Hatton poised for Urkal defence

[Poom]

By Ben Dirs
ky Hatton is set to fight Germany's Oktay Urkal next after a mooted clash with Jose Luis Castillo fell through.

Castillo's bout with WBC lightweight champion Diego Corrales was called off after Castillo came in overweight, and the Mexican may now face legal action.

"We have an agreement to fight Oktay Urkal, who is the mandatory contender for Ricky's WBA welterweight belt," promoter Dennis Hobson told BBC Sport.

"We're not waiting about for court cases and suspensions."

Castillo also failed to make the weight before his second fight with Corrales last October, when Corrales agreed to a non-title bout and was knocked out.

The Mexican could receive a ban, a fine and probably faces lawsuits - and his clash with WBO light welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in November could be in jeopardy.

"We spoke to (promoter) Bob Arum and he's trying to resolve the issues with Castillo but we want a quick solution," said Hobson.

"Maybe they'll suspend him or they may just let him fight at light welterweight.

"But Urkal's on the table and Ricky wants to get along with his career."

Hatton had been expected to move back down to light welterweight after winning the WBA welterweight crown in unconvincing fashion from Luis Collazo last month.

Urkal holds the European light welterweight title but is not a big name in America.

However, he has fought former WBA light welterweight champion Vivian Harris twice, as well as Kostya Tszyu, the former undisputed champion at 140lbs.

Hobson and Hatton were supposed to be ringside in Las Vegas to watch Castillo fight Corrales, but the Sheffield promoter did not consider it a wasted trip.

"We laid foundations and had talks, and the hotels and casinos are hot to trot with regards future fights," said Hobson.

"And a big plus was to see how popular Ricky is - people were clamouring for him."

[AdamGB]

you sort of posted 2 storys there... :P

[Poom]

you sort of posted 2 storys there... :P

sorry fixed now to as it is on the BBC website

[Gandalf]

i think hatton beat collazo, but the fight was very close.....wouldnt it be a better idea for hatton to fight collazo in a rematch than take this though? after all collazo was champ and to lose by a margin that close has meant rematches before. didnt PBF rematch castillo?

urkal is unknown and is not a super fight that the hatton camp has talked of wanting....i was willing for hatton to fight the winner of castillo: corrales, but this clouds my views completely....

if the collazo fight was an off night then why not address the controversy? fighting urkal is a step back IMO....

[Boeing787]

i'd have to agree that this would be a step back if hatton took a fight with Urkal!

If castillo's fight with cotto is in jeopardy then how about hattin vs Cotto at MSG in November instead

[Gandalf]

i'd have to agree that this would be a step back if hatton took a fight with Urkal!

If castillo's fight with cotto is in jeopardy then how about hattin vs Cotto at MSG in November instead

very good, idea. that would be a big fight....

if hatton wants only 6 more fights before retiring then urkal is really just a waste of time....urkal should be irrelevant in the the final evolvement of this career....

[ono]

I know but its a question of keepin his title. Maybe he wil rematch Collazo after he gets his mandatory out of the way.

[Purist]

Vivian Harris already beat this guy one sidedly twice and knocked him out the second time

[littlebif]

Fought Hatton wanted the big names at 147 or at 140lb.I agree its a step backwards!

[ono]

It is a big step backwards but i'm sure he wants to keep his belt. He took a lot of punches to get this belt so he's not likely to vacate it just yet. Its not his fault the WBA rank Urkal so highly. I think hatton wil rematch Collazo once he gets Urkal out of the way.....which he should do very easily.

[Kev]

Fought Hatton wanted the big names at 147 or at 140lb.I agree its a step backwards!

It's a mandatory. He's just had 3 fights for 3 different world titles, it's only fair he has to make at least one obligatory defense.

Personally I think it's good that there are sanctions to enforce champions defend against their mandatories. Ok so it may seem like a temporary step back for Hatton but to just dismiss mandatory title defenses devalues the belts and ultimately the sport.

Plus Ricky deserves a slightly easier ride after 3 hard fights.

[Gandalf]

Vivian Harris already beat this guy one sidedly twice and knocked him out the second time

im coming around to thinking that a rematch with collazo would be the best option. im a hatton fan but if it would make the doubters happy, then so be it....

if hatton is as good as is suggested then he should fight collazo and beat him well....

if he cant do it, then no excuses from miles....at least be the gentleman, ricky....

urkal is not realistic opposition, dump the belt if need be....

[littlebif]

Fought Hatton wanted the big names at 147 or at 140lb.I agree its a step backwards!

It's a mandatory. He's just had 3 fights for 3 different world titles, it's only fair he has to make at least one obligatory defense.

Personally I think it's good that there are sanctions to enforce champions defend against their mandatories. Ok so it may seem like a temporary step back for Hatton but to just dismiss mandatory title defenses devalues the belts and ultimately the sport.

Plus Ricky deserves a slightly easier ride after 3 hard fights.

He keeps on saying that he wants the super fights but this is no super fight is it?
He should he moving back down not stopping up at welter.If Collazo was a big puncher Hatton would of been ko'ed.If he faces a big puncher he will be in trouble!

[Gandalf]

Fought Hatton wanted the big names at 147 or at 140lb.I agree its a step backwards!

It's a mandatory. He's just had 3 fights for 3 different world titles, it's only fair he has to make at least one obligatory defense.

Personally I think it's good that there are sanctions to enforce champions defend against their mandatories. Ok so it may seem like a temporary step back for Hatton but to just dismiss mandatory title defenses devalues the belts and ultimately the sport.

Plus Ricky deserves a slightly easier ride after 3 hard fights.

He keeps on saying that he wants the super fights but this is no super fight is it?
He should he moving back down not stopping up at welter.If Collazo was a big puncher Hatton would of been ko'ed.If he faces a big puncher he will be in trouble!

exactly. step down a while but fight 3 or 4 fights a year...otherwise keep it real...

urkal is not keeping it real....

[albsur2006]

i'd have to agree that this would be a step back if hatton took a fight with Urkal!

If castillo's fight with cotto is in jeopardy then how about hattin vs Cotto at MSG in November instead

I don't think Cotto will fight a big name until 2007. Cotto will fight Paulie and then probably fight Harris or something like that and then fight megafights next year. Hatton, on the other hand, needs to fight big fights @ 147 with low-mid risk. If he wants a big fight, he should fight...ZAB JUDAH!!! Judah will fight anybody to make money, the only problem making the fight might be Hatton is with HBO and Judah is basically with Showtime. It would be a great fight and considering how body shots from PBF dismantled Judah imagine what Hatton could do.

Here are my five best options for Hatton (business and respectwise):

5. Hatton vs Tszyu II
4. Hatton vs Castillo
3. Hatton vs Collazo II
2. Hatton vs Cotto (140)
1. Hatton vs Judah (it makes perfect sense for Ricky, unless he gets caught and KTFO)