some point in the year you’d expect me to normally get cut, so obviously when you get cut you have to have a little bit longer for recovery. But with me not being cut this year my promoter, Frank warren, geared me up for having three fights in the year and with me not being cut we both saw it as an opportunity to keep me busy, keep me fighting and squeeze another one in. Unfortunately, the MEN was already fully booked so we couldn’t get the MEN, but it doesn’t matter in the slightest. It’s a great opportunity; I haven’t fought in the capital for three years now, so it’s a great opportunity for me to put on a good performance for the London fans, which I haven’t obviously done for three years. And I think this opponent, Ray Oliveira, is… what a fight for me to come back to London to do, I suppose, because he’s 100 miles an hour and I’m 100 miles an hour and I don’t think they could have got a better fight for my return.

SB: There have been a few conflicting reports as to who Kostya Tszyu’s next fight will be against. Almost everyone near the top of the division has been mentioned. Does it irritate you that you’ve got yourself into this position and you’re still not guaranteed to be his next fight?

RH: Well, I mean, I’m the mandatory and I can’t be in any better position in order for him to fight me. If he doesn’t want to fight Ricky Hatton, obviously he’ll be stripped of his title because I’m not moving from the mandatory position. There’s been talks that he’s gonna fight Arturo Gatti, but I find that hard to believe, seeing as he’s still under contract to Showtime and Gatti’s with HBO. So I don’t know for definite but, from my position, I see that as a no-goer. Unless he has ambitions of moving up a weight, I can’t see who in the light welterweight division who he could fight really. We’re both with Showtime, I’m unbeaten, a massive ticket seller. You know, my fights, no disrespect, because Kostya Tszyu is the number one in the division and rightly so, but more people come to watch me fight and I think I bring a lot to the table. So it’s a fight I think he should want.

SB: Is that a fight you would like to have in Manchester or would you prefer to get more exposure by fighting him in America?

RH: Yeah, I’d like to get it done in Manchester. That would be fantastic, but I’ve been itching to go and box in The States for some time now. So I couldn’t care less where it is, to be honest. You know, it’s always been my dream to box in Las Vegas and box in America, make my name over there. So whether it be in Manchester or America is irrelevant to me. The main thing is that I get the fight.

SB: How would you see a fight between yourself and Kostya Tszyu going?

RH: Well, you know the old saying “styles make fights.” And obviously the dangers are there for all to see. Kostya Tszyu has a murderous right hand and obviously if I’m putting the pressure on him I’m gonna have to be very wary of that, be sensible in the way I attack him. But I think I’ve got good head movement, I’ve got good footwork. You know, I’ve got good work rate, pressure, every punch in the book. And the one person who beat Kostya Tszyu, Vince Phillips, he beat him with pressure and I believe in my heart, 100%, that I’m a better fighter than Vince Phillips ever was. I’d go into the fight as an underdog. I’m nobody’s fool, and I know that. I know a lot of people will be thinking that Kostya Tszyu will be too much for me, but I think the opposite. I think I’ve got a fantastic chance and it’s a great, great opportunity for me.

SB: If the fight with Kostya Tszyu doesn’t come off, you do have other options. Miguel Cotto is one other such option. Is that something you will be pursuing if the fight with Kostya doesn’t come to fruition right away?

RH: Yeah, that’s a possibility. But I’d be totally and utterly pissed off if this fight doesn’t come off, to be honest, because I can’t see where else Kostya Tszyu is gonna go. He can’t go for Gatti because of the television network situation. You know, I don’t know what’s in Kostya Tszyu’s mind. He might have ambitions of moving up a weight. If he does maybe have ambitions of moving up a weight, to fight Cory Spinks, you’d probably say he’s done enough at light welterweight and deserves the opportunity to be a two-weight world champion. Apart from that, I can’t see why there’s anybody out there bigger than Ricky Hatton at the minute. I bring a lot to the table. Style-wise, I’m 100% value for money. I bring a big following to the table, an unbeaten record. I think it’s a fight that the television would really love, the fight fans would really love. And I think I’m a worthy challenger.

SB: Could you give us your thoughts on Miguel Cotto, considered to be very much the danger man of the division?

RH: Fantastic fighter, fantastic fighter. I think everyone’s tipping him not only to be a great world champion, but a “Great’. He’s been looking absolutely fantastic. Contrary to what everybody seems to think, I don’t think he’s unbeatable. You know, I’ve seen one or two things in his fights where if he sets off too fast he has to take his foot off the gas a little bit. And just, you know, styles make fights. A high tempo fight obviously suits him, but whether a hot-paced fight, like the one I’d give him, would suit him, you know, time will only tell. But I think he’s the best prospect in world boxing. Styles make fights and nobody could convince me that I couldn’t beat Miguel Cotto as well. These are all great, great fights for me, but it’s just at the minute obviously I’m in a mandatory position to fight the best in the division, which is Kostya Tszyu. I would be absolutely devastated if that fight doesn’t come off.

SB: As I’m sure you know, Junior Witter has spent a lot of time trying to call you out. Bearing that in mind, what would you say to him and what’s your impression of him as a fighter?

RH: I think it’s clear to see that Junior Witter is a world-class fighter. He has a very tricky style, he’s very dangerous, he can hit, you know. But I think he’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic, to be honest. I mean, he’s still calling me out, still saying why shouldn’t I fight him. And to be honest, there’s two simple answers: I’m in a mandatory position for Kostya Tszyu and Miguel Cotto, so why am I gonna fight him? His talents aren’t in doubt. I mean, he’s won the British, Commonwealth and I took a lot of stick for some of the people I’ve fought over the last few years and people have said I’ve been protected and not fought the best out there, you know. If there gonna say that about me, who’s beaten Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie, Eamonn Magee, people like that. They must surely doubly say the same thing about Junior Witter, because he’s won three belts: The British title against Alan Bosworth; the Commonwealth title against Laatekwei Hammond; The vacant European title against another fellah that isn’t ranked in the top twenty anywhere. You know, so he’s won three belts but he’s not beat no one. And people who seem to knock Ricky Hatton, I just have to say to people, “Look on Junior Witter’s record, he’s not beat a top ten fighter.” You know, I’ve beat four or five top ten fighters, so I’m just not really interested in Junior Witter. I’ve always been a few paces ahead of him anyway and even more so now, so that fight’s dead in the water for me at the minute. But if Junior Witter continues the way he’s going and fights for world titles, like he can do, instead of the pillocks he has been fighting then, you know, it’s a fight I still would want. But at this moment in time I’m not interested because I’ve got bigger fish to fry.

SB: British fighters often receive a lot of criticism from across the pond for not fighting outside of their own country often enough. Do you feel that criticism is unwarranted?

RH: Well, that’s right, yeah. I mean, we’ve got some great fighters in this country: Scott Harrison, Joe Calzaghe, myself. And I’ve no doubt in my mind, given half a chance for us to cross the water, we would. But sometimes it’s taken out of the boxer’s hands. And the American press and the American fight fans probably think, “Yeah, you know, they’ve got some pretty decent fighters in Britain, but they won’t come over here. They won’t fight our best.” That’s why it means the earth to me that I can fight the best, the best obviously being Kostya Tszyu. You know, if I beat him, then they’ll stand up because I think we’ve got British fighters over here to be proud of.

SB: You do have a lot of fans in America. Is going over there, getting more exposure and getting the big money fights something that you’ll be looking to get more and more of?

RH: Well, I hope so. I don’t really fight like a Brit. I think I fight more like an American. I think I would go down a storm in America. It is a bit puzzling from my point of view, what’s taking me so long to get over there. People forget that Kostya Tszyu’s thirty-five; Sharmba Mitchell is thirty-three or thirty-four; Arturo Gatti’s thirty-two. As many fights as I’ve had, I’m twenty-six! I’m not in no rush, but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t frustrated about not getting over to the States. But Frank Warren’s done a good job with me and I’m sure that’ll be the next step when, hopefully, I get the belt off Kostya Tszyu.

SB: The light welterweight division is probably the best in boxing. You’ve still got lots of fights to make there…

RH: (Interrupting) Oh, it’s fantastic, it’s fantastic. I mean, we’re not short of big fights to be made out there. Big fights have fallen through for me in the past, but I think they’re a lot less likely to fall through once you’re the mandatory. I’m in the mandatory for two now, so I fully expect the fight to happen now.

SB: Will you be looking to move up at some point, once you’ve achieved all you can at light welterweight?

RH: I don’t think so, no. If I was to beat everybody out there, beat Kostya Tszyu, beat Miguel Cotto, beat Floyd Mayweather and all these guys then maybe we’d then look at it, but at the end of the day I can’t see me moving up a weight. My natural weight is light welter and I think that will always be the case. If only I was to achieve everything I could at this weight, then I would consider it but there’s so much to do at this weight and that’s all I’m concentrating on.

SB: Vivian Harris is a fighter who you have a history with. You had a fight fall through with him not so long ago. Could you give us a couple of words on him?

RH: Well, Vivian Harris is obviously a dangerous fighter. You know, he’s done what Kostya Tszyu couldn’t do and stopped Oktay Urkal. A lot of people say he’s one of the weaker of the champions, but I’m not too sure. I think he could maybe be one of the most dangerous ones out there. I was down to fight him a couple of times and we couldn’t get the fight on. One minute he’d agreed to a purse and agreed to come over, then the week after he changed his mind. So that’s a fight I’d have liked, but it’s never really come off. But hopefully that’s one for the future. I think he’s a better fighter than what people give him credit for. He’s a very, very good fighter, a dangerous fighter, but obviously he isn’t the name of maybe Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Cotto. I think he needs to fight somebody like a Ricky Hatton, you know, in order to raise his profile a bit. He’s one of the best in the division, but name-wise he’s not someone who springs to mind really. And with him holding one of the more recognized belts, I should imagine that’s frustrating for him.

SB: What’s your opinion of Floyd Mayweather?

RH: Floyd Mayweather is an absolute class act. I think, without doubt, he deserves to be ranked as one of the best pound-for-pound in the world. He’s an amazing talent. He’s come up to light welterweight and he’s had one fight, against DeMarcus Corley. He didn’t show his usual brilliance, if you like. He did look a class act, but didn’t look particularly strong in it. He got shook up and there’s tougher tests out there than DeMarcus Corley. But he’s without doubt one of the top guys.

SB: Do you think the weight might be his undoing at this point, though?

RH: It could be. I mean, DeMarcus Corley is a fair puncher but not a murderous puncher. He shook Floyd up and Floyd couldn’t get him out of there. But having said that, people like Zab Judah couldn’t get him out of there, to be fair. I think somebody at this weight division, with a little bit more class, a little bit more power, you know, could probably beat Mayweather. I mean, that’s no foregone conclusion because I think he’s pure class and from a boxing fan’s point of view, is a dream to watch.

SB: Do you always plan to stay involved in boxing?

RH: I would do, that would be the next move I think. Becoming a world champion yourself, you need something to replace that buzz. I think the second best thing, after being a champion, is to maybe produce a champion. I think that’s what I’d like to do. I can’t see myself without boxing, to be honest. Whatever happens, I think I’ll still be involved in boxing in one way or another.

SB: Do you have anything to add, maybe to your fans, before we wrap up?

RH: Just that the fans mean so much to me. Obviously I always get the mic after the fight, whenever I box, thank the fans. It means a lot to me what the fans think. That’s why it’s been frustrating for me, thinking that fight fans out there think I’m shying away from the big fights, and shying away from going over to the States. It’s very, very frustrating because what the fans think means a great deal to me. The proof is in the pudding, you know. And at the end of the day, when I come through his fight against a top contender, a very tough and well-respected guy, and hopefully take that belt from Kostya Tszyu, which I’m very confident of doing, maybe then people will stand up and say, “Ricky said he’d do it and he’s done it.” Not only do I deserve my shot against the best, but my fans do as well because they’ve been very, very loyal. They’ve given me 100% support and they deserve it just as much as I do.

SB: Well, thanks for your time, Ricky.

RH: No problem at all.

SB: I really hope you get the fight with Kostya and get the result you deserve.

RH: Thank you very much.

James MacDonald can be reached at ac009b5460@blueyonder.co.uk