I agree with this chap about Hatton

[CutMeMick]

I bet Witter will still fight him...

[smashup]

Course he will mate and let's not forget that Witter has a title fight coming up against Alexander for the WBC title.

Mad thing is Khan has a much bigger profile than Witter ever will even now.

Us lot would give Hatton more respect if he could rip that title from Witter as opposed to taking the WBA belt from the Khan v Kotelnik winner.

And Witter beat Kotelnik a few years back on points anyway

Ricky could shut alot of people up by facing Witter (if he wins).

This is Juniors take on the Khan fight....

Speaking with Setanta Sports News recently, Junior gave his prediction for the upcoming fight.

"I think he'll [Khan] get beat quite convincingly," Witter stated. "It'd be good for British boxing if he can do it but, realistically, he's been knocked out by a decent puncher at lightweight and now he's moving up to light-welterweight, where people are bigger and hit harder.

"Kotelnik is not a one-punch specialist but he's very accurate and is good at his job. He studies opponents, finds weaknesses and exploits it. Amir Khan's weak spot is his chin."

[smashup]

I'm with Fenster as i do believe Ricky is finished and the Malignagi peformance was a mere charade that made him look good.
Ricky's punch resistance simply isn't there anymore and he'll get hurt again if he continues sadly.


Billy Grahams view here....


Afterwards Graham told Boxing News: "I picked him to win big but I picked the real Ricky Hatton and he's not there any more.
"It happens to all fighters. He's still one of the best fighters to come out of this country and there's no question he's been the best ambassador for boxing in this country. I think a peak Ricky Hatton would have beaten Manny Pacquiao but now, anyone who loves him will tell him to retire. I don't want to see him in a boxing ring again."
Graham admitted his pre-fight prediction went badly awry, saying: "I've just been proved wrong."
But he added: "But I haven't in reality because he's not the same person any more.

[smashup]

I'm with Fenster as i do believe Ricky is finished and the Malignagi peformance was a mere charade that made him look good and Malignagi is dog shit imo.

Ricky's punch resistance simply isn't there anymore and he'll get hurt again if he continues sadly.

I think we were kidding ourselves on Sat purely because it was our "Ricky" and he's in our hearts.

I say this in hindsight of course and when it was made remember thinking "Fuck... he (Ricky) is gonna get battered here but as the fight nears you tend to get sucked in with all the 24/7 stuff etc and convince yourself he's still got one last great fight in him

To be honest i think a lot of people are still a bit shocked at the way Pac put him to sleep so brutally.

I mean Hatton's been in with bigger hitters than Pac before which backs up the fact that he just can't take shots anymore.


Billy Grahams view here....


Afterwards Graham told Boxing News: "I picked him to win big but I picked the real Ricky Hatton and he's not there any more.
"It happens to all fighters. He's still one of the best fighters to come out of this country and there's no question he's been the best ambassador for boxing in this country. I think a peak Ricky Hatton would have beaten Manny Pacquiao but now, anyone who loves him will tell him to retire. I don't want to see him in a boxing ring again."
Graham admitted his pre-fight prediction went badly awry, saying: "I've just been proved wrong."
But he added: "But I haven't in reality because he's not the same person any more.[/quote]

[smashup]

Warren seems game too


"As a boxing fan, I would like to see Ricky Hatton retire right now," said Warren.

"He's made his money and its important that he remembers which bank it is in.

"But in my capacity as Amir Khan's representative, I'd make that fight for him."

Khan, 22, is now into the second week of a Stateside training camp with Freddie Roach.

[skel1983]

Billy Graham talks sense there but before the fight he said Hatton would do Pac in 8 rounds, i know we all get fights wrong with our predictions now and again, but now Rickys been blasted out in two, Graham says he would never have let Ricky fight Pac after what he saw in the Lazcano fight fuck off Billy three weeks ago you were saying how Ricky would rip Pac a new one inside 8 rounds.

[Gandalf]

Billy Graham talks sense there but before the fight he said Hatton would do Pac in 8 rounds, i know we all get fights wrong with our predictions now and again, but now Rickys been blasted out in two, Graham says he would never have let Ricky fight Pac after what he saw in the Lazcano fight fuck off Billy three weeks ago you were saying how Ricky would rip Pac a new one inside 8 rounds.

Yes, but he said that based on what he thought Ricky had left from an outside perspective, like we all have.

If he was in the gym with Ricky training for Malignaggi and seeing cracks appearing he would have encouraged Hatton to quit after. There are rumours that Hatton was dropped in sparring preparing for Manny too and wasn't looking very good for a fair while.

If Graham had that insight, and if we actually did too then many picks would have been far different.

Hatton prepared in a totally different way to normal against Manny and no excuses, but it seems to have detracted from his performance rather than added anything. Easy to say with hindsight.

[skel1983]

In all truth Miles, Ricky seems to have an excuse in every poor performance since he beat Kosta, its getting a bit boring now.

I think Hattons a nice guy but looking back its quite evident to see hes basically a great fighter who was limited at the very top.

Uranga and Lazcano performances poor said he had virus/chest infection, Collazo southpaw weight ajustments, Mayweather heart rules his head, Cortez blah blah, and finally Pac again heart ruling head and training camp didnt go well.

End of the day Hatton needs to hang them up, alot of people say where is the Hatton who fought the Tackie and Oliveras of this world, hes still there but the level of opponent doesnt let him look like a sugar ray robinson clone, Hattons had a great career but its time to hang them up.

[Gandalf]

In all truth Miles, Ricky seems to have an excuse in every poor performance since he beat Kosta, its getting a bit boring now.

I think Hattons a nice guy but looking back its quite evident to see hes basically a great fighter who was limited at the very top.

Uranga and Lazcano performances poor said he had virus/chest infection, Collazo southpaw weight ajustments, Mayweather heart rules his head, Cortez blah blah, and finally Pac again heart ruling head and training camp didnt go well.

End of the day Hatton needs to hang them up, alot of people say where is the Hatton who fought the Tackie and Oliveras of this world, hes still there but the level of opponent doesnt let him look like a sugar ray robinson clone, Hattons had a great career but its time to hang them up.

It does seem to be one performance after the other with accompanying excuses for what went on...in victory and defeat.

I agree really, it's been good while it lasted...could have been a little bit better. But the course is run.