Re: Has to be Hatton v Cotto
I always believed Rick's best chance against Cotto was at 140lbs, around about the time Cotto fought Torres. Cotto at that time was showing all the signs of a fighter struggling make the LW limit. For me Cotto looked drained, his punch resistance was lacking, his cardio in question, and if ever Rick was to beat Cotto, that was the time.
I really dont think that Rick can be any sort of force at WW, he just cannot make the transition. He doesnt have the frame to move effectively up through the weights, thats been proven. Also Rick's advantage at LW was his strength, apart from the limited Urango, Rick had been alot stronger than any of his opponets in that division, including Tszyu.
WW are the wrong waters for Hatton, too deep. You have to fancy Cotto heavily at 147lbs. Rick will be fighting at 147lbs for all the wrong reasons in my opinion. Knowing Ray Hatton the way I do, it's a certainty that if Rick fights at 147lbs, it will be against a naturally smaller fighter.
If Rick is going to have a swansong, then my pick would be Juan Diaz at 140lbs. It would make for a very entertaining fight, and a fight that even at this stage of his career, shouldnt cause him too many problems.
Some people say boxing is a matter of life or death, it's not, it's far more important than that.
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