Hatton splits from Lee Beard

[Jimmy G-Force]

Apparently, Hatton has split from Lee Beard because he left training Matthew Hatton, in order to train Joan Guzman.

Ricky Hatton Dumps Lee Beard, Wants New Trainer - Boxing News

t would be good if Jimmy could illuminate more on this.

Anyway what do you think of it as a career move if it is true & how should Hatton go with now?

Hmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Ok, well this is a tough one because I know of two sides to this tale. I know Paul Speak was telling me that there was a slight rift with Lee and maybe he had become a little too big for his boots. I know Paul and Lee fell out a couple of times, but then again, Billy hated Speakie, so nothing new there. I was also told that this was about money, of which I can believe.

I always found Lee to be very technically astute, and always looking out for Ricky's well-being. Also, he wouldnt train Rick unless he felt Ricky was going to listen to him and give it 100%, I'm not sure he felt either was going to be the case. I know Lee had text Rick whilst he was away on a few occasions asking him whether or not he would be training him once he got back. By all accounts, he never even received any replies back.

Bearing in mind,like I said last week about Lee going to train Guzman after a massive recommendation from Tim Coleman, this left Lee two options. He was also scouted by a fighter called Mendes, who is apparently a hot prospect, but I'm not sure who he is to be honest, I'm guessing he's fighting out of the States though.

The bottom line is that if Lee was going to train Ricky then he would stay in the UK and train Richard and Matthew. If he didnt get the Rick gig, then he'd move to the states and train Coleman, Guzman and Mendes. He wasnt prepared to stay in the UK just to train Matthew when his name is becoming hot stuff on the other side of the pond. Lee Beard, although not a household name really is a brilliant trainer, and to be fair, the fighters he has had a full camp with have yet to be beaten. I've watched Lee and Billy train many times, and Lee is head and shoulders above Billy in every area as far as I'm concerned. Very technical, reads the game very, very well, and most importantly, very quickly identifies a fighters strengths and weaknessess. He also really cares about his fighters.

I think this is a very bad move letting Lee go. Bob Shannon, like quoted in that article, was the man they were looking to train Ricky.

The more I hear, the more I dont want Ricky to fight again. And getting rid of Lee is the final nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned.

But hey,what do I know ?

[Saddo]

cool update Jimmy

Smart move from Lee IMHO.... get out before your the scapegoat son.

[Fenster]

Surprised Beard is that highly thought of. I always thought he was about 1 step up from TrainerMonkey in the Hatton camp.

In fact TM is probably expecting the call from Hatton.

[Jimmy G-Force]

Surprised Beard is that highly thought of. I always thought he was about 1 step up from TrainerMonkey in the Hatton camp.

.

Quite the opposite mate, he is boxing trainers best kept secret. His recommendations all come from professional fighters he has worked with. He is only young with an amatuer background but when you speak to him and watch him train fighters he blows you away to be honest.

Lee has never been in full control of Ricks training bar the 2 weeks Billy had a vaction during the Lazcano camp. And even then it was done on the sly as Billy would have gone apeshit if he found out. In fact Billy sent Lee Beard packing from the Phoenix Camp on a few occasions. Jealously.

I just wish Lee had taken over full time as soon as they got rid of Billy. But Ray thought it would be in the best interests from a commercial perspective to get a big name, hence Floyd Snr's appointment.

[El Kabong]

I was being serious about Fenech and Rooney....Roach wouldn't train Ricky Hatton for anything.

Ronnie Shields wouldn't be horrible for Ricky if he could teach him anything about defense that would be a plus

....I think Ricky is a shot fighter now, he's not the best at 140, he can't compete with even the AVERAGE 147 fighters much less the best, and there's no way he makes any other weight class. The only fight I would want to see that involved Ricky Hatton is Miguel Cotto and I would like for both fighters to retire after that fight.

In hindsight I wonder how Ricky would have done vs Randall Bailey