It's official...Mayweather is P*ssed!

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=2918039

Looks like Ricky has pushed all the right buttons O0

Ricky Hatton wants a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr., considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. It looks like he might get his wish.

"Ricky Hatton cannot fight. He throws one punch at a time and then holds. Hatton is the most overrated fighter of the last 25 years."

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather said Tuesday he will come out of retirement to put Hatton in his place.

"I was retired but I'll sign to fight Hatton right now. I've tried to let the things he said about me slide by, but now he's 'dissing' me on national TV and I want to shut him up. I've never wanted to hurt an opponent like I do Hatton.

"Ricky Hatton cannot fight. He throws one punch at a time and then holds. Hatton is the most overrated fighter of the last 25 years."

Hatton's one-punch knockout win Saturday night over Jose Luis Castillo to retain his world junior welterweight championship just might have been the breakthrough the British fighter needed to convince fans outside his native country that he is the real thing at 140 pounds.

Like Mayweather, Hatton is undefeated. Unlike Mayweather, he fights in a wild, all-out style that should prove popular as he continues his campaign in the United States.

"There was more action in the four rounds of this fight than Floyd showed in his entire career," Hatton said.

There was more action in the four rounds of this fight than Floyd showed in his entire career.

Ricky Hatton

Mayweather announced his retirement after beating Oscar De La Hoya last month.

Hatton's father, Ray, said that his son is ready to face Mayweather -- anywhere.

"We're up for the fight, you've got to be up for a fight like that," Ray Hatton told Radio Five Live in the United Kingdom. "But it doesn't always end with the two fighters. There tends to be a few people getting in between.

"Ricky is chomping at the bit. I've spoken to him a little bit before all this came out and he said it's a no-brainer. It's a definite yes.

"Ricky will fight him anywhere -- that's the difference between him and Floyd, who wants it on home turf."

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's manager, said a fight could happen in the fall.

"Hatton's trying to promote himself off Floyd's name and he [Mayweather] will kick his butt. Floyd told me he wants to get the deal on," Ellerbe said, according to the Guardian newspaper. "Hatton [insulted] Floyd [on television]. But that's OK, he's had his opportunity to talk. Now all he has to do is to sign a contract and we can get this done. We can have it this year, in the fall. We don't need to wait."

I feel this is almost blasphemy for me to say this as a Brit but I'd kind of love it if Floyd came back down to 140 lb then flew to England to fight Hatton at Wembley and knocked him out in a devastating display of boxing brilliance.

By his very nature i fully expect Hatton to give Floyd his hardest test and really put it on him but also feel that Floyd will toy then destroy him.
Just don't see anyway Ricky beats him.
If Oscar couldn't hurt him at 154 then what is Ricky gonna do?
Outbox him ;D

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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I see it the same. Even as a Brit I'd be rooting for Floyd to win this. He's just such an exciting defensive genuis that I would always root for him over the ugly mauling clinch style of Hatton even if I was Matthew.

Lol - I would 100% be routing for Ricky - just don't think he can win

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Originally Posted by Bilbo

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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I see it the same. Even as a Brit I'd be rooting for Floyd to win this. He's just such an exciting defensive genuis that I would always root for him over the ugly mauling clinch style of Hatton even if I was Matthew.

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F*ck that,i'll be screaming my head off for Ricky to take him down but as much as i love to watch him i just cannot see any way he wins this.
Floyd really does operate on a totally different level imo.

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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I have to agree

Ricky has the right mentality to beat Floyd. The right style, very physical . Oscar was molesting Floyd all throughout his match with him, the difference is Oscar would let Mayweather off the hook.. Hatton is more physical, fukin psycho in that ring. Rick will jockey for position pull Floyds hands down and physically make punching opportunities for himself. Hatton won’t be denied.. I love Hatton’s fighting spirit , true warrior . . It just takes one well placed Hatton Hook to the liver in order to cash Floyd out of there., very winnable match for Hatton make no mistake

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Originally Posted by Bilbo

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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I see it the same. Even as a Brit I'd be rooting for Floyd to win this. He's just such an exciting defensive genuis that I would always root for him over the ugly mauling clinch style of Hatton even if I was Matthew.

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Whats exciting about Floyds hit and run style? Hatton's fights are plenty more exciting. I'm not criticizing Floyd. He's extremely skillful and quick, but more exciting than Ricky? You must be taking the piss.

I'm a massive Ricky Hatton fan, and I'll be rooting for him in this. I'm totally shocked that some people are saying Ricky has NO chance to win. If Ricky can press him to the ropes, I think he can do it. Floyd is a great fighter, and as a fighter, I totally respect his abilities but he is a mouthy little prick.

If there is one thing I want to see in boxing more than any other, it would be to see Ricky Hatton knock Floyd out.

I do believe De La Hoya vs. Hatton would be a much more exciting fight though.

The problem I could see with Mayweather is he tends to get overly defensive. I think personally he should stand in the pocket against Hatton, and make sure they get a ref who penalizes holding.

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Originally Posted by Taeth

The problem I could see with Mayweather is he tends to get overly defensive. I think personally he should stand in the pocket against Hatton, and make sure they get a ref who penalizes holding.

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These days more than ever. Oscar was pretty rubbish against Floyd really and yet the end result was still relatively close. Maybe we can say its because Floyd is at the weight limits he can go to. But Hatton would not let Floyd get away with that kind of performance. Going to the ropes too often and being on the defensive without throwing much back. Hatton wont unload with mindless flurries like that. He will be looking to hurt and target Floyd. Hatton's speed is underrated. He is fast.

Anyone predicting a Gatti style massacre is deluded. Hatton isnt that one dimensional at all! ;D

Ricky will have 10's of thousands of fans and a whole country cheering him on come fight nite... but sadly it wont be enough. Mayweather will be as ferocious as the nite he demolished Gatt :-\

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Taeth

The problem I could see with Mayweather is he tends to get overly defensive. I think personally he should stand in the pocket against Hatton, and make sure they get a ref who penalizes holding.

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These days more than ever. Oscar was pretty rubbish against Floyd really and yet the end result was still relatively close. Maybe we can say its because Floyd is at the weight limits he can go to. But Hatton would not let Floyd get away with that kind of performance. Going to the ropes too often and being on the defensive without throwing much back. Hatton wont unload with mindless flurries like that. He will be looking to hurt and target Floyd. Hatton's speed is underrated. He is fast.

Anyone predicting a Gatti style massacre is deluded. Hatton isnt that one dimensional at all! ;D

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I think Oscar fought really good that fight. He showed way better defense than he did against Mosley. He kept his hands up, and stayed relatively tall. The fight was only close because Oscar was pressuring Mayweather, and because he's Oscar. In reality Mayweather was outboxing him badly, and Oscar took punches I think Hatton can't. While HAtton gets in quicker than Oscar, he has much slower hands, and can't throw the combinations that were what gave Oscar many rounds he didn't deserve.

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Originally Posted by Taeth

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Taeth

The problem I could see with Mayweather is he tends to get overly defensive. I think personally he should stand in the pocket against Hatton, and make sure they get a ref who penalizes holding.

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These days more than ever. Oscar was pretty rubbish against Floyd really and yet the end result was still relatively close. Maybe we can say its because Floyd is at the weight limits he can go to. But Hatton would not let Floyd get away with that kind of performance. Going to the ropes too often and being on the defensive without throwing much back. Hatton wont unload with mindless flurries like that. He will be looking to hurt and target Floyd. Hatton's speed is underrated. He is fast.

Anyone predicting a Gatti style massacre is deluded. Hatton isnt that one dimensional at all! ;D

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I think Oscar fought really good that fight. He showed way better defense than he did against Mosley. He kept his hands up, and stayed relatively tall. The fight was only close because Oscar was pressuring Mayweather, and because he's Oscar. In reality Mayweather was outboxing him badly, and Oscar took punches I think Hatton can't. While HAtton gets in quicker than Oscar, he has much slower hands, and can't throw the combinations that were what gave Oscar many rounds he didn't deserve.

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Hatton does not have much slower hands than Oscar. And Oscar wasnt throwing meaningful combinations, they were ineffective flurries. You underrate Hatton. A Hatton that can stifle Floyd and bull him into the ropes. That is what is needed. Keep him as far from his game plan as possible. Output. A lot of output. 3 minutes of all 12 rounds. Floyd has never needed to deal with constant pressure like Hatton has been able to deliver.

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Ricky will have 10's of thousands of fans and a whole country cheering him on come fight nite... but sadly it wont be enough. Mayweather will be as ferocious as the nite he demolished Gatt :-\

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Or was Gatti just too limited and fought a stupid fight? ;)

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Ricky will have 10's of thousands of fans and a whole country cheering him on come fight nite... but sadly it wont be enough. Mayweather will be as ferocious as the nite he demolished Gatt :-\

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Or was Gatti just too limited and fought a stupid fight? ;)

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In fact JT, you are so off in the Gatti comparisons. Gatti has never been rated pound for pound. His greatest fights are against a journeyman in Mickey Ward. Hatton is a little bit better, methinks! ;D

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Originally Posted by Smashup

By his very nature i fully expect Hatton to give Floyd his hardest test and really put it on him but also feel that Floyd will toy then destroy him.
Just don't see anyway Ricky beats him.
If Oscar couldn't hurt him at 154 then what is Ricky gonna do?
Outbox him ;D

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Smash the differemce is Hatton will throw more punches in three rounds than Dela Hoya did in 12, im not saying Hatton wins but personally i think Hatton is strong enough to bully Mayweather if he is let to by the ref, all these people saying Hatton gets blasted out by Mayweather?? Please.

i don't think hatton could win but the fight would be ineresting to watch

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Originally Posted by skel1983

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Originally Posted by Smashup

By his very nature i fully expect Hatton to give Floyd his hardest test and really put it on him but also feel that Floyd will toy then destroy him.
Just don't see anyway Ricky beats him.
If Oscar couldn't hurt him at 154 then what is Ricky gonna do?
Outbox him ;D

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Smash the differemce is Hatton will throw more punches in three rounds than Dela Hoya did in 12, im not saying Hatton wins but personally i think Hatton is strong enough to bully Mayweather if he is let to by the ref, all these people saying Hatton gets blasted out by Mayweather?? Please.

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Know what your saying but everything is gonna be in Floyds favour..The ring will be Massive and i gaurantee that the ref will be hand picked and spoken with prior to the fight ;)
Team Mayweather will do everything in their power to give Floyd all the advantages (if as i suspect it goes off in the US) ;)
Hatton will give him hell for sure but i just can't see it being enough i'm sad to say as i'd love nothing more than to see the Gobsh*te KO'd in his own backyard ;D

im amazed at how many people think floyd will win so convincingly. hatton can beat floyd. why do people think floyd is superman. hatton is a complete animal in that ring. people who have followed his career will no this and have faith coz u no what he can do. hatton is a warrior thru and thru he will give floyd hell. it makes me laugh how floyds manager that leonard prick says hatton will get knocked out early if they fought. is this the same floyd that was meant to stand and trade with oscar and go to war. floyd will hit and run like the mouthy little shit he is if he fights hatton. he aint no warrior hes a phoney little punk. hatton by stoppage or ud

Some cracking opinions here (i knew this would be a smoking thread) keep it up folks O0

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Originally Posted by skel1983

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Originally Posted by Smashup

By his very nature i fully expect Hatton to give Floyd his hardest test and really put it on him but also feel that Floyd will toy then destroy him.
Just don't see anyway Ricky beats him.
If Oscar couldn't hurt him at 154 then what is Ricky gonna do?
Outbox him ;D

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Smash the differemce is Hatton will throw more punches in three rounds than Dela Hoya did in 12, im not saying Hatton wins but personally i think Hatton is strong enough to bully Mayweather if he is let to by the ref, all these people saying Hatton gets blasted out by Mayweather?? Please.

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First off, anybody expecting a Gatti style fight is STUPID.

Secondly,you can guarantee it will be ugly! 8)

Floyd isn't a warrior hes a world class tactician who can adapt his style to suit the fight. Hatton has one style hit and hold. Has Hatton fought anyone with as much speed and tight defense as Mayweather? The two top fighters Hattons fought have lacked speed and agility, Mayweather has fought against speed (Judah) Pressure (Castillo) and Hand Speed (Oscar). The reason Floyd is so gud is because he finds a way to win even if people say he's boring (i think that is just pure ignorance as it takes a high level of skill to do what he does). The reason Floyd talks so much sh*t is because he is hated on no matter what he does if he beats Hatton they will say he wasn't on Floyd's level, He could beat Cotto and they would say Cotto was too green, He could beat Mosley and they'd say he was washed up, he could fight Margarito and they'd say he was a nobody. No matter who Floyd beats they will just diss him like usual. The only way Floyd will be given credit is if he beats Hopkins or Wright which he would struggle to do, impossible in my opinion thats probably why he thought f**k it and retired in the first place.

paddy448 i am with you i av seen all his fights and been to well over 30 and some people forget rick has got a superb boxing brain he can adapt to anyone. He will ko floyd " I CAN TALK SHI*T AND DIS EVERYBODY I WANT BUT IF U SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ME I WILL CRY" mayweather!

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Originally Posted by big gaz

paddy448 i am with you i av seen all his fights and been to well over 30 and some people forget rick has got a superb boxing brain he can adapt to anyone. He will ko floyd " I CAN TALK SHI*T AND DIS EVERYBODY I WANT BUT IF U SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ME I WILL CRY" mayweather!

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Now I think Hatton has a chance of beating Floyd. But you are an idiot and its people like you that make Hatton look silly! ::**

Floyd is gonna give it all the 'Charlie big Bollox' then we'll have a 24/7 style hype machine build up for 2 weeks then on fight night we will all have the jam well and truly taken out of our donuts watching Mayweather 'Hit and run' his way to a boring Victory.
Just like the Oscar matchup (nearly called it a fight then) :-X

Mayweather may hit and run but it isn't his fault the other guy isn't quick enough to catch him. What he is doing is not illegal he is using his strengths to his advantage hitting and holding is illegal and that should be stopped by the ref. The hitting and holding just shows how much of a limited fighter Hatton is and he has done it against the two best guys on his record, i aint going to take anything away from Hatton by calling him a cheat as its not his fault the ref aint dealing with it but i dont like him for doing it.

Don't post often but when people are comparing Hatton to Gatti i got to speak. Hatton is so much more than a Gatti.

No doubt Mayweather has the skills and defensive work and if had a bet thats were the money would go!

BUT

If Hatton can get amongst him cut the ring off and give those ribs a good tickle i think he has as good a chance as any of getting something out of Floyd.

And we might actually see Pretty Boy in a fight that we will remember! Can't deny for all his skills, my heart ain't stepped up one beat watching him fight.

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Originally Posted by ACEA

Mayweather may hit and run but it isn't his fault the other guy isn't quick enough to catch him. What he is doing is not illegal he is using his strengths to his advantage hitting and holding is illegal and that should be stopped by the ref. The hitting and holding just shows how much of a limited fighter Hatton is and he has done it against the two best guys on his record, i aint going to take anything away from Hatton by calling him a cheat as its not his fault the ref aint dealing with it but i dont like him for doing it.

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You're right, it isn't Mayweather's fault nobody but Carl Lewis could catch him, and it's nobodies fault but the referee's that Hatton can get away with holding. As much as I like both of them, this is a weird fight. Mayweather wants to personally put himself next to Robinson and Ali on the greatest list. What a ridiculous statement from someone who won't go to war like both those men, and like Ricky does really. Ricky in truth has very good boxing skills but wants to mug you 1st and doesn't seem to even want to use but a couple of elements of the "sweet science". This fight will be determined by the referee as much as anything. Mayweather is not going to chance getting tagged by those viscious body shots of Hatton while on the ropes. DLH might be a better boxer and overall champ than Ricky but his inside game vs. Mayweather was absurd. Ricky's mastered his inside game, so I doubt Floyd wants to chance what happened to Castillo. On the other side of the coin you won't see Ricky trying to outbox Mayweather as that would be ridiculous to the point of being criminal, so he'll definately try to mug PBF. I couldn't call this fight if I had a gun to my head, until maybe I knew who the ref would be. Even then it is mind numbing. I will go on record as saying I think Mayweather will get a stoppage on Ricky from cuts alone in the 9 th or 10th round, just for fun sake, as I am betting they will handpick their ref if possible.

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Originally Posted by Baynezee

Don't post often but when people are comparing Hatton to Gatti i got to speak. Hatton is so much more than a Gatti.

No doubt Mayweather has the skills and defensive work and if had a bet thats were the money would go!

BUT

If Hatton can get amongst him cut the ring off and give those ribs a good tickle i think he has as good a chance as any of getting something out of Floyd.

And we might actually see Pretty Boy in a fight that we will remember! Can't deny for all his skills, my heart ain't stepped up one beat watching him fight.

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Well said fella ;)

Let it be known that I said that Hatton is an easier fight than Margarito, Cotto, even an old Mosley.

A lot of hatton fans seem to think that hatton is gonna just bully floyd to the ropes and work him over. sorry folks but almost every floyd opponent has tried that. the thing is that floyd has great ring generalmanship. he makes you fight his fight. thats that. People also seem to not notice that floyd is bigger than hatton in both height and reach and lets not firget hes way faster and far more technically skilled. all i can see is ricky getting jabbed and straight right handed as he comes in all day. people think he'll hurt floyd to the body but its a good chance that he never connects with anything meaningful to the body cause to get in he has to sell out and floyd will make him pay. floyd ud or 10th round stoppage.

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Originally Posted by MRMANICK

A lot of hatton fans seem to think that hatton is gonna just bully floyd to the ropes and work him over. sorry folks but almost every floyd opponent has tried that.

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I get in this argument all the time about fighters saying they're going to "bully Floyd to the ropes and work him over."
You're right, every opponent says they'll do it, and every opponent fails.

One of biggest misconceptions in boxing is that the way to beat a speed/defense fighter like Floyd is to barge in and try to bully them. This never works, because it gives a fighter like Floyd the chance to just back up and throw counters all night, while the opponent chases him all over the ring, wasting tons of energy and getting very little out of it.

The way to counteract a fighter like Floyd's speed is with a long jab. Similar to Vernon Forrest against Shane Mosley, Tommy Hearns during his fights with Leonard (he was way ahead on the cards before getting Ko'ed). The jab is what neutralizes speed, not bullying.

This is why Hatton is the exact opposite of the type of fighter who can give Floyd problems. Hatton is short, has short arms, and never jabs.

Still cant see this fight happening. We will all be disappointed.

Hatton is gonna beat the shit out of Mayweather. By the end of the fight he'll be ugly boy floyd

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

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Originally Posted by Bilbo

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm afraid I agree - can't see anyway Hatton, could win unless he somehow managed to just smother Floyd and steal a decision - aint gonna happen. Floyd will do the same as he did to Gatti imo

:'(

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I see it the same. Even as a Brit I'd be rooting for Floyd to win this. He's just such an exciting defensive genuis that I would always root for him over the ugly mauling clinch style of Hatton even if I was Matthew.

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Whats exciting about Floyds hit and run style? Hatton's fights are plenty more exciting. I'm not criticizing Floyd. He's extremely skillful and quick, but more exciting than Ricky? You must be taking the piss.

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More exciting, yes, more skillful, no.

Skill beats excitement, ask Gatti.

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Originally Posted by paddy448

im amazed at how many people think floyd will win so convincingly. hatton can beat floyd. why do people think floyd is superman. hatton is a complete animal in that ring. people who have followed his career will no this and have faith coz u no what he can do. hatton is a warrior thru and thru he will give floyd hell. it makes me laugh how floyds manager that leonard prick says hatton will get knocked out early if they fought. is this the same floyd that was meant to stand and trade with oscar and go to war. floyd will hit and run like the mouthy little S*** he is if he fights hatton. he aint no warrior hes a phoney little punk. hatton by stoppage or ud

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Couldnt put it better myself my man. Anyone that thinks that PBF will KO Hatton has took to many punches to the head. The only way PBF beats Hatton is to run for 12 rounds ,defend and counter like he did against ODLH, apart from when he did kind of go toe to toe with Oscar in the last 10 seconds of the fight.

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Ricky will have 10's of thousands of fans and a whole country cheering him on come fight nite... but sadly it wont be enough. Mayweather will be as ferocious as the nite he demolished Gatt  :-\

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Or was Gatti just too limited and fought a stupid fight?  ;)

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Nope, Like Mr Manick and SweetPea said already.... Bulling Mayweather is not the answer.. Ricky has good hand speed, Floyd has Excellent. Ricky will have to sell out to get in, and Floyd will tear him apart for that, Ricky will be eating straight rights and leaping left hooks....

Ricky is good people and fun to watch a real likeable chap who I find my self rooting for but I'm a Floyd Mayweather fan 1st and foremost and I'm not picking him to win out out of blind fandom, Floyd is just on a whole other plain when it comes to ability and execution.. Ricky dosent stand a chance in this fight  ;)