Terry D wrote:If Hatton stays with HBO, and indications are that he will, then the fight won't happen. HBO will likely put a point onto a page, a fight with Manny/Floyd/Paulie, and guide Hatton to it by securing fights that will enhance him after the Floyd loss. Witter is not one of those fights.
You can have sympathy with Witter but the fact is that he brings no fans (well no one willing to log-off and go to his fights), no buzz and nothing that interests HBO/the States.
Saying "HBO made Collazo, made Urango" only hammers home where Witter stands in their eyes.
It is a longer boiling Haye-Macca situation in which two men have taken different trajectories, one moved up with a purpose, the other seems to think the other guy owes him a living. It is true that Witter has annexed the WBC title but he has taken it and made it into nothing. He won it in a leisure centre and defends it there still. Harris was a genuinely good name but no one turned-out for the fight. With the noise his online fans make you wonder why the venue seemed so flat.
The Hatton/Witter fight was never made but Tszyu/Mayweather, and possibly more big ones, were/will be made. One guy is mixing with the sports elite because he had an exciting early career, lots of fans and can bring a lot to the table. Witter only brings his WBC title and that means nothing while he holds it.
It is a harsh reality but the fight is unlikely to be made unless Hatton loses again and at a lower level than he lost to in Floyd. Witter seems proud of the fact that he stuck to his guns and style but ultimately he then cannot expect the sport to owe him a pension, which the Hatton fight would provide.
I understand the views of the Witter fans but it is a moot point. Why not go out and get some air? Perhaps by attending one of his fights!
I do genuinely hope Witter gets a "money" fight soon. A bout with Castillo would be a start but I cannot recall if Witter rubbished him as "shot" post/pre-Hatton? In which case he might find it hard to promote that one beyond the Doncaster Dome.
As for the personal thing, which shouldn't be a factor, the fight should have been made years ago. If I was Hatton, given the post-Thaxton and post-Tszyu remarks in particular, I'd let Witter wither on the vine and retire without ever giving him the big money. Hatton's longer standing will be viewed via Tszyu, Mayweather and the next fights.
But boxing fans remember all the talk a few years ago when both were with Sports Network. Hatton telling us that he had it written into his contract to fight Junior Witter, and that it would be on at Maine Road etc.
Now we have RH wanting to move back down to 140, wanting a fight in the UK and Witter has a world belt round his waist.
If Hatton comes out and says ‘It’s purely money – I can make more by fighting X in the States/on HBO’ fair enough, but last week he said ‘It’s not about money – I’m only in it for the glory’.
So which one is it, Ricky?
