Hatton-Mayweather Rematch?

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:13

"Ricky Hatton is eyeing a potential rematch with Floyd Mayweather despite suffering a tenth-round knockout to the WBC welterweight champion.

Despite a brave performance from the Hitman, Mayweather was just too classy and floored Hatton twice en route to victory.

Hatton's camp have already made noises about returning to the 10st division, with Junior Witter and Paulie Malignaggi already throwing their hats into the ring.

Oscar De La Hoya has also reaffirmed that he could be tempted by a meeting with the Hitman, however it is a rematch with Pretty Boy Floyd that Ricky really desires.

And despite suffering his first knockout of his career, Hatton insists he has no fear about going toe-to-toe with Mayweather again.

He told Sky Sports News: "It depends what fights are offered to me now.

"There is talk of the de la Hoya fight, which could be at a catchweight of 10st 10lbs, or a rematch could be in the offing, or there are these fights at light-welterweight. I just need to sit down with my team and make up my mind.

Fearless

"My best attribute is that I am fearless. I think that it was working and up until the sixth-round stage, I think there wasn't a lot in it.

"Then I lost my way, lost my rag on a few occasions, got a point taken off and when I tried to force the issue, I obviously got knocked out.

"I've got positives to take from the fight but ultimately I'm very, very disappointed - however like any good champion I will bounce back."

Although upset at the loss, Hatton paid tribute to the support he received from a vocal British following in Las Vegas.

He added: "It was a bit of a disappointment but I think the way the fans were afterwards cushioned the blow.

"It doesn't matter how many belts you have won, or titles that you win, or fights unbeaten you are, I think that any fighter would give their right arm for support like that."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...972614,00.html

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:46

Huge payday but I cant see Ricky getting the result in a re match - Ricky is the undisputed king at LW, although Junior Witter would argue he is, so a unification bout and a chance to prove who is is the best LW seems to make sense - Forget Gavin Rees he would be beaten by either, although I would give him an outside chance with Witter - Another huge payday would be ODH but another loss on Rickys record wouldnt be good and I think he could well lose - Hatton needs to bury the preverbial hatchet with Witter and give his fans the domestic fight they all want to see - Then the arguements about who could beat who would be over, otherwise the issue will still go on after both men have long retired.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:55

What could Hatton do differently?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:59

I can understand where Ricky is coming from. He basically fought a poor fight, and seemed to get too keyed up in there. He didn't follow his corner's instructions, and did seem to fall apart following the point deduction, basically just trying to knock Mayweather's head off, and ultimately leaving himself wide open for that left hook.

I thought Hatton was winning at the halfway stage, though it was close.

I don't think he will win a rematch, but even so, I think he can do better.

Hatton needs to have a big win before taking mayweather on again though, both for confidence, and to convince people there's any point in it.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:02

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I can understand where Ricky is coming from. He basically fought a poor fight, and seemed to get too keyed up in there. He didn't follow his corner's instructions, and did seem to fall apart following the point deduction, basically just trying to knock Mayweather's head off, and ultimately leaving himself wide open for that left hook.

I thought Hatton was winning at the halfway stage, though it was close.

I don't think he will win a rematch, but even so, I think he can do better.

Hatton needs to have a big win before taking mayweather on again though, both for confidence, and to convince people there's any point in it.

He wasn't winning at all. I disagree with that. I didn't see him land one clean shot on Floyd.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:05

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I thought he landed quite a few shots.

It will be interesting to watch the fight again without all the ales and bugle and without the emotion.

I do believe that a different referee could have made a big difference, I think Hatton would have been less desperate had he not had to contend with an obviously biased referee.

I think sadly there's a case of hero worship going on for Cortez where Mayweather is concerned, either that or he wants to blow Floyd off. Or both.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:16

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I can understand where Ricky is coming from. He basically fought a poor fight, and seemed to get too keyed up in there. He didn't follow his corner's instructions, and did seem to fall apart following the point deduction, basically just trying to knock Mayweather's head off, and ultimately leaving himself wide open for that left hook.

I thought Hatton was winning at the halfway stage, though it was close.

I don't think he will win a rematch, but even so, I think he can do better.

Hatton needs to have a big win before taking mayweather on again though, both for confidence, and to convince people there's any point in it.

I'm with you here. 100%.

However, I'd also respect a Torres-Witter-Diaz sequence.

But Hatton was elevated to a new level with this fight. He's major money attraction in the States, he wont be able to toil away against b-level attractions.

I suspect Diaz would be considered jumping up a big fight.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:35

On the contrary, I don't think Hatton's stock will be the same again in the USA.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:41

Well, I think you are about to be proven wrong.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:42

I disagree. He may not carry the same lustre as he did as a unbeaten force, but the numbers he did promote him to a level alongside the big US names.

He just needs someone on the opposite corner still.

But in a country where Chavex Jnr is a PPR attraction against knock-over jobs Hatton brought some serious viewing figures and ticket sales to the table.

HBO etc wont shy away from reshowing him.

TheGoods · Post by **TheGoods** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:42

Southpaw Stylist wrote:On the contrary, I don't think Hatton's stock will be the same again in the USA.

Crazy talk IMO. No boxer takes that sort of following to Las Vegas, never mind from over the Atlantic. Hatton was respectful and gracious before, during and after the fight and was the talk of Sin City before and after. I got back yesterday and if I had a quid for the amount of Yanks I spoke to singing his praises I'd probably recoup 70% of what I lost on the blackjack tables! Ricky Hatton is now a bona fide boxing super star.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:45

See! Told you.

SS, do you really think someone as Shrewd as Oscar would be looking for a fight with Hatton if his stock was irreperably damaged.

If anything this will enhance his standing, win or lose, he's fought on the biggest stage available in the states against the #1 P4P fighter in the world, and forced him to actually fight.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:56

Hmm, ok.

I know that he certainly won't be viewed as p4p material any more. He should never have been in the first place tbh, but that's another can of worms.

Sammy Mendelson · Post by **Sammy Mendelson** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:56

Why does Ricky insist on wearing that hat? Have I missed something, or did that type of headgear go out of fashion in about 1996/7 when Liam Gallagher stopped putting his on?

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:58

I suspect that headware will be de rigeur this summer on certain Benidorm beaches...

Sammy Mendelson · Post by **Sammy Mendelson** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:00

DavidPayne wrote:I suspect that headware will be de rigeur this summer on certain Benidorm beaches...

True. Ricky is nearly as 'Chav' as the Booth brothers. It's not the look I'd choose, but each to his own and all..

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:27

He was beaten easily, what can he do to change?

dj moonmonkey · Post by **dj moonmonkey** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:41

140 in Manchester and let Ricky use Matthew as a tag team partner and then we might have a different outcome.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:52

Max Molyneux wrote:He was beaten easily, what can he do to change?

Dont get rattled, dont ignore Billy Graham, stick to the gameplan, dont get fat between fights - Dont throw every thing you have and forget your defense - Even so I still think Mayweather wins again.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:55

I'm a massive fan of Hatton's, but anyone who thinks Hatton would win a rematch is crazy. It won't happen!

Watching Hatton-Mayweather, my Dad said to me do you think there will be a rematch? I answered by saying I doubt it, but if there is, Floyd would figure out Ricky much earlier the second time around, & probably win earlier than the tenth!

Mayweather was simply too good for Ricky, plain & simple! People can moan on about Joe Cortez, but I ask those who have complained about the referee: Do you think Ricky would have won had the referee adopted a different approach?

I certainly don't think so!

One couldn't knock Hatton for taking a rematch if it came his way - for there is money to be made, & a lot of it. I think people would be into a second bout. One of the good things about a rematch is that it may get Floyd back into the ring sooner than expected. I enjoy watching Mayweather box. He absolute class, a legend!

There's also the possibility of a catch-weight fight with Oscar at 150lbs. Wasn't the bout meant to be at Welter if it went ahead? I guess that tells us the answer to Oscar making 147lbs or not!

Whatever Ricky decides to do, I hope it all works out for him, but I can't see it working out well for him if he there's a rematch with Floyd.

Maelstrom · Post by **Maelstrom** » 14 Dec 2007, 13:01

I can see why James if you were all hyped up and, shall we say, operating on a substance induced level, that you could see Hatton as level at half way.

He was marching forward and if you were watching the fight with mates and not paying your usual attention he may have caught the eye.

But in the cold light of day he was actually dominated from the first bell. I don't think he landed more than two clean shots and Mayweather handled him on the inside.

Hatton's only chance was to be aggressive, even then I feel he was being soundly beaten. There was no way he could keep that pace up and that's when Floyd started to make proper hay.

On the other issue, I think you are arguing around the same point... He will still be a big draw, but not regarded as a P4P elite operator. The American's are prepared to accept fighters for the party they bring.

Dioufy · Post by **Dioufy** » 14 Dec 2007, 13:09

I'm a hardcore Ricky Hatton fan and I went to the Luis Collazo fight in Boston and the Jose Castillo fight in Las Vegas, and why on earth would Hatton want a rematch? For me, he got beat pretty comprehensively by the best fighter of my generation, and he still would've been beat if Joe Cortez didn't budgey the fight, just by a closer points-gap. Floyd was better fighting on the inside and better at picking off his jabs and hooks that Hatton was, and a rematch won't change anything for me because Hatton can't get up for that fight as much as he did last week - it's physiologically/physically impossible in terms of motivation I think, not to mention that Floyd has the edge having already beat him. Furthermore, Hatton got beat by a better fighter and if there was a rematch (I hope not) then he would get beat again, possibly by a greater margin in terms of points behind.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 14 Dec 2007, 13:26

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I thought he landed quite a few shots.

yeah those early rds are debateable.

each time i've had the scoring different for the first 7 rds.

shows how close those early rds were.

bit surprised all 3 judges had it so wide tbh.

that's the nature of scoring i suppose.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 14 Dec 2007, 13:35

Southpaw Stylist wrote:What could Hatton do differently?

Firstly Ricky shat himself before the fight BUT he could also:

Lead with the jab and only the jab and aim to throw Tighten his guard, keep his hands up, lateral head movement on the way in. When in mid range Ricky needed to let his hands go in 3-4s to the body - he didnt. He only threw around 35 punches a round and he was supposed to be Mr Pressure. Hatton needs to throw 60punches a round.

Ricky made a terrible error - being scared to let his hands go at mid-range but when coming in drop his guard.

He could also stop pissign about with ex-bodybuilders in the weights room. What par of boxing specific training does a 1100lb partial leg press play with the back to ground? Did they expect Ricky to have his back to the ground in the fight?

To be honest I doubt Ricky can adapt enough to beat Mayweather and even if he does adapt enough it might not be enough. BUT WHO CARES WHEN HE CAN EARN ANOTHER £20m????

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 14 Dec 2007, 13:54

I thought it was back and forth up to the midway point when Floyd began to catch Hatton more easily and pulled away with it.

I think the point of a rematch is that if 25k went out to Vegas this time then at least 20k would next time which still means $$$$ for GB promotions and everyone else concerned.

And if Ricky lost again does it make that much difference to his stock? I think not. He got bashed up by Floyd again, big deal we already knew Floyd beat him.

And maybe just maybe with a less onerous ref Hatton might be allowed to get a real fight going and disrupt Floyd.

In some way it's more dangerous for Mayweather who has absolutely nothing except money to gain by fighting Hatton again.