Ricky wants rematch with Floyd!

[Rocky Balboa]

Ricky Hatton plans to fight on because he cannot bear the thought of going out on a losing note.

The 30-year-old Manchester 'Hitman' was an unbeaten three-time world champion before he was stopped in the 10th round by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in December.

Now he plans to fight on to guarantee his legacy - with a re-match against Mayweather top of his agenda.

"I don't want my last fight to be that fight, me on my back getting counted out to my first defeat," Hatton toldThe Times.

"What sort of a champion would I be if I didn't come back and try and prove myself?"

Hatton does not want to be remembered in a similar vein to Naseem Hamed, whose career went into freefall after a defeat by Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hatton said: "Naseem Hamed's situation is a shame; he's one of the best fighters we've ever had, but unfortunately because of the way he bowed out, he's going to be remembered for his defeat rather than all the success that went before. I don't want to go down that same route.

"All the greatest fighters - (Rocky) Marciano being the exception - have lost and you become a good champion by coming back from adversity. If I come back stronger, people will hold me in even higher regard.

"There's one or two things I want to do and one of those is to prove people wrong.

"If you're a man, that's what you do. So I'd like to fight Floyd again; last time, I don't think I was given a fair crack of the whip."

Hatton revealed how referee Joe Cortez's refusal to allow him to get in Mayweather's face left him demoralised.

He added: "I have a lot of respect for Mr Cortez. Maybe he just had an off-night. And I was a little bit over-keen, over-eager and I made the cardinal sin of losing my composure."

Well, what do do we think the chances are of Hatton-Mayweather 2? If the money's right & there's a big payday for Floyd once again, I can't see him refusing the fight. However, I really don't see Ricky beating Floyd, no way!

During the interview, Ricky comments on the mistakes he made, but not once does he mention what Floyd did during the bout. I'm a big fan of Ricky's & wanted him to win on Dec 8th, but Floyd broke him down. I feel the accuarcy & speed of Floyd's punches caused Ricky big problems.

Big respect to Ricky for wanting the rematch. It takes bottle to even state your intention of going back in there with the guy who has just knocked you out.

I really don't see how the rematch can be different! If Ricky doesn't manage to secure the rematch with Floyd, will he still be able to be as motivated for other opponents? Let's face it, fighting Floyd, best P4P boxer in the world, is the highest scale. How could you not be motivated?

[DG.]

I would like to see a rematch - jus to see Wricky splattered again, great comedy tv knock out!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hatton needs a big impressive win to make the rematch happen I think, to make the fight compelling, after all he did get KTFO.

I do think Hatton can do better with a less interfering and frankly hero-worshipping referee than Cortez. I don't think he's good enough to win though.

Imagine if Cortez deducted points from Mayweather for repeated use of the elbow to keep Hatton off. Hatton would have gotten close and been able to sustain some pressure. Mayweather had it all his own way.

[Chambers2]

Hatton in "I'm targetting the BIGGEST money fight" shocker!!

I'll resist the temptation to pick Rickys quotes apart......such as "If you're a man, that's what you do...."

[Lenny]

Come on Chambers the guy has mouths to feed

it might be just 3 mouths but Ricky's sure takes some filling

[rooney]

he's clearly deluded.

[ArtOfWar]

There is no chance of Hatton getting a rematch with Mayweather if for no other reason than the fact that he he takes to long between fights. It will be a couple of years before he's ready for Mayweather again at his current rate.

Cortez wasn't the reason he lost either, although Cortez was diabolical. Hatton lost because he did what so many other Mayweather opponents have done and followed him round the ring like a headless chicken and then didn't let his hands go properly when he did get him pinned down. What's the point in doing all the hard work and then standing there throwing single shots when you get your opponent in a position to land?

Horrible performance from Hatton.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Agree.

Cortez certainly didn't help, but Hatton fought like a muppet, something he admitted himself.

Losing your composure like that is really unforgivable at that level, if you're world class, then you should keep it together. He was fighting with genuine anger after the point was docked (incorrectly) by Cortez. You cannot dock a point without a warning from a fighter who doesn't even land a shot on an opponent who flagrantly turned his back.

[nickd]

Cortez was apalling, but whoever the third man is I can't see how he could beat Mayweather. However much he tries to kid himself he was exposed as a one trick pony. Granted that one trick is enough to beat most fighters out there and it's something he's very good at but at the highest level against the best of the best you need more strings to your bow.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think what bites Hatton is that Mayweather stopped him, especially given all the pre-fight comments about how Mayweather wasn't a particularly big welterweight, and how he wouldn't match Hatton for strength or power.

Truth was, even early in that fight, at the end of the first round, when Mayweather tagged him with three flush straight rights, Hatton was shocked not by the power per-se, but the accuracy. At top level, accuracy is what really counts, and whilst Mayweather isn't a devastating puncher, he is deadly accurate with his counters, and they hurt.

Hatton can probably run Mayweather to a close decision loss, but I don't think he can win, but I think for Hatton, finishing on his feet would mean a great deal, rather like Barrera against Pacquaio in their rematch.

[WildWaylon]

This is a political move IMO to stop people from talking about a fight with Junior Witter - Call out the best again and the heats off Hatton for the moment - If Mayweather agrees to do it again, what about the fight Hatton said would be put on here for his loyal fans to see, unless of course Floyd comes over and they book Wembley for it - Waste of time really cant see anything too different if they do fight again - A get out of gaol card and another massive payday for Hatton and then retirement - His fans will say he didnt fight Witter because Mayweather was the man to beat - Just as long as Witter doesnt fight Floyd afterwards and spark him, Ricky will keep his status.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I would be pissed off if Mayweather fights Delahoya and then Hatton again because Mayweather-Cotto is what boxing needs.

Hatton is calling out Mayweather because

1. Its big money and hes looking to cash in again even if he loses
2. he doesnt want to risk himself against lower name fighters who would likely beat him and drop his stock value
3. He wants to avoid the hardest fight at 140 in Witter because he'd lose that without getting more big paydays and this is the best way to divert attention away from it even if he doesnt get the fight

This basically shows Hatton has no interest in beating the best at his weight because he has F All chance against Mayweather. Hatton hasn't earnt a shot at Mayweather and won't unless he puts some dazzling performances together

Also what happened to the 'I won't have any excuses after the fight, will Floyd?' All you here from Ricky is excuse after excuse - the ref wasnt fair, he used elbows, Im only a little 140lber and Floyds much bigger at 147 even though I outweighed him by 5lbs on fight night

[Roper]

Come on Chambers the guy has mouths to feed

it might be just 3 mouths but Ricky's sure takes some filling

[WildWaylon]

I would be pissed off if Mayweather fights Delahoya and then Hatton again because Mayweather-Cotto is what boxing needs.

Hatton is calling out Mayweather because

1. Its big money and hes looking to cash in again even if he loses
2. he doesnt want to risk himself against lower name fighters who would likely beat him and drop his stock value
3. He wants to avoid the hardest fight at 140 in Witter because he'd lose that without getting more big paydays and this is the best way to divert attention away from it even if he doesnt get the fight

This basically shows Hatton has no interest in beating the best at his weight because he has F All chance against Mayweather. Hatton hasn't earnt a shot at Mayweather and won't unless he puts some dazzling performances together

Also what happened to the 'I won't have any excuses after the fight, will Floyd?' All you here from Ricky is excuse after excuse - the ref wasnt fair, he used elbows, Im only a little 140lber and Floyds much bigger at 147 even though I outweighed him by 5lbs on fight night

Rickys angle is if you are going to get run over, its better by a Rolls Royce than a Skoda.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I would be pissed off if Mayweather fights Delahoya and then Hatton again because Mayweather-Cotto is what boxing needs.

Hatton is calling out Mayweather because

1. Its big money and hes looking to cash in again even if he loses
2. he doesnt want to risk himself against lower name fighters who would likely beat him and drop his stock value
3. He wants to avoid the hardest fight at 140 in Witter because he'd lose that without getting more big paydays and this is the best way to divert attention away from it even if he doesnt get the fight

This basically shows Hatton has no interest in beating the best at his weight because he has F All chance against Mayweather. Hatton hasn't earnt a shot at Mayweather and won't unless he puts some dazzling performances together

Also what happened to the 'I won't have any excuses after the fight, will Floyd?' All you here from Ricky is excuse after excuse - the ref wasnt fair, he used elbows, Im only a little 140lber and Floyds much bigger at 147 even though I outweighed him by 5lbs on fight night

Rickys angle is if you are going to get run over, its better by a Rolls Royce than a Skoda.

Yep and Witter is an insured Skoda as far as they are concerned

[KO Artist]

I think there is more chance of Mike Tyson boxing again than Hatton

[DG.]

Greed, pure and simple.

[harrygreb]

i dont think its greed, its ego. james was right about top level fighters. floyd has pin point accuracy and hurts just enough to emphasise his quality.
with a good ref hatton makes it to the end but is pretty beaten up in the process. he can then quit having avoided JW rather cleverly.

[DG.]

i dont think its greed, its ego. james was right about top level fighters. floyd has pin point accuracy and hurts just enough to emphasise his quality.
with a good ref hatton makes it to the end but is pretty beaten up in the process. he can then quit having avoided JW rather cleverly.

If it was EGO then surely he would want to PROVE he is the best in the UK and Europe? Beating PBF does not mean you beat Witter - the people would always want to know.

It is about money!

EGO is not being glad to finish the 12 rounds - EGO means you think you can win, HATTON knows he can not win, lasting the distance is no victory if EGO comes into it.

PBF rematch is Greed, imo

[silkov]

Mayweather would beat him easier next time, ...why should he get a rematch though?.... its not like he even went the distance at the end of the day.... he was outclassed simple as that...

[silkov]

i dont think its greed, its ego. james was right about top level fighters. floyd has pin point accuracy and hurts just enough to emphasise his quality.
with a good ref hatton makes it to the end but is pretty beaten up in the process. he can then quit having avoided JW rather cleverly.

If it was EGO then surely he would want to PROVE he is the best in the UK and Europe? Beating PBF does not mean you beat Witter - the people would always want to know.

It is about money!

EGO is not being glad to finish the 12 rounds - EGO means you think you can win, HATTON knows he can not win, lasting the distance is no victory if EGO comes into it.

PBF rematch is Greed, imo

I agree its greed, ....he just wants the payday and then to quit after he gets dropped again...

[Syntax Error]

Ricky Hatton plans to fight on because he cannot bear the thought of going out on a losing note.

The 30-year-old Manchester 'Hitman' was an unbeaten three-time world champion before he was stopped in the 10th round by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in December.

Now he plans to fight on to guarantee his legacy - with a re-match against Mayweather top of his agenda.

"I don't want my last fight to be that fight, me on my back getting counted out to my first defeat," Hatton toldThe Times.

"What sort of a champion would I be if I didn't come back and try and prove myself?"

Hatton does not want to be remembered in a similar vein to Naseem Hamed, whose career went into freefall after a defeat by Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hatton said: "Naseem Hamed's situation is a shame; he's one of the best fighters we've ever had, but unfortunately because of the way he bowed out, he's going to be remembered for his defeat rather than all the success that went before. I don't want to go down that same route.

"All the greatest fighters - (Rocky) Marciano being the exception - have lost and you become a good champion by coming back from adversity. If I come back stronger, people will hold me in even higher regard.

"There's one or two things I want to do and one of those is to prove people wrong.

"If you're a man, that's what you do. So I'd like to fight Floyd again; last time, I don't think I was given a fair crack of the whip."

Hatton revealed how referee Joe Cortez's refusal to allow him to get in Mayweather's face left him demoralised.

He added: "I have a lot of respect for Mr Cortez. Maybe he just had an off-night. And I was a little bit over-keen, over-eager and I made the cardinal sin of losing my composure."

Well, what do do we think the chances are of Hatton-Mayweather 2? If the money's right & there's a big payday for Floyd once again, I can't see him refusing the fight. However, I really don't see Ricky beating Floyd, no way!

During the interview, Ricky comments on the mistakes he made, but not once does he mention what Floyd did during the bout. I'm a big fan of Ricky's & wanted him to win on Dec 8th, but Floyd broke him down. I feel the accuarcy & speed of Floyd's punches caused Ricky big problems.

Big respect to Ricky for wanting the rematch. It takes bottle to even state your intention of going back in there with the guy who has just knocked you out.

I really don't see how the rematch can be different! If Ricky doesn't manage to secure the rematch with Floyd, will he still be able to be as motivated for other opponents? Let's face it, fighting Floyd, best P4P boxer in the world, is the highest scale. How could you not be motivated?

What Ricky really means is: "I WANT TO GET PAID, AGAIN!"

[hitman_hatton1]

i knew he'd want a rematch cos that's the fighter he is.

can't see him getting one though.

his only chance of getting one is staying at welterweight and try and fight miguel cotto.

if he was to win that fight he'd stand a chance.

beating the guys at 140 won't cut it.

[banjo]

all this talk about if hatton fought this way or that way he may win....bollocks!

he and his fans need to accept while he's a good fighter he isn't great. floyd mayweather is the best fighter of our generation and the only things that are gonna beat floyd are complacency and age. forget the 1st castillo fight, castillo didn't do enough to win and look how easy the rematch was for floyd.

[hitman_hatton1]

he and his fans need to accept while he's a good fighter he isn't great.

i'd put him in the very good bracket meself.

u don't beat fighters like tszyu and castillo in the manner he did unless ya a bit tasty.