Originally Posted by Hacienda
Hatton is basically too short to work his style against the bigger opponent.
I reckon Hatton, with his excellent nutrionalist, Kerry Kayes, could even boil down to lightweight if he really wanted to.
It's not that Hatton is a worse fighter than the aforementioned - far from it.
Infact i dare say he could beat anybody in the world who is like-for-like in stature (5'6), but when he comes up against naturally bigger guys he is giving them a tremendous chance of taking the victory.
Wheras Floyd, for example, his height & build lends itself more to slightly higher weights - and given his style (the total opposite of Hatton) he can fend for himself against these types of opponents.
Hatton's 'in your face' style can be negated by the bigger fighter.
Like every other neutral boxing fanatic, a match-up with Mayweather is a dream come true - but i believe HBO are trying to build his profile first for maximum impact stateside, should this bout ever be made.
Hence the choice of opponents leading to criticsm in some parts. By the close of 2007, i believe boxing fans will see Hatton either in / or planning a large showdown with one of the other marquee fighters in or around the 140/147 mark.
Fingers crossed.