Some thoughts on Hatton.

[donnydarkoIRL]

It's a definite possbility at his age

However, I feel he could actually elongate his career by returning to his old style.

The mugging style does not work against everybody and I feel it could actually be exploited by Malignaggi

[ono]

The best i have seen Hatton (since the Kostya fight) was the 1st 6 rounds against Urango.

That's how he used to fight. He was very good. Ok Urango is limited but he was the champion and he was dangerous with his strength and power.

I just feel that he has been weary of his opponents power at world class level. That's why he has altered his style.

He's just closed the distance as quickly as possible which has led to a lot of tying up and holding.

This is for 2 reasons i believe

A) He doesn't want to stand off against more skilled fighters (collazo, mayweather)

B) He's wary of his opponents power and doesn't want them to get any leverage on their punches (Tszyu, Urango, Castillo)


While he's still fighting world class fighters, we won't see the old Hitman which is a shame because the old Hitman was a better fighter imo.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I agree about the first six rounds Ono.

I believe however, they've adopted the new strategy saying "it worked against Tszyu."
However styles make fights and this means the tactic will have varying levels of usefullness in each fight with each unique opponent.

I can't tell you how happy I was during the Urango fight "Yes Rickys back on form!" but then he dredged it out in the trenches

What I'm not sure Graham realises is that with that style, the physical demands are greater as he uses every ounce of muscle he has, and he is also shortening Hatton's career

[ono]

I agree about the first six rounds Ono.

I believe however, they've adopted the new strategy saying "it worked against Tszyu."
However styles make fights and this means the tactic will have varying levels of usefullness in each fight with each unique opponent.

I can't tell you how happy I was during the Urango fight "Yes Rickys back on form!" but then he dredged it out in the trenches

What I'm not sure Graham realises is that with that style, the physical demands are greater as he uses every ounce of muscle he has, and he is also shortening Hatton's career

Yeh i agree with what you're saying. Especially the bit in bold. In the Tszyu fight they primarily looked to close the distance as quickly as possible. He was wary of getting caught in no man's land.*

He hasn't changed his gameplan really in any fight since then (other than the 1st 6 against Urango). This was especially evident against Mayweather. Hatton's speed actually surprised Mayweather and it allowed him to close the distance and cut off the ring quite easily. Trouble was, it looked like they hadn't devised a plan of what to do once he got inside.

He kept throwing a straight right which was going over Mayweather's head (as he was ducking down below his waist - which is illegal). He kept missing with it, but he still kept throwing it. Everytime he threw it, they would end up clinching, Mayweather would mug him, push him off and then open up. This lead to Hatton being caught in 'no-man's land.'*

Thing is, we are going to see the same thing against Lazcano. Fortunately Lazcano won't be good enough to take advantage of it.



* By 'no-man's land' i actually mean standing in range directly in front of his opponent (but standing too far away to hit and hold)

[donnydarkoIRL]

Completely agree Ono!

It was the perfect blueprint for beating Tszyu, but as with Ali and the rope a dope and it's use against Foreman, its not perfect for every fight; as Ali found out against the much more acute punching Frazier.

Against Maywether, Hatton's aggresive boxing could have been far more effective, if he got inside Mayweather's reach and used his own flurries. Instead he walked straight into the best fighter in the world.

I'm not dissing my favourite fighter, I'm just hoping for his own sake, he uses his own old style against Lazcano, in order to make the job easier on himself and perhaps allow him a few extra fights in the long run.

[Gandalf]

The best i have seen Hatton (since the Kostya fight) was the 1st 6 rounds against Urango.

That's how he used to fight. He was very good. Ok Urango is limited but he was the champion and he was dangerous with his strength and power.

I just feel that he has been weary of his opponents power at world class level. That's why he has altered his style.

He's just closed the distance as quickly as possible which has led to a lot of tying up and holding.

This is for 2 reasons i believe

A) He doesn't want to stand off against more skilled fighters (collazo, mayweather)

B) He's wary of his opponents power and doesn't want them to get any leverage on their punches (Tszyu, Urango, Castillo)


While he's still fighting world class fighters, we won't see the old Hitman which is a shame because the old Hitman was a better fighter imo.

I agree that Hatton looked wonderful in the first 6. He was boxing beautifully. Nice combinations, not looking to mug his way on the inside. The Kostya fight was great but very ugly. It was a case of it being the right fight for that situation though. Hatton has blown cold more often than not since Kostya. It could have been much better with the correct approach ie self discipline and realising that a boxing career is finite and there is plenty of time to eat bacon butties when its over! Of course, he trained hard for Floyd, but I dont think the strategy was there at all really....on reflection.

Reflection should be a key aspect to any comeback off of a knockout loss. And I hope Ricky is able to do that. Of course, I will support Ricky in his fights and this is one he should win with ease. It would be nice to see an evolution or development of some sort though because any step back into the big time afterwards will demand it.

[donnydarkoIRL]

If Ricky can return, within a renewed focus toward boxing carefully, he could elongate his career as Barrera did.

[Majesty]

There comes a point in every trainers career where they stop trying to make their fighters improve and just train them at what they are good at and count on their talent to do the rest. But hatton can't switch trainers so.

[Bukom Battler]

It was reported that Macklin did go to Mayweather although he may now be with McGirt.

[X]

Good thread.

I always thought of Hatton as a sort of Barry McGuigan type fighter - solid, honest pro, very good going forward, good offensive arsenal, lots of heart - but he can't alter his style easily (not many can!) and I genuinely disapprove of his lack of professionalism in ballooning in weight between fights ... if you are a pro fighter, you should be a full-time pro fighter - like Hopkins, Hagler etc - and not just a 'binge trainer'?

I rate Hatton as a world class, very very good fighter indeed ..... but not a 'great' fighter.

Good bloke though - and I really can;t see him ending up as one of boxing's tragedies?

[JLAQ]

Hatton is a great fighter. Thing is, he just couldn't handle sharp elbows. I don't blame him though.

[littlebif]

Hatton is a great fighter. Thing is, he just couldn't handle sharp elbows. I don't blame him though.

Even if floyd wasnt using his elbows he would of still won.I feel it would of been abit closer if Hatton was alowed to work on the inside but PBF would of still won.

The rematch might be abit different cause in uk he will be aloud to get on the inside but i still see Floyd winning.

[JLAQ]

Hatton is a great fighter. Thing is, he just couldn't handle sharp elbows. I don't blame him though.

Even if floyd wasnt using his elbows he would of still won.I feel it would of been abit closer if Hatton was alowed to work on the inside but PBF would of still won.

The rematch might be abit different cause in uk he will be aloud to get on the inside but i still see Floyd winning.

No, Floyd's unbridled use of sharp elbows with the ref preventing Hatton from doing what he does best are very big factors that could very well change the outcome of a fight.

[littlebif]

Hatton was doing ok despite what PBF was getting away (even tho he never got a round on the judges cards which was harsh) untill he had a point deducted then Hatton lost his head and then Floyd took total control.

[Saddo]

The best i have seen Hatton (since the Kostya fight) was the 1st 6 rounds against Urango.

That's how he used to fight. He was very good. Ok Urango is limited but he was the champion and he was dangerous with his strength and power.

yeah i think the same mate Rick won nearly every round with both styles but he did say afterward he nearly had to go down on the knee as that shot ((body shot i think)) hit the mark with him and i guess thats why he done the hit and hold stuff because the only time Urango was catching him was on the way out so he stopped going out.

the Castillo fight was a classic and great win for Ricky but he took some scary shots in that one but with Castillo's weight issues i just wonder how good of a win that was with hinsight.

Bilbo brought up the point of it always coinsides with a step up in class and maybe that is the only way he can do it in the high levels and thats why he lost against Mayweather because of the ref not letting him do it....

but hey its made him a millionaire so its prob not a great idea to change anything that has brought him soo much success in the past

look what Manny Steward did to Naz's style... if it ain broke don't fix it