Is Hatton Mayweathers best opponent yet?

[ICB]

Hatton is not only Mayweathers best opponent so far but will also prove to be too good for Floyd.

Welsh,

I appreciate and respect your perspective.

If Mayweather soundly beats Hatton, does that mean that Mayweather is much better than you thought?... Or that Hatton wasn't as good as you thought?

DIOS; may I ask what your opinion of Hatton would be if he did get Floyd out of there on the 8th? Will it change mildly or drastically, and how would you rank him against the top WW's? I personally feel Mayweather will clean house on Ricky, but you seem to have a barely masked disdain for Hatton, so I was curious what your feelings of him would be should he pull off a major upset against Floyd.

I'll try to address the points in your post:

a) I have a fairly low opinion of Hatton's overall skills package. I believe that he feasted on older fighters. I do not think that it is a coincidence that he looked his worst against the younger and fresher fighters who can match his physicality and energy. Yeah, I know. he only had six hours notice for Collazo. He hasd leukemia for Urango.

I believe that he would have lost a rematch with Collazo. The rematch he promised and then ran back to 140.

b) I believe that Hatton - LIKE SOME OTHER FIGHTERS - is "hiding" at a lower weight. It is said that Hatton is not a natural welterweight. Huh? He turned pro a decade ago at 140. Is it unreasonable to expect an athletic man who works out for ten years to gain seven pounds? He is 154 on fight night. As high as Shane Mosley, and higher than Mayweather and Judah. How is that not a Welterweight?

c) If Hatton beats Floyd, then Mayweather's status ("modern great") will be diminished in my mind. Great fighters DO lose to middling fighters (see Barrera-Junior Jones), but not to one-note fighters of Hatton's calibre.

d) If Floyd wins, that does NOT elevate FMJ in my mind. It is an expectation, and I'm still mildly disappointed that FMJ chose the easy fight for money. He pissed away a year of his (fading) prime by taking this fight. Cotto or Mosley was the fight to make. Especially Cotto. Miguel showed that he has a blend of boxing and pressure that is truly a stepchild of Duran/Chavez. He was impressive moving backwards vs SSM.

e) My disdain is MUCH less for Hatton than it is for Hatton's unreasonable fans. The Hattonettes have displayed a bottomless capacity for hyperbole: "Ricky broke four of castillo's ribs!!"... "Ricky will knock out Mayweather in 5 rounds!!"...etc. Additionally, the Hatton groupies (SOME) have instigated a distinct racial tinge. Doubt that? See YouTube comments.

f) Ricky and his camp have been dishonest in their comments to the public and media. Example?

From SecondsOut:

But Hatton knows just how difficult it will be to defeat the Pretty Boy. "He's got amazing skills," Hatton admitted. "He's pound-for-pound the best in the world, he's great to watch, skilful, lightning fast, I always watch his fights. But I don't think he's the biggest fighter in the world. I don't think he's got much physical strength. When I went to see him fight Gatti, I saw him at the weigh-in and asked myself the question whether or not he was big enough or tough enough to hold me off for 12 rounds. And that'll be the big question once the fight comes along."

Now... didn't I hear Hatton laud his four rounds with Castillo as "more excitement than Mayweather's whole career"?

Another example? Sure. This is what Ricky said this week:

Ricky Hatton: “I’m jumping out of my skin (waiting for this fight). It is a fight I’ve always wanted. You’ve spoken to Billy, he’ll tell you it is a fight we’ve always fancied style wise. We’ve fancied this fight for years and when the fight came about we knew it was going to be a huge fight. We wanted it (the fight) years ago but in the meantime Floyd’s become (a) bigger (name). I’ve become (a) bigger (name) and the time is right.”

But this is what Team Hatton said previously:

Father and business manager openly admitted they turned down the chance to at least negotiation for a Mayweather fight in 2004. "That was the one fight, style wise, which I thought we needed a few more fights before taking," said father Ray Hatton.

Stevie Wonder can see the contradiction.

g) I'm a Latino. Maybe I have a bit too much of that latin-macho-thing, but here goes:

Floyd was in Ricky's face calling him "a bitch", a pussy, etc. He told Ricky that he would buttfuck him. Ricky said nothing. This was in LA and in New York. OK, fine. Ricky is taking the high road. I can respect that.

But then they get to London and manchester, and Ricky starts talking and cursing. Huh? Wait- where was this Hatton on the first few legs of the tour? Either you have taken the high road...or you haven't. Ricky said that the insults had no effect. But for two months running, he has been talking about how FMJ "disrespected" him and he has taken many shots at FMJ on 24/7.

Floyd talks alot of S***. But how can you disagree with this:

"When have you ever heard Ricky Hatton talk trash before? He won't say it to my face but in front of the cameras he is really acting up. We did a five-city tour and the only time he talked tough was when he was home in Manchester. Now he's talking on HBO's 24/7 too. You know what I call him—a camera gangster. If I'm going to talk about you I am going to do it to your face, right in front of you."


I know that the British are kind of fey. Personally? If I have something to say ABOUT a man, I'm going to say it TO the man. Man Law.


Finally...h) If Hatton loses - and heaven help the Hattonettes if he is stopped - then that validates my opinion that RH is "B minus" level fighter. I will be INTOLERABLE to the Hatton groupies if Hatton loses.

....it'll be interesting to see how many SC's I get for speaking the truth.

a) I have a fairly low opinion of Hatton's overall skills package. I believe that he feasted on older fighters. I do not think that it is a coincidence that he looked his worst against the younger and fresher fighters who can match his physicality and energy. Yeah, I know. he only had six hours notice for Collazo. He hasd leukemia for Urango.

Hatton is good at what he does, i can't see how you can have low opinion of his skills. Alot of people didn't think Hatton would win Castillo, Tszyu, fights so he deserves props for these win's even if they wern't in there peak it was still impressive how Hatton beat both. I don't know if you know this or not, but Hatton has struggled with southpaws since he was an amateur. Top that off with not being in 100 percent perfect shape and you will get a tough fight, every fighter has a weakness and for Hatton his weakness is against southpaws. I do believe Collazo's speed have him trouble aswell, but it was mostly the southpaw style of Collazo.

Hatton also had a fever going into Urango fight i believe ?? now im not using that for an excuse, but if you watch Hatton when he is at his best you can clearly see the difference. But Hatton still easily won by atleast 10 rounds to 2 so it doesn't matter.

I believe that he would have lost a rematch with Collazo. The rematch he promised and then ran back to 140.

I don't think so, Collazo fought the best fight of his life, where as Hatton fought possibly one of his worst.

b) I believe that Hatton - LIKE SOME OTHER FIGHTERS - is "hiding" at a lower weight. It is said that Hatton is not a natural welterweight. Huh? He turned pro a decade ago at 140. Is it unreasonable to expect an athletic man who works out for ten years to gain seven pounds? He is 154 on fight night. As high as Shane Mosley, and higher than Mayweather and Judah. How is that not a Welterweight?

How can Hatton be hiding at lower weights ?? he is fighting the P4P number 1 fighter moving up in weight stop implying Hatton is a coward its disrespectful and just plain stupid.

c) If Hatton beats Floyd, then Mayweather's status ("modern great") will be diminished in my mind. Great fighters DO lose to middling fighters (see Barrera-Junior Jones), but not to one-note fighters of Hatton's calibre.

Hatton's calibre ?? you mean 43-0 two weight division champion ?? stop talking nonsense Mayweather will still be a modern great should he lose. Because every fighter has a weakness to a certain style of fighting, if you think that way then you aren't the Mayweather fan i thought you was.

d) If Floyd wins, that does NOT elevate FMJ in my mind. It is an expectation, and I'm still mildly disappointed that FMJ chose the easy fight for money. He pissed away a year of his (fading) prime by taking this fight. Cotto or Mosley was the fight to make. Especially Cotto. Miguel showed that he has a blend of boxing and pressure that is truly a stepchild of Duran/Chavez. He was impressive moving backwards vs SSM.

Of course it does, don't be silly Hatton is undefeated and is rated in top 10 P4P in most lists so how can it not elevate Mayweather ?? i don't see this as an easy fight at all.

Im glad Mayweather didn't fight Cotto or Mosley because they both have fought it out. And now we know who the real Number 1 Welterweight is for Mayweather to fight.

e) My disdain is MUCH less for Hatton than it is for Hatton's unreasonable fans. The Hattonettes have displayed a bottomless capacity for hyperbole: "Ricky broke four of castillo's ribs!!"... "Ricky will knock out Mayweather in 5 rounds!!"...etc. Additionally, the Hatton groupies (SOME) have instigated a distinct racial tinge. Doubt that? See YouTube comments.

Im Mayweather fan but its unfair to say that, Hatton fans are not racist and are very loyal to there fighter. Nothing wrong in that and you really take notice of stupid fans on Youtube ?? there are so many racist's on there its unbelievable and most of them haven't got a clue about boxing.

f) Ricky and his camp have been dishonest in their comments to the public and media. Example?

From SecondsOut:

But Hatton knows just how difficult it will be to defeat the Pretty Boy. "He's got amazing skills," Hatton admitted. "He's pound-for-pound the best in the world, he's great to watch, skilful, lightning fast, I always watch his fights. But I don't think he's the biggest fighter in the world. I don't think he's got much physical strength. When I went to see him fight Gatti, I saw him at the weigh-in and asked myself the question whether or not he was big enough or tough enough to hold me off for 12 rounds. And that'll be the big question once the fight comes along."

Now... didn't I hear Hatton laud his four rounds with Castillo as "more excitement than Mayweather's whole career"?

Oh come off it, you and i know that was just a stunt to call Mayweather out. Most boxers have done this in the past why is Hatton different ??

Ricky Hatton: “I’m jumping out of my skin (waiting for this fight). It is a fight I’ve always wanted. You’ve spoken to Billy, he’ll tell you it is a fight we’ve always fancied style wise. We’ve fancied this fight for years and when the fight came about we knew it was going to be a huge fight. We wanted it (the fight) years ago but in the meantime Floyd’s become (a) bigger (name). I’ve become (a) bigger (name) and the time is right.”

But this is what Team Hatton said previously:

Father and business manager openly admitted they turned down the chance to at least negotiation for a Mayweather fight in 2004. "That was the one fight, style wise, which I thought we needed a few more fights before taking," said father Ray Hatton.

Stevie Wonder can see the contradiction.

That was 3 years ago Hatton has now beaten Tszyu, Castillo, and maybe he is feeling more confident and he fancies the job more what is so wrong in that ??

[ICB]

I SC'd you. TO be honest you have one of the dumbest post I have ever read. I stopped after you said that Hatton was hiding at 140. YOu fight at the wieght division that is best for you. It isn't F****** brain surgery. Whenever you can't make wieght you move up. That is why they have different divisions.
If a fighter moves up, like PBF did, so much the better. His height, ability, reach, and athleticism allowed him to move up and that is great for him. HIs body can carry the jump in divisions. But I would have NEVER dissed him for staying at a wieght division and unifying..

It's truly shocking and painful that you sc'd me. How will I live on?

I understand . It is impossible for your idol to move up seven pounds in a decade. Got it.

"weight".

Your just a smartass, you think your so clever when your not. I hope you disappear completely from this forum and go back to Box ing Sce ne i have met your kind before.