Hatton's long road back

[Greig]

Ricky is a guy who, after he beat Kostya Tszyu, I tipped would go down as one of the finest 140 pounders in history along with Pryor, Chavez and Tszyu.

Now at the age of 29 he has suffered a pretty brutal KO and I'm sure his confidence would have been shaken a bit. Tszyu was the same age when he was KO'd by Vince Phillips and he came back to rule the division for another 6 years.

I think Ricky can come back and dominate but I think he's going to find it harder than Kostya did.

Hatton has just staged one of the biggest fights in history and has earned sensational money in his career thus far. Tszyu hadn't, at the time of his stoppage loss to Phillips Tszyu was largely unknown except among hard core fans of the sport, and his purses were reflective of that. I think it will be hard for Ricky to go back and find the motivation needed to fight Junior Witter or Gavin Rees at this stage of his career, and I honestly don't think his frame can handle more fights at 147 - which is the only place where I can see those megabucks fights happening.

Ricky has always said that he wouldn't give Witter a shot, but now I think it's the only winnable 'super fight' ($$$) out there for him.

Thoughts?

[Dark Lord Al]

Hatton was 145 lbs for the Floyd fight , so the long road is 5 lbs back to the LWW.
Hatton fought out of his weight againest the best fighter in boxing , i dont think his confidence will have suffered to much.

[Greig]

My point was that after this fight he may have some serious motivation problems.


Instead of Cotto or DLH, he's thinking about Gavin Rees or Junior Witter or fucking Malignaggi.


It's got to be hard to take that kind of pay cut.

[Tam Seddon]

My point was that after this fight he may have some serious motivation problems.


Instead of Cotto or DLH, he's thinking about Gavin Rees or Junior Witter or F****** Malignaggi.


It's got to be hard to take that kind of pay cut.

yer i undestand what your saying, its a shame really because the 140 devision just doesnt have any appeal to it anymore. I just hope he could fight cotto that would get him motivated again.

[Kev]

I really think the best plan out there for Hatton would be to firstly win back a world title at light welter, a fight in the US against Ricardo Torres would be a great relatively low risk fight but some good HBO exposure, Torres being still highly regarded for decking Cotto.

The fact that Torres is actually S*** is a point only known to hardcore fans so this fight would still prove an attraction to the rank and file of HBO viewers.

After he's got that belt I'd say he should call out Juan Diaz. Diaz is even more of a pressure fighter than Hatton, with the added bonus being that he doesn't hold so this should have the makings of a great fight.

Beyond that I'd say that a fight with Manny Pacquiao isn't outside the realms of possibility. There are both the same height and the Pacman walks into most of his fights over 140 these days.

Certainly it's in the same ballpark as Hatton De La Hoya which seems to be on the cards.

Finally if Hatton is still around in 2009 dare I mention the word's Amir Khan?

[Greig]

I think we are agreed that 140 is the best place for him.

And yes Bilbo, I didn't compute Juan Diaz into my calculations. That would be a great fight, even if it wouldn't have the universal appeal of Floyd/Ricky.

[ono]

It would be awesome if he fought Pacman or Baby Bull.

The idea aint any crazier then the idea of fighting ODLH.

Maybe he just needs to keep busy and try and entice either one of them two up......or both

[Tysonbruno]

Ive just been on Boxrec and they have changed number1 lightwelter from Hatton to Witter thats abit unfair not that Boxrec rating matter.

[Kev]

Ive just been on Boxrec and they have changed number1 lightwelter from Hatton to Witter thats abit unfair not that Boxrec rating matter.

I bet Junior got a wry smile when he saw that though.

Seriously I bet he was cheering Floyd on like a mutha fucka!

[Mikkel_K]

Ive just been on Boxrec and they have changed number1 lightwelter from Hatton to Witter thats abit unfair not that Boxrec rating matter.

They always put the fighter in at hist latest fighting weight. Unfair perhaps, but it makes sense in a computerized system where there should be little room for subjective placements.

Hatton therefore is boxrec's number 3 welterweight (I just checked), ahead of Mosley, Williams, Cintron and Margarito respectively. Thats a bit unfair as well!

(Hatton can complain though that the likes of Witter and Clinton Woods all rate higher than him on bioxrec's p4p-list).

Speaking of boxrec's lightwelter ratings - how did D-Hop ever make it 'till number 2?

[Tysonbruno]

Hatton was number 1 yesterday though

[Bomp]

It's up to Hatton, if he wants a succesful future, it's at 140, if he wants a very risky crack at glory, it's at 147.

He doesn't have very long left either way IMO, maybe a couple of years due to his style at the very top. But I agree, it's probably the prospect of the lighter fighters coming up the most likely way for another huge fight, and as you said, he needs the prospect of huge fight on the horizon as motivation to get up for the likes of Malignaggi/Witter which are loseable fights themselves even with a lot of hunger still left.

[Mikkel_K]

Hatton was number 1 yesterday though

Then they hadn't updated the rankings yet.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I feel Ricky will be motivated by the loss. The legacy he has worked for has been slightly tarnished so i think he fels he must work twice as hard tio regain respect.

[LEGION]

Ricky will be motivated to beat his next opponent as bad as Mayweather did him. There is no shame in losing to the recognized p4p #1, though it has to hurt his pride to know he got ko'd by a turnbuckle

Juan Diaz/Hatton is a fight I'd dearly like to see one day, but for now Malinaggi and Witter will suffice, hopefully both next year. Paulie will be tough for Hatton, as he is durable and very slick, and I wouldn't say it's a foregone conclusion Hatton can beat him.

140 is where he belongs, and between Floyd's left hook and humping the turnbuckle, I think Ricky is aware of that now