Press Conference: Ricky Hatton

Click for larger image © Stefan Christou / Saddo Boxing

Sitting with magnificent pride along the icy waters of the River Thames, the HMS Belfast graciously welcomed members of the media into one of its cosy cabins for a press conference to announce an exclusive three-fight deal negotiated by Fight Academy and U.S based outfit Banner Promotions with WBA/IBF light-welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.

If all goes to plan, Hatton (40-0- 30KO’s) will make his American debut this May in a 20,000-seat tent at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut against a high profile opponent.

How fitting, Robert Waterman of Fight Academy remarked off the bat, that Hatton’s impending invasion of America be announced from inside a Battleship which, apart from being one of the most potent cruisers in the Second World War, was the first vessel to bomb Normandy prior to the Allied invasion.

“He is the most potent fighting force already in everyone’s mind,” the promoter enthused. “The American public know that he’s going to be invading very shortly!”

However, as Art Pelullo – President of Banner Promotions – laboured to explain, neither a firm date nor an actual opponent can be set in stone until an ongoing and fiercely contested bidding war between HBO and Showtime goes one way or the other. As the larger than life yank so eloquently put it, both networks are desperate to be in the “Ricky Hatton business” and are fighting doggedly to secure the rights to televise his upcoming bouts.

“I know you guys know that he is the most fan friendly fighter in the world today,” said Pelullo when it was his turn to speak. “He is in a unique situation in the United States, both major cable networks – HBO and Showtime
– want to be in the Ricky Hatton business.

“As you know, Showtime has been in the Ricky Hatton business and they want to keep him. They are fighting vigorously to keep him. And HBO, who wants to be in the Ricky Hatton business, is right there with them.

“Within six or seven days there will be an announcement for what network he will be fighting on.”

Altering the tone of his voice slightly and delivering his words in a more measured fashion, the charismatic Pelullo then declared: “He will be fighting in May – both networks have freed up dates to be in the Ricky
Hatton business.

“They believe, as I do, that he will probably be one of the biggest stars in America in the next decade. He is so fan friendly, you know that better than we do. He comes to fight and he’s right at you all the time. He fights like out of the 40’s and 50’s, the great fighters of that era.”

Hatton, not appearing quite as round as perhaps we are accustomed to seeing him in between fights, was quick to express a strong desire to challenge newly crowned welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir when asked who he would prefer to fight next.

“If I had a personal choice, my choice would be to fight Baldomir,” stated Hatton. “I’ve become the man at light-welterweight, and I think Baldomir when he beat Zab Judah became the man at welterweight, so it is a fight that gives me the chance to become an undisputed double-weight champion – that is the dream fight for me and there is an extremely good chance that it is going to be made.”

Other potential opponents named were Arturo Gatti and, somewhat surprisingly, lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz.

Dennis Hobson, the other Fight Academy promoter sitting at the table, added:

“We want to help Ricky fulfil his dream of achieving legendary status, and
everyone here is confident that he can do so.”