Hatton to give up IBF belt
From BBC Sport
Ricky Hatton will give up his IBF light-welterweight title after refusing to fulfil a mandatory defence against number one contender Naoufel Ben Rabah.
Hatton is poised to move up a division in May to meet American Luis Collazo for the WBA welterweight crown.
But it means he will surrender the belt he won last summer from Kostya Tszyu.
Hatton told The Sun newspaper: "I have a great relationship with the IBF and they understood why I couldn't go through with a defence against Rabah."
Hatton hopes that by beating Collazo in May it will open the door to even bigger fights at 147lb.
He said: "After that fight there should be a few more big-name bouts for me.
"They would be career-defining fights for me - and with all due respect to Rabah he cannot be counted among the big names.
"In an ideal world I'd like to keep all belts but that is not possible in this day and age."
Rabah, an Australian-based Tunisian, won an IBF eliminator last September against Mexico's Arturo Morua but could now face another opponent for the vacant title.
Looks like Hatton's future is now at 147, hope he doesnt't get made to look like a prick by Collazo now.
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt
Just beat you to it !! O0
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt
haha. its too early in the morning for rapid copy and pasting
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt
>:mad YOU MEAN I HAD TO WATCH KOSTYA GET REPEATEDLY FOULED TO SEE A LITTLE GERBEL LIKE HATTON GET RID OF THE BELT! NOT COOL MAN! >:mad
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakey
>:mad YOU MEAN I HAD TO WATCH KOSTYA GET REPEATEDLY FOULED TO SEE A LITTLE GERBEL LIKE HATTON GET RID OF THE BELT! NOT COOL MAN! >:mad
Yawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think im falling asleep.
Hatton to give up IBF belt!
Hatton to give up IBF belt!
Wednesday, March 29 2006
http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2...ygtpPadKm.html
Ricky Hatton announced yesterday that he will give up the IBF jr welterweight title rather than make his mandatory defense against Naoufel Ben Rabah. "The Hitman" will keep his WBA title as he moves up to 147 lbs to challenge for the WBA 147lb crown. Rabah will now likely face the next highest available contender. With #2 vacant and #3 Junior Witter likely to fight for the WBC title, #4 Juan Urango and #5 Lovemore N'Dou would be the next two in line.
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt!
Re: Hatton to give up IBF belt!
To further the story,
''Ricky Hatton will give up his IBF light-welterweight title after refusing to fulfil a mandatory defence against number one contender Naoufel Ben Rabah.
Hatton is poised to move up a division in May to meet American Luis Collazo for the WBA welterweight crown.
But it means he will surrender the belt he won last summer from Kostya Tszyu.
Hatton told The Sun newspaper: "I have a great relationship with the IBF and they understood why I couldn't go through with a defence against Rabah."
Hatton hopes that by beating Collazo in May it will open the door to even bigger fights at 147lb.
He said: "After that fight there should be a few more big-name bouts for me.
"They would be career-defining fights for me - and with all due respect to Rabah he cannot be counted among the big names.
"In an ideal world I'd like to keep all belts but that is not possible in this day and age."
Rabah, an Australian-based Tunisian, won an IBF eliminator last September against Mexico's Arturo Morua but could now face another opponent for the vacant title. ''
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...ng/4855752.stm
Published: 2006/03/29 06:42:36 GMT
© BBC MMVI
;D ;D ;D been there!
