Well we may as well move on to Hatton vs Castillo now

[SirDrinksalot]

Will have to wait and see, but one thing i've noticed is that Hatton doesn't really seem to use his body punching like he used to. I read somewhere that this was because of some problem with his hips (?) that means he can't really sit down on the punches like he used to? Can anyone confirm this?

Hopefully gonna be a good night, both men will be well up for it, as people said before where does the loser go? For me, based on previous performances I gotta go with Hatton, he looked poor in the second half of his last fight, but to me Castillo looked a hell of a lot worse in his last outing, he lucky to even win...

[bzkfn]

Will have to wait and see, but one thing i've noticed is that Hatton doesn't really seem to use his body punching like he used to. I read somewhere that this was because of some problem with his hips (?) that means he can't really sit down on the punches like he used to? Can anyone confirm this?

Hopefully gonna be a good night, both men will be well up for it, as people said before where does the loser go? For me, based on previous performances I gotta go with Hatton, he looked poor in the second half of his last fight, but to me Castillo looked a hell of a lot worse in his last outing, he lucky to even win...

While he was poor in the second half of his last fight, this had nothing to do with Urango. I thought Urango was an average fight but extremely difficult to knock down. I thought Hatton was just taking the piss outta him most of the night. It wasn't close.

[Mayweatherpfp]

i reckon hatton will win UD even though he hasn't been impressive as we are use to seeing from him. also castillo hasn't looked good at all think ricky will have to much for him on the night.

[SirDrinksalot]

While he was poor in the second half of his last fight, this had nothing to do with Urango. I thought Urango was an average fight but extremely difficult to knock down. I thought Hatton was just taking the piss outta him most of the night. It wasn't close.

Apart from that bodyshot Urango delivered, no, it wasn't him that Hatton had problems with. It was Mr Guiness and Mrs Pie catching up with him, the constant bloating between fights caused the slowdown in the second half IMO. From what I've read he hasn't gone anywhere near that level of binging for this fight, so his endurance should hopefully be back for this fight. Never rule out a problem with cuts though...

[skel1983]

While he was poor in the second half of his last fight, this had nothing to do with Urango. I thought Urango was an average fight but extremely difficult to knock down. I thought Hatton was just taking the piss outta him most of the night. It wasn't close.

Apart from that bodyshot Urango delivered, no, it wasn't him that Hatton had problems with. It was Mr Guiness and Mrs Pie catching up with him, the constant bloating between fights caused the slowdown in the second half IMO. From what I've read he hasn't gone anywhere near that level of binging for this fight, so his endurance should hopefully be back for this fight. Never rule out a problem with cuts though...

Well thats why he has looked sloppy recently because he has had to much time off doing what he wants, after the Uranga fight he only had 6 weeks off, thats how it should be he needs to fight 3 times a year not once a year. Lets hope now he can stay active get the big fights and back to the old Ricky we all love in that ring.

[shza]

How about this: when Hatton beat Tszyu, it was just because Tszyu was past his prime.

See? Works both ways!

Was Tszyu coming of his two worst performances or probably his best, stopping the THEN favourite and number 1 Sharmba Mitchell

You don't like it when it's turned back on you, huh? Be clear: this is EXACTLY what you're saying about Hatton. You claim that immediately after the Tszyu fight, he was on the downslide and past his prime. Similarly, call Mitchell Tszyu's peak, if you like (I strongly disagree), his fight against Ricky was post- that = he was past his prime.

I'm not even insisting on this, I'm just pointing out what a convenient argument you're making and how we can all apply it to any fighter we like so as to explain away any loss. "Well, sure, but his prime consisted of his fight against (name best fighter your favorite ever previously beat), so he lost this one because he was past his prime."

[warreng]

I do think this is gonna be a real gd 50/50 tear up beatween these two as both keep going forward nd i agree that who is in the best condition will have a better chance winning this fight as i can say a late stoppage in this one also i think ricky might have the strength advantage that will help him in the trenches. Nd as for a fighters prime i agree with eubank when he said that his prime wasnt over a certain amount of time it was the nights in the ring when his punch timing was perfect nd he was in gd condition nd his power felt gd aswell as a uniterupted training camp with no injurys or distarctions. I may of added a couple of bits to that but he said sumin along those lines but ive made the point im trying to make so im hoping hatton isnt on the slide nd cum fight night hell be ready for probs the toughest night of his career.

[BIG H]

How about this: when Hatton beat Tszyu, it was just because Tszyu was past his prime.

See? Works both ways!

Was Tszyu coming of his two worst performances or probably his best, stopping the THEN favourite and number 1 Sharmba Mitchell

You don't like it when it's turned back on you, huh? Be clear: this is EXACTLY what you're saying about Hatton. You claim that immediately after the Tszyu fight, he was on the downslide and past his prime. Similarly, call Mitchell Tszyu's peak, if you like (I strongly disagree), his fight against Ricky was post- that = he was past his prime.

I'm not even insisting on this, I'm just pointing out what a convenient argument you're making and how we can all apply it to any fighter we like so as to explain away any loss. "Well, sure, but his prime consisted of his fight against (name best fighter your favorite ever previously beat), so he lost this one because he was past his prime."

......and what you fail to realize is that I am not making excuses, I don't need to for 2 reasons:

1.) Hatton hasn't ever lost, so there is nothing to excuse him for
2.) I aint Ricky Hatton's chief of staff, I have nothing to gain from making excuses for the guy

all I have said is that his last 2 performances have been his worst 2 performances. Surely for anybody (even you!!) based on the fact that he never previously had such performances, that would indicate that he is perhaps on the sllide!!

Seriously, do you think he is as good nowas he was 2 years ago?

[shza]

How about this: when Hatton beat Tszyu, it was just because Tszyu was past his prime.

See? Works both ways!

Was Tszyu coming of his two worst performances or probably his best, stopping the THEN favourite and number 1 Sharmba Mitchell

You don't like it when it's turned back on you, huh? Be clear: this is EXACTLY what you're saying about Hatton. You claim that immediately after the Tszyu fight, he was on the downslide and past his prime. Similarly, call Mitchell Tszyu's peak, if you like (I strongly disagree), his fight against Ricky was post- that = he was past his prime.

I'm not even insisting on this, I'm just pointing out what a convenient argument you're making and how we can all apply it to any fighter we like so as to explain away any loss. "Well, sure, but his prime consisted of his fight against (name best fighter your favorite ever previously beat), so he lost this one because he was past his prime."

......and what you fail to realize is that I am not making excuses, I don't need to for 2 reasons:

1.) Hatton hasn't ever lost, so there is nothing to excuse him for

It's an excuse in hand to use WHEN he does lose (e.g., to Castillo). I thought I had been clear there.

all I have said is that his last 2 performances have been his worst 2 performances. Surely for anybody (even you!!) based on the fact that he never previously had such performances, that would indicate that he is perhaps on the sllide!!

Perhaps, but it's hard to tell, since these guys (even though they're by no means world-beaters) are better than the guys he was fighting pre-Kostya anyway. So it cuold just mean that he's the same fighter, had a fluke victory against an "on the slide" Kostya Tszyu, and then went back to being better-than-average but not great, and looked worse because he was up against better guys. Seriously, Collazo is the second-best guy Ricky's ever shared a ring with.

Seriously, do you think he is as good nowas he was 2 years ago?

He might be. He's just fighting better opposition and it shows.

[El Gamo]

I disagree with you both,Hatton has not looked good because of styles. Styles make fights. Think about it,a tall natural WW slick southpaw in Collazo who is a very good fighter and a bull of a man in Urango in which Hatton fought smart to safeguard his fight with JLC. We'll see the best of Hatton v JLC,trust me.

[shza]

I disagree with you both,Hatton has not looked good because of styles. Styles make fights. Think about it,a tall natural WW slick southpaw in Collazo who is a very good fighter and a bull of a man in Urango in which Hatton fought smart to safeguard his fight with JLC. We'll see the best of Hatton v JLC,trust me.

CC. Hopefully we'll see the best of both of them. This could be a total barnburner. It should be. But if they fight as poorly as they have in their last few fights, this one could--shockingly--be a snoozer/hug-fest. Here's to both of these guys stepping up.

[El Gamo]

CC back brother. It's cool, we never agree,but get along I agree with you here though,both guys step up for big fights ESPECIALLY the monster Castillo,he always looks poor in tune ups. It should be a fight of the year for sure. The winner should move up to 147.

[superheavyrhun]

I disagree with you both,Hatton has not looked good because of styles. Styles make fights. Think about it,a tall natural WW slick southpaw in Collazo who is a very good fighter and a bull of a man in Urango in which Hatton fought smart to safeguard his fight with JLC. We'll see the best of Hatton v JLC,trust me.

CC. Hopefully we'll see the best of both of them. This could be a total barnburner. It should be. But if they fight as poorly as they have in their last few fights, this one could--shockingly--be a snoozer/hug-fest. Here's to both of these guys stepping up.

If you replace "could" with "should" then I reckon this one ought to be a total barnburner. I agree that Hatton's recent performances have not been enough to maintain the P4P ranking he has had, so, on current evidence he could be on the slide. However, as he has said himself, he struggled with two southpaws, and it might just be that he can't fathom how to fight southpaws. Also, I'm sure Billy Graham will have been working on his stamina big time to try and improve him for the championship round, where he wasn't where he had been in previious fights. Also, I hope that him not ballooning in weight could make a difference. All in all, I want both fighters to be at their best, because when they are...it's a guaranteed stunning fight.

[Rick_Rack]

Im really swaying towards Castillo's side on this one just behind his body attack I think besides how hes looked lately he will be very ready for this fight. Saying that Hatton has a fast pace and seems to be able to rise to the occasion. I think its time to give Hatton some credit now in the US.

[BIG H]

How about this: when Hatton beat Tszyu, it was just because Tszyu was past his prime.

See? Works both ways!

Was Tszyu coming of his two worst performances or probably his best, stopping the THEN favourite and number 1 Sharmba Mitchell

You don't like it when it's turned back on you, huh? Be clear: this is EXACTLY what you're saying about Hatton. You claim that immediately after the Tszyu fight, he was on the downslide and past his prime. Similarly, call Mitchell Tszyu's peak, if you like (I strongly disagree), his fight against Ricky was post- that = he was past his prime.

I'm not even insisting on this, I'm just pointing out what a convenient argument you're making and how we can all apply it to any fighter we like so as to explain away any loss. "Well, sure, but his prime consisted of his fight against (name best fighter your favorite ever previously beat), so he lost this one because he was past his prime."

......and what you fail to realize is that I am not making excuses, I don't need to for 2 reasons:

1.) Hatton hasn't ever lost, so there is nothing to excuse him for

It's an excuse in hand to use WHEN he does lose (e.g., to Castillo). I thought I had been clear there.

all I have said is that his last 2 performances have been his worst 2 performances. Surely for anybody (even you!!) based on the fact that he never previously had such performances, that would indicate that he is perhaps on the sllide!!

Perhaps, but it's hard to tell, since these guys (even though they're by no means world-beaters) are better than the guys he was fighting pre-Kostya anyway. So it cuold just mean that he's the same fighter, had a fluke victory against an "on the slide" Kostya Tszyu, and then went back to being better-than-average but not great, and looked worse because he was up against better guys. Seriously, Collazo is the second-best guy Ricky's ever shared a ring with.

Seriously, do you think he is as good nowas he was 2 years ago?

He might be. He's just fighting better opposition and it shows.

I don't think Collazo or Urango are any better than Tackey, Philips or Oliveira