Uranga-Castillo and Mayweather in 2007 for Ricky?

[skel1983]

HATTON: I WANT TO BE THE BEST POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTER ON THE PLANET
David Anderson
RICKY HATTON has revealed his plans for world domination in 2007.

Hatton is eyeing up three world title fights next year with the aim of being crowned the best pound-for-pound fighter in the business.

The unbeaten Mancunian will begin his campaign of conquest by dropping down 7lbs to challenge Colombian Juan Urango for his old IBF light-welterweight crown in Atlanta on January 13.


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Then he has agreed to face Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in his first defence in June before a possible shot at the undefeated Floyd Mayweather - regarded as No.1 in the pound-for-pound rankings - before the end of the year.


"That's my aim now, to climb the pound-for-pound ratings and be regarded as the No.1 in the world," said the shaven-headed Hatton, who has had his hair cut off for a cancer charity.


"I'm disappointed I won't fight again this year, but HBO have guaranteed me three fights in 2007.


"I'm going back down to 10 stone and I don't think anybody can live with me at that weight from a physical strength point of view. First up is Urango and my old IBF belt. That's no foregone conclusion and he's a southpaw, who's like a mini-Mike Tyson.


"But I expect to win and should I win, then I'll make my first defence against Castillo. He's above me in the pound-for-pound ratings so that would boost me if I could beat him.


"Then the obvious step forward for me will be Mayweather, who is recognised as the best operator in the world pound for pound."


That fight would probably be back up at welterweight at which Hatton struggled to beat Luis Collazo to claim the WBA crown in his last contest in May.


That doesn't worry Hatton and he's convinced he has the beating of four-weight world champion Mayweather at any division. "Although I accept that Mayweather is massively talented, he's never been tested by someone like me," he said.


"If he's going to beat me, he's got to have some serious firepower to keep me off and I don't think he could do that for all his talent. Mayweather wouldn't like my body shots, no-one in the world does, and they are what I would have to bring into play.


"He's got some great hand speed and some brilliant combinations, but I stand by my belief that if anyone can beat him, it's me. He may be ranked by all the best judges as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, but when I beat him they will have to think again. Maybe it will be the Hitman at the top of the pile!''


But first Hatton, who is 28 on Friday, must take care of the unbeaten Urango and he plans to be better prepared than he was when he faced Collazo in Boston - even if it means sacrificing his traditional Christmas festivities.


"Last time I only gave myself eight weeks to become a welterweight and looking back I know that wasn't long enough," he said.


"I only went out to Boston a week before the fight and that probably wasn't long enough either. This time I'll go out nearly three weeks before.


"It'll ruin Christmas, but Christmas is only three days and, anyway, every night is like New Year's Eve for me! "2007 is going to be a great year for me."


Mayweather beats Hatton for me thats my opinion at this moment in time, but i like the every night is liek New Yaears Eve for me, we could see that with your appearence on TV at the weekend!!

[Pugilistic]

i can see mayweather beating hatton too but you never know.

[Slacker]

Hatton sounds like he has a plan. But to be honest, I dont think Mayweather's gonna come down in weight to fight Hatton. As much as I'd love to see this fight happen it's slowly becoming less of a probability due to the choices of Hatton and Mayweather. One fighter's going up and the other's going down and, Hatton pricing himself out.

But you know, it sounds like he has a plan if he does it, it could be a possibility that Floyd has some reason to go down and fight him.

[skel1983]

Hatton sounds like he has a plan. But to be honest, I dont think Mayweather's gonna come down in weight to fight Hatton. As much as I'd love to see this fight happen it's slowly becoming less of a probability due to the choices of Hatton and Mayweather. One fighter's going up and the other's going down and, Hatton pricing himself out.

But you know, it sounds like he has a plan if he does it, it could be a possibility that Floyd has some reason to go down and fight him.

I know what you mean, but saying that if Hatton puts on a top class performance against Castillo, i think the fight can be made at 147, we have to remember Mayweather aint a 147 fighter either he came into the ring at 147 against Judah, but i fancy Mayweather to beat him but it all depends on the Castillo fight for me, if he KO'S Castillo in decent fashion it should be made with the two fighters being HBO boys.

[Slacker]

Hatton sounds like he has a plan. But to be honest, I dont think Mayweather's gonna come down in weight to fight Hatton. As much as I'd love to see this fight happen it's slowly becoming less of a probability due to the choices of Hatton and Mayweather. One fighter's going up and the other's going down and, Hatton pricing himself out.

But you know, it sounds like he has a plan if he does it, it could be a possibility that Floyd has some reason to go down and fight him.

I know what you mean, but saying that if Hatton puts on a top class performance against Castillo, i think the fight can be made at 147, we have to remember Mayweather aint a 147 fighter either he came into the ring at 147 against Judah, but i fancy Mayweather to beat him but it all depends on the Castillo fight for me, if he KO'S Castillo in decent fashion it should be made with the two fighters being HBO boys.

Good point but Mayweather has much more incentive to go up to 154 whether he's effective or not. Because thats where the money is at. If he goes up he can fight De La Hoya, Shane, etc. But to be honest I don't think that's gonna happen either. Floyd just flirts with the idea of super fights and he's flirting with the stud of super fights and thats de la hoya. He's playing mind games with the fans.

[shza]

Hatton sounds like he has a plan. But to be honest, I dont think Mayweather's gonna come down in weight to fight Hatton. As much as I'd love to see this fight happen it's slowly becoming less of a probability due to the choices of Hatton and Mayweather. One fighter's going up and the other's going down and, Hatton pricing himself out.

But you know, it sounds like he has a plan if he does it, it could be a possibility that Floyd has some reason to go down and fight him.

I know what you mean, but saying that if Hatton puts on a top class performance against Castillo, i think the fight can be made at 147, we have to remember Mayweather aint a 147 fighter either he came into the ring at 147 against Judah, but i fancy Mayweather to beat him but it all depends on the Castillo fight for me, if he KO'S Castillo in decent fashion it should be made with the two fighters being HBO boys.

Good point but Mayweather has much more incentive to go up to 154 whether he's effective or not. Because thats where the money is at. If he goes up he can fight De La Hoya, Shane, etc. But to be honest I don't think that's gonna happen either. Floyd just flirts with the idea of super fights and he's flirting with the stud of super fights and thats de la hoya. He's playing mind games with the fans.

Shane's coming back down to 147, as he's said for a while now. Agreed that Floyd will go up to 154 if he can't get a catch-weight with Oscar, but aside from Oscar, the fights are much bigger at 147. (One can only hope he's not serious about fighting Winky, who's weighed in at around 170 his last couple fights.)

[El Gamo]

I tell you,if Hatton can beat Castillo and can beat Corrales,PBF WILL fight him. It'll be probably be at 147,I don't see Floyd coming back to 140 although if Hatton could do that,he would give himself more of an advantage. I think Hatton should unify,beat the above 2 and call out PBF,lose and retire Naaa,It'd be a very close fight but I think Floyd wins.

[killersheep]

seems to me that Ricky is looking too far ahead, IMO boxer's should only think about their next fight.

[aangel]

seems to me that Ricky is looking too far ahead, IMO boxer's should only think about their next fight.

I agree, he needs to beat Urango, and then make the fight with Castillo, wich is not an easy fight for Hatton, he is jumping the gun way too soon.

[Slacker]

Yeah a perfect example of that is when Morales fought Zahir Raheem. He was looking at Pacman and thats when things went rancid for him.

[El Gamo]

LMAO,I was jumping ahead too,lol. You guys are right,Hatton needs to focus on the job at hand,heck could the close fight with Collazo been because of over looking Collazo?

[Tam Seddon]

seems to me that Ricky is looking too far ahead, IMO boxer's should only think about their next fight.

aint sure if he was looking over him greg i just think he wants to draw us in and rememeber how good hatton was...........rememeber when hatton-floyd was nearly a done deal? well he wants to put himself back in the light by makeing statements like this! fair play to him and i hope he can do it........hatton floyd would be good at 140 but better at 147! more power punches

[killersheep]

seems to me that Ricky is looking too far ahead, IMO boxer's should only think about their next fight.

aint sure if he was looking over him greg i just think he wants to draw us in and rememeber how good hatton was...........rememeber when hatton-floyd was nearly a done deal? well he wants to put himself back in the light by makeing statements like this! fair play to him and i hope he can do it........hatton floyd would be good at 140 but better at 147! more power punches

Believe me I hope only good things for Ricky he's a real stand-up guy, I just can't remember that last time hearing a boxer say "I'm gonna beat person X, then Y, then Z and actually having it happen that way. There are way too many variables.

1) Urango pulls a huge upset (not likely, but possible none the less)
2) Castillo comes in at 185 and fails to make weight. (More likely)
3) Castillo Beats Hatton (Very possible)
4) Floyd moves up in weight (Extremely possible)
5) Floyd loses before Hatton gets to him (depending on PBF's competition could be a possibility)

Those are just some things that I pulled off of the top of my head. Believe me, at this point it is in Ricky's best interest to focus on Urango.

[Tam Seddon]

seems to me that Ricky is looking too far ahead, IMO boxer's should only think about their next fight.

aint sure if he was looking over him greg i just think he wants to draw us in and rememeber how good hatton was...........rememeber when hatton-floyd was nearly a done deal? well he wants to put himself back in the light by makeing statements like this! fair play to him and i hope he can do it........hatton floyd would be good at 140 but better at 147! more power punches

Believe me I hope only good things for Ricky he's a real stand-up guy, I just can't remember that last time hearing a boxer say "I'm gonna beat person X, then Y, then Z and actually having it happen that way. There are way too many variables.

1) Urango pulls a huge upset (not likely, but possible none the less)
2) Castillo comes in at 185 and fails to make weight. (More likely)
3) Castillo Beats Hatton (Very possible)
4) Floyd moves up in weight (Extremely possible)
5) Floyd loses before Hatton gets to him (depending on PBF's competition could be a possibility)

Those are just some things that I pulled off of the top of my head. Believe me, at this point it is in Ricky's best interest to focus on Urango.

good points here greg cc for you! i only disagree with option number 2........i really dont think that castillo would risk doing that again...........to my knowledge wasnt his last fight at 140? did he struggle makeing the weight? but as for urango he aint done much dont know what he is like! will have to see.......i dont think floyd would want hatton tbh!

[Majesty]

Why isn't Hatton fighting Collazo again?