Hatton fight just a week away. Thoughts?

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 12:40 PM

I cannot deny that I am quite excited about Hatton's return to the ring. The last time we saw him was horrible and I don't mind admitting that the whole experience put a tear in my eye, but this is a chance for redemption and a win here would put a lot of ghosts to bed. Not just for Hatton, but also for many fans who were likely traumatised by the entire Pacquiao evening. I really hope Hatton can pull this off.

In seeing his latest interview, I see Hatton is sporting a shiner and a rather roughed up neck. Hopefully a sign that he is being punched hard and is not being phased
by it. For me I am curious most of all about Hattons stamina, footwork and speed. You only had to look at Morales in his comeback to see how you slow and Hatton relied on that awesome footspeed and energy an awful lot. It would be tough to see him slow and look weathered after 6. Hopefully that won't be the case and Hatton is true to his word.

Any evolving thoughts?

**ross** · 11-15-2012 12:49 PM

I was also going to mention the black eye. Saw that on boxingscene yesterday, along with a picture of him taking a shot on the nose from the guy taking him on the pads!

Getting hit square in the face in a media workout to me is more worrying than having a black eye from competative sparring.

I think Morales looking slower was more to do with being in a higher weight class.

This has disaster written all over it!

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 12:53 PM

I haven't seen that, will have to check it out. Hatton is looking a bit gaunt now too, but he always has this close to a fight and let's face it, he wasn't small when he started the weight loss, even if it was several months ago.

**ross** · 11-15-2012 12:57 PM

Check the second picture down...

Photos: Ricky Hatton is Shredded and Ready For a War! - Boxing News

On its own, you could say well you do get hit in sparring but its not sparring, its some bloke in his 50's doing pads and throwing the odd shot back, that ahatton should be able to predict after doing so many rounds.

With it also being a media workout, youd think hed try showing off a bit.

**TitoFan** · 11-15-2012 12:59 PM

I saw a very good, very candid interview. You can't fault Hatton for wanting to come back and end his career in a better way than he did against Pacquaio, for not wanting that to be his last memory of the sport. But looking beyond boxing, you have to hope that once the boxing is truly over, that he does not return to the suicidal, cocaine-snorting ways of the past. He's geniuinely likeable, and one has to believe he can have a very successful career as a coach of young fighters. As for the comeback itself, I wouldn't set my expectations too high, and the danger remains that he might once again become deluded and/or misled into thinking he can hang with the "big boys" again. Those days are clearly over. Physically he's definitely in shape, although I couldn't help noticing that he looks a bit haggard. That may be due to the constant ups and downs in his weight, or it may be due in part to some of the off-the-ring struggles he's had.

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 01:02 PM

I wouldn't read too much into a single photograph. Every fighter gets hit and Hatton has never been Mr Slick. Physically he looks a lot better in the photos than the interview.

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw a very good, very candid interview. You can't fault Hatton for wanting to come back and end his career in a better way than he did against Pacquaio, for not wanting that to be his last memory of the sport. But looking beyond boxing, you have to hope that once the boxing is truly over, that he does not return to the suicidal, cocaine-snorting ways of the past. He's geniuinely likeable, and one has to believe he can have a very successful career as a coach of young fighters. As for the comeback itself, I wouldn't set my expectations too high, and the danger remains that he might once again become deluded and/or misled into thinking he can hang with the "big boys" again. Those days are clearly over. Physically he's definitely in shape, although I couldn't help noticing that he looks a bit haggard. That may be due to the constant ups and downs in his weight, or it may be due in part to some of the off-the-ring struggles he's had.

As a fan I would be delighted if he could just pull off a win here and then call it a day with pride intact. This is a comeback fight off of 3 years out and his opponent isn't a novice. If the footwork and stamina is intact then I would like to see him stop Malignaggi and really then possibly put it to rest. Hatton's good footwork was what Paulie couldn't handle. If the footwork and tenacity has slipped though Hatton will need to curb his hopes and end it here. Like you say though, Hatton builds it all up and already he has mentioned Mayweather and Pacquiao. I wince when I hear that. Baby steps first, Ricky. We don't know what he has and until this fight is done Hatton is only guessing himself. He isn't shy of making grand statements.

**erics44** · 11-15-2012 01:32 PM

his punch resistance is a worry

and he's gonna get hit, thats what makes the fight exciting for me

**TitoFan** · 11-15-2012 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Gandalf

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw a very good, very candid interview. You can't fault Hatton for wanting to come back and end his career in a better way than he did against Pacquaio, for not wanting that to be his last memory of the sport. But looking beyond boxing, you have to hope that once the boxing is truly over, that he does not return to the suicidal, cocaine-snorting ways of the past. He's geniuinely likeable, and one has to believe he can have a very successful career as a coach of young fighters. As for the comeback itself, I wouldn't set my expectations too high, and the danger remains that he might once again become deluded and/or misled into thinking he can hang with the "big boys" again. Those days are clearly over. Physically he's definitely in shape, although I couldn't help noticing that he looks a bit haggard. That may be due to the constant ups and downs in his weight, or it may be due in part to some of the off-the-ring struggles he's had.

As a fan I would be delighted if he could just pull off a win here and then call it a day with pride intact. This is a comeback fight off of 3 years out and his opponent isn't a novice. If the footwork and stamina is intact then I would like to see him stop Malignaggi and really then possibly put it to rest. Hatton's good footwork was what Paulie couldn't handle. If the footwork and tenacity has slipped though Hatton will need to curb his hopes and end it here. Like you say though, Hatton builds it all up and already he has mentioned Mayweather and Pacquiao. I wince when I hear that. Baby steps first, Ricky. We don't know what he has and until this fight is done Hatton is only guessing himself. He isn't shy of making grand statements.

There's two "Ricky"s. There's the one who opens the interview by saying that... win, lose, or draw, he wants to look in the mirror and say he got himself in shape and gave it a go. That is the likeable, realistic Ricky who most people root for, because he's trying to get his life back in order.

The "other" Ricky, the one that is mentioning Pacquiao and Mayweather, is the deluded Ricky who apparently suffers from amnesia, and has forgotten the frightful KO he was handed by Pac in two rounds. I don't know whether it's him, or whether it's his team putting these things into his head. But this is the side of Ricky I definitely don't root for. It reminds me of when he claimed to be fighting for the world's p4p (against Pac). He wasn't... and that was proven soon enough. It's ok to be confident, but you have to have a sense of reality.

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by TitoFan

Originally Posted by Gandalf

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw a very good, very candid interview. You can't fault Hatton for wanting to come back and end his career in a better way than he did against Pacquaio, for not wanting that to be his last memory of the sport. But looking beyond boxing, you have to hope that once the boxing is truly over, that he does not return to the suicidal, cocaine-snorting ways of the past. He's geniuinely likeable, and one has to believe he can have a very successful career as a coach of young fighters. As for the comeback itself, I wouldn't set my expectations too high, and the danger remains that he might once again become deluded and/or misled into thinking he can hang with the "big boys" again. Those days are clearly over. Physically he's definitely in shape, although I couldn't help noticing that he looks a bit haggard. That may be due to the constant ups and downs in his weight, or it may be due in part to some of the off-the-ring struggles he's had.

As a fan I would be delighted if he could just pull off a win here and then call it a day with pride intact. This is a comeback fight off of 3 years out and his opponent isn't a novice. If the footwork and stamina is intact then I would like to see him stop Malignaggi and really then possibly put it to rest. Hatton's good footwork was what Paulie couldn't handle. If the footwork and tenacity has slipped though Hatton will need to curb his hopes and end it here. Like you say though, Hatton builds it all up and already he has mentioned Mayweather and Pacquiao. I wince when I hear that. Baby steps first, Ricky. We don't know what he has and until this fight is done Hatton is only guessing himself. He isn't shy of making grand statements.

There's two "Ricky"s. There's the one who opens the interview by saying that... win, lose, or draw, he wants to look in the mirror and say he got himself in shape and gave it a go. That is the likeable, realistic Ricky who most people root for, because he's trying to get his life back in order.

The "other" Ricky, the one that is mentioning Pacquiao and Mayweather, is the deluded Ricky who apparently suffers from amnesia, and has forgotten the frightful KO he was handed by Pac in two rounds. I don't know whether it's him, or whether it's his team putting these things into his head. But this is the side of Ricky I definitely don't root for. It reminds me of when he claimed to be fighting for the world's p4p (against Pac). He wasn't... and that was proven soon enough. It's ok to be confident, but you have to have a sense of reality.

That is very true. There do seem to be two voices coming out of him and sometimes in a single interview. It could be team talk like you say, but it could also be a former world champion who got knocked for six. One minute he has no higher hopes than just coming back, but the next he is bigging up potential fights with former conquerors. It's a bit odd. There are definitely multiple sides to Hatton that will come out in a few minutes of one another.

**Beanz** · 11-15-2012 01:52 PM

Can't wait. Until that first round everything is speculation and not until then will we, or even Ricky himself really know what the potential of his comeback entails. It's a good test and an entirely understandable opportunity that he is grasping. Good Luck Ricky

**Gandalf** · 11-15-2012 02:01 PM

Likewise, I am just buzzed about the whole thing too. I watch my boxing every weekend, but the Hatton comeback is much more significant than Mares, Bute and all of that other stuff we see every week.

Next weekend is an event and not just a check on the boxing calender. I just hope Hatton is in shape, hydrates well and gives us a quality showing.

**erics44** · 11-15-2012 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gandalf

Likewise, I am just buzzed about the whole thing too. I watch my boxing every weekend, but the Hatton comeback is much more significant than Mares, Bute and all of that other stuff we see every week.

Next weekend is an event and not just a check on the boxing calender. I just hope Hatton is in shape, hydrates well and gives us a quality showing.

im as excited about it as you mate

think theres a chance of inactivity creating an anti climax?

**Beanflicker** · 11-15-2012 05:29 PM

I don't care if he wins or loses, I just hope he doesn't go out and embarrass himself.

**bzkfn** · 11-15-2012 05:38 PM

I'm worried he'll get flattened to be honest. I don't think Ricky has it any more and I think it's a terrible idea to come back just as I thought fighting Pacquiao was a bad decision. The guy is one of my favourite fighters of all time so I hope he proves me wrong but I don't see it happening.