Boxing Preview Analysis:Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather

ByLee Bellfield

An Early Look

In a fight that I still find difficult to believe is taking place, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Ricky Hatton put their unbeaten records on the line in December.

Call me a skeptic or even a pessimist, but I still won’t believe it will happen until both men are in the ring.

This is a fight that we’ve been talking about for the last two years, ever since Mayweather ripped the WBC 140 pound title from an overmatched Arturo Gatti in June 2005.

Just three weeks earlier, Hatton himself became a title holder, defeating long serving champion Kostya Tszyu.

Much has happened since that night to both men. Hatton has changed promoters while Mayweather’s threatened retirement.

To be honest, I never really took Mayweather’s promise to retire after defeating De La Hoya in May, seriously. If anything, I thought he would be fighting the Golden Boy in a rematch.

Certainly, the fight in Las Vegas in which Mayweather won his fifth title was much more entertaining than I thought it would be. Surely, financial sense would had been to make a rematch. However, it wasn’t to be.

As for Hatton, he split from long time promoter Frank Warren after winning the 140 pound title from Tszyu. He has also won a second title at welterweight, none too convincingly, against Luis Collazo. His stock has considerably rose however, after a fantastic performance against Jose Luis Castillo.

Hatton knows that he will have to produce yet another top notch performance if he is to be victorious against Mayweather.
Although I’m surprised the fight is taking place, I also feel that now is the best time.

Although there has been words exchanged between the two men, I don’t for one second feel that Mayweather will take Hatton lightly. Mayweather stays in condition between fights, too.

Logic states that Mayweather will start a favourite against the Hitman. However, call it misplaced patriotism, but I think Hatton’s is the style that will cause Pretty Boy the most problems.

My opinion on this fight has not changed in the last two years. Hatton will have to fight the bout of his life, but one thing is for certain; Mayweather will be in for a rude awakening if he thinks he’s in for an easy night.