“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Vs Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton: Saddo Boxing’s Staff Predictions

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

The build up has been almost unbearable, not since the 1980’s when greats of the era such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns and Roberto Duran squared off has there been so much anticipation for a welterweight showdown.

We have discussed it, argued it and broke it down in every way possible. The time is here the time is now and I for one will be counting the hours till the bell rings.

In one corner will be Floyd Mayweather Jr., 38-0 (24), boxing’s reigning pound for pound best and five division world champion. Floyd is without a doubt one of the best fighters to grace this sport not only in the last 50 years, but ever.

He has dazzled fans with speed, footwork and ring generalship since day one, beating everyone who has dared try to doubt his legitimacy as the most talented man lacing up the gloves today. Former world champions Oscar De La Hoya, Jose Luis Castillo, DeMarcus Corley, Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell and the late Diego Corrales have all fell short of their goal in dethroning him.

Will Great Britain’s lethal body punching machine be the first?

In the other corner we have Ricky Hatton, 43-0 (31), an all out machine that works the body perhaps like no other fighter in the game today. Hatton has claimed titles in both the light welter and welterweight divisions, and was once thought of as nothing more than a come forward fighter with a hit or be hit style.

But Hatton has transitioned in recent fights. We have seen Ricky use the ring to his favor and add boxing to the controlled aggression. While Hatton will never be confused with a master boxer, he has proven critics wrong on more then one occasion.

After dispatching of the great Kostya Tszyu in 2005 to claim his first major world title, Hatton has jumped up in weight to beat larger opposition such as highly regarded Luis Collazo, claiming the WBA Welterweight strap in the effort.

Then, in something that rarely is done successfully these days, he moved back down to 140 lb and reclaimed his vacated IBF crown that was being worn by the hard hitting Juan Urango.

Hatton followed up that feat by defending against and dismantling the great Mexican warrior and the man that many feel beat Floyd Mayweather in their first meeting, despite the judge’s scorecards, Jose Luis Castillo.

Will Ricky once again defy the odds by being the first man to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr?

Here are some staff predictions on who will win the fight and why:

Jim Everett: I think Hatton will win this by decision. I would like to say stoppage, but I don’t think Mayweather will ever give up, not due to heart, but due to pride.

Now I have to say that my prediction comes with stipulations; I feel the referee will make a difference in the fight. If the referee does not tolerate any holding in the bout, then Hatton is in for a long frustrating night that he will eventually lose.

If the referee does allow Hatton to use his smothering hit and hold style, he should be able to pull the decision victory.

Hatton will apply pressure that Mayweather has never faced, as well as punches from all angles. Hatton’s confidence is beaming as it was when he prepared for Kostya Tszyu, another fight not many thought he could win.

Hatton wins by stoppage.

Lee Bellfield: I have been racking my brain for four months on how this will play out. I wrote an article in August of this year stating that Hatton has a style that would cause Mayweather the most problems out of all the possible opponents out there for him. I still stand by my assessment.

Only a fool would say Mayweather is not a class act in the ring, but Hatton’s relentless pressure will be the factor. If Hatton pressures Mayweather and does not give him the chance to use his flashy boxing skills and forces him to fight three minutes of every round, he should win.

Hatton by decision in the fight of his life.

Rhun Leeding: I have no doubt in my mind that this will be the toughest fight of Floyd Mayweather’s career in terms of the pressure and boxing aggressiveness he will endure. The rest that I will say is pure speculation.

In my opinion, Mayweather moves too well, is too smart and is too complete of a boxer for Hatton to catch him often enough. There is no doubt Hatton has a game plan for the fight.

I am also sure that he will be the one to finally tie Mayweather down and hammer his body like no one else has before. However, I also think that Mayweather will jab and move in the ring so much, he will be able to capitalize on a tiring Hatton down the stretch.

Mayweather by comfortable decision.

James Oakley: I can see Ricky pushing Floyd to the limit, but without being knocked down once or twice in the process. With Hatton being so fired up, it could mean a repeat of the Emmon Magee bout.

Despite what I have just said, I do not write Hatton off in the slightest and really think he can hurt Floyd, maybe even score a late knockdown.

I don’t see stamina being a factor in this bout, as many have suggested, this bout means too much to both men and are in top shape. However, if one of the two fighters does fade late, I am certain it will be Floyd.

I believe that Floyd needs to be on top of things early and try to get Ricky out of there in fewer than six rounds and not take punishment while doing so.

If he doesn’t, Hatton will come on strong late in the fight providing he does not take the kind of abuse Arturo Gatti did in his bout with Mayweather. Hatton is a better all around boxer than Gatti, so I don’t think that will happen. With all that in mind it will be a matter of whose style the judge’s favor in the end.

Split decision that could go either way.

Jane Warburton: This will be short and sweet from me. I pick Hatton to stop Floyd in the ninth with one of his trademark body shots.

Hatton by KO/TKO.

Luke Shannon: I have a feeling we are going to see something special in this fight and Ricky is going to shock the boxing world.

Hatton TKO round 11.

CutMeMick: (SaddoBoxing Forum Global Moderator) Hatton will have his moments here and there, he will have the crowd in attendance cheering with ohhhs and ahhhs, other than that, though, I see nothing major from him that will upset Mayweather.

Floyd Mayweather by comfortable decision.

Daxx Kahn: This has played out in my head back and forth with each man coming out the winner. In all honesty, crazy as it may sound right now, I think the only man capable of beating Floyd Mayweather is Ricky Hatton and vice versa.

If Floyd comes in and fights his usual fight, I think Hatton and his camp are smart enough to capitalize on that. Jose Luis Castillo was the first to show flaws in Mayweather’s game. Zab Judah was giving Floyd all he could handle, but once on the defensive, melted down.

De La Hoya just stopped punching for some reason, giving the fight away. I am sure Hatton’s people took notice of what all three men did right and have a few more of their own in store.

Floyd on the other hand is a guy who has incredible natural ability and stamina like none other; he also has an ego too big for his own good. That ego will be his downfall. In the De La Hoya fight, there were times when Oscar was tired Floyd found himself amusing even smiling at times when Oscar would miss the left hook to the body, the body is Hatton loves to target most.

Unlike Oscar, Hatton will not be throwing one shot at a time and while I expect Floyd to give Ricky a paint brushing at times, I also expect Floyd to admire his work while doing so, a mistake in his ego that will cost him.

Hatton is not easily discouraged or shy in taking two if it means landing one. Floyd is not a physical fighter and Hatton is not shy in being one, look for Floyd to lie on the ropes then look for Ricky to make him pay for it.

Hatton will not worry about where he hits Floyd be it arms, shoulders or face neutralizing Mayweather’s upper body movement later in the fight. Assuming Hatton does not swell too badly, it will be his night.

Hatton late stoppage.

Curtis McCormick: I see this being a battle of time and space. Floyd needs both to win a fight and does not like to fight at a hot pace. He can usually employ his skills to force his opponent to fight at the slow pace he prefers.

I don’t see Floyd as being able to impose that liberty on Ricky. I think Ricky will impose his hot, in your space, paced attack and will not let up despite the massive amount of counters that Mayweather will land.

Hatton walked through Tszyu’s best work and won’t be troubled by Mayweather’s shots. He’ll make Floyd run through the first six rounds unril Mayweather tires and then the real fight will begin.

It will then be like Duran vs. Leonard I and I see Ricky manhandling Floyd, legally, through the use of sheer volume punches to both head and body. Hatton could cut however and there looms the possibility of a stoppage as a result.

Hatton stoppage ninth round.

Saddo: When this fight was announced I thought Floyd by points win on the back foot, But maybe I’m getting caught up in the build up of the 24/7 and the countless threads on the forum, But we can pick apart both fighters records and put any slant on it we like, but the truth is this is a PICK-EM.

make no mistake these guys really don’t like each other and the bravado will be there come fight time and i see Floyd getting involved and getting caught early.

Hatton stoppage fourth round

This bout is going to be one where it really does not matter who wins, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Ricky Hatton. In the end it will be the fans who walk away with the most satisfaction.