Hatton to give up IBF belt

[timdalefan]

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.

[skel1983]

Just beat you to it !!

[timdalefan]

haha. its too early in the morning for rapid copy and pasting

[Snakey]

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!

[skel1983]

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!

Yawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think im falling asleep.

[Wacko3205]

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.

[El Gamo]

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxing_fo...c,28853.0.html

Already been posted Wack, You been drinking again?

[gogs67]

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

been there!