Graham's retirement forced upon him

[Captain Hook]

Good luck Billy....

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Is there anyone left who's a fan of the Hatton's? Seriously.

55,000 fans at his last fight.... Biggest live draw in world boxing



Edited by Mod due to offensive language

[MightyWarrior]

Noticed Graham didn't mention Hatton once in a recent article, which pretty much tells you all you need to know for his take on the situation.
If Hatton wants a new trainer fine, but his dad coming out with his usual bullshite PR ( it was Graham's decision to retire, when it obviously wasn't ) just adds the general impression that the man is a cock.

[Chambers2]

I've got no idea what went on behind the scenes, but Billys sacking seems harsh to me. I thought the 2 were very close/inseperable

[whiskey]

I personally think the bottom line is and this is only my opinion, that Ricky needed to inject some fresh ideas into his regime that had probably grown a little stale. I suppose people will always look for people to blame and point the finger, but that's just human nature all said and done.

I've read criticism of Ricky and criticism of Billy, things like Ricky wants to keep more trainer money for himself or things about Graham taking two weeks holiday off mid-camp for Lazcano or its Ricky's uncle's sister in law didn't quite see eye to eye with Graham which is all made up.

I don't think this situation has any of the undertones like Khan & Harrison had. To suggest there is a huge conspiracy about it all it is wide of the mark, especially singling out and blaming others around Ricky is utter nonsense. By all accounts it was Ricky that spoke to Graham about his decision, not a text from Ricky's Aunty's dog sitter.

I think Billy Graham is a real enigma and him and Hatton formed a great double-act. But things run their course with time and Ive read a few times that Graham's made no secret of his injuries, aches and pains catching up with him and it would seem more and more of the 'hands-on' training has been done by others as Billy's injuries prevent him putting the hours in as he once did.

I'm looking forward to what stylistic changes occur in Ricky's future fights. Despite losing to Mayweather and subsequently some of his invincibility, I think with Pacquiao on the up and Cotto getting beaten, suddenly the landscape around 135-147 is all beginning to change again.

If Rick regains some of the magic from a couple of years ago, there could be some very decent fights indeed on the horizon for the Hitman and i'm intrigued if nothing else, to see what Roach or a Mayweather training him for 12 weeks can produce. We could see the Hitman completely reborn and that's great news for British Boxing.

[telboy66]

Did he jump or was he pushed it seems very strange that Billy has picked this moment to retire with Ricky having maybe 2 or 3 more fights one would have thought he could stay until ricky retired also.
he came in for criticism over the fight plan against Mayweather & ricky's face forward defence against Lazcano but there was'nt to much wrong perhaps Ricky's been having his ear bent to make changes

[cslater]

Did Billy initially agree to abide by the "retirement" line with the Hattons then change his mind?

[acenabox]

Terry D Stick with the monkeys and rocket launchers

[Poncey]

Terry D Stick with the monkeys and rocket launchers

That is actually a joke, I don't think PETA would allow such a thing. You are supposed to read the text to the right of a persons name.

I see. I wondered why some people's posts were the same each time.

[twenty six]

Only Boxingchat could post "so much for telling it like it is"
The man who has more faces than the total number of thieves in Baghdad.

[acenabox]

Good response Terry

[Matt W]

I agree that it's low of the Hatton camp to announce the split as being due to Billy's retirement. He deserves better than that. I wish him all the best in his retirement.

[beagleboy]

And twentysix used to be such a staunch supporter of SN . What's changed ?

[Goz]

I personally think the bottom line is and this is only my opinion, that Ricky needed to inject some fresh ideas into his regime that had probably grown a little stale. I suppose people will always look for people to blame and point the finger, but that's just human nature all said and done.

I've read criticism of Ricky and criticism of Billy, things like Ricky wants to keep more trainer money for himself or things about Graham taking two weeks holiday off mid-camp for Lazcano or its Ricky's uncle's sister in law didn't quite see eye to eye with Graham which is all made up.

I don't think this situation has any of the undertones like Khan & Harrison had. To suggest there is a huge conspiracy about it all it is wide of the mark, especially singling out and blaming others around Ricky is utter nonsense. By all accounts it was Ricky that spoke to Graham about his decision, not a text from Ricky's Aunty's dog sitter.

I think Billy Graham is a real enigma and him and Hatton formed a great double-act. But things run their course with time and Ive read a few times that Graham's made no secret of his injuries, aches and pains catching up with him and it would seem more and more of the 'hands-on' training has been done by others as Billy's injuries prevent him putting the hours in as he once did.

I'm looking forward to what stylistic changes occur in Ricky's future fights. Despite losing to Mayweather and subsequently some of his invincibility, I think with Pacquiao on the up and Cotto getting beaten, suddenly the landscape around 135-147 is all beginning to change again.

If Rick regains some of the magic from a couple of years ago, there could be some very decent fights indeed on the horizon for the Hitman and i'm intrigued if nothing else, to see what Roach or a Mayweather training him for 12 weeks can produce. We could see the Hitman completely reborn and that's great news for British Boxing.

Yeah good post, probably the most realistic of the lot in Goz's opinion.

[Chambers2]

Only Boxingchat could post "so much for telling it like it is"
The man who has more faces than the total number of thieves in Baghdad.

You have a real problem with boxingchat, why?

BoxingChat started the Billy Graham is a cokehead rumour which hasn't endeared him to many

[HPI]

Finally there seems to be this notion that the appointment of Lee Beard will solve all in-ring issues. Scratch that. Lee is a nice guy but they need a top-level trainer. All we heard for a while was about how great Lee was doing with Matthew Hatton, as shown by Matt's Vegas form, then Lee gets him ready for Watson, Matthew loses, and Graham gets sacked citing that he is not around a great deal for Matthew to work with. That begs the question of who Matt worked with. Answer, Lee Beard has been working with him a lot, evidently it did not work in the Watson fight.

Also Beard was shown on Sky cameras working with Ricky Hatton as the new training team member. Fair enough. They adjusted the camp to freshen things up and changed a few things. Again fair enough. Unfortunately this change was followed by Hatton picking up a bad chest infection prior to his big comeback fight, this in turn meant that the fighter turned to the man who has helped him through problems before (notably in the Urango and Vilches fights), that man is Billy Graham. He has a track record for guiding Hatton through in-ring problems, Beard does not have this track record.
.

You seem to be quite close to all this Terry or if not making some bold statements, what do you know about the rumour that Billy wasnt happy about letting Lee have any input into Hattons preperation?

I find it interesting also that it would appear over the past few fights Billys input has been less and less with Matthew Hatton as he has been doing more work with this Lee beard chap, yet billy is in the corner no doubt giving contradictory advice to that which he received in his training? Thats bound to help in his fight with Watson isnt it.

The body belt they use may have served a purpose once upon a time but how many other boxers use one the size of bean bag? it leaves ricky with very to little to concern himself with in terms of finding the target etc. He cannot miss it for gods sake!!! Mayweather was laughing at it in the build up to their fight together, it simply doesnt develop the accuracy that fighters need when placing shots. I saw a vid over on hattons site a while back which one of the mods posted, showing Hatton on the pads with Breard and he looked energised and enthuisiatic about doing new stuff on the pads.

Another rumour mentioned in this thread is that Billy went on holidays for two week in the middle of Hattons training camp for the Lazcano fight. No matter what the circumstances this cannot be acceptable surely not. That fight was argubly Hattons biggest fight of his life and his head trainer swans off on his jollies, bang out of order if its true!

Macklin left and then Matthew so whats wrong within the camp? is it simply that Billy Graham is no longer physically able to carry out the role as well as he used to? or is there something deeper? maybe Graham has just been going through the motions riding on the crest of a wave and bagging loads of money in the process.

Ive read numerous things that state billy and ricky dont have a contract and he was getting upto 10%, fook me thats a hell of a lot of dough and if the team dont feel he can provide what he used to then good on them for making a business decision and not letting the heart rule the head. Ive read many forums over the years who have said that he should have got rid of graham years ago. I never bought that because they seemed a great partnership and always got the job done. Well that all appears to be changing, rumours of splits after mayweather and arguments in the build up between the team members all point to that partnership being strained. Others have suggested that Ricky has almost looked as if he isnt listening to Billy in the corner anymore and when that happens, its time for a change.

I aint saying the decision is the best for Hattons career, but one thing the evidence all points to is that his relationship was no longer at the point it once was and it would all end in tears.

[DavidPayne]

HPI,

Great perspective I'd go along with the suggestion Hatton looked uninterested in Graham's input in both Mayweather and Laszcano fights.

[acenabox]

Good news all round what has happened i think ! An enthusiastic, young and knowledgable trainer replaces the old guard

[DavidPayne]

I sense this story isn't going to go away easily. I suspect there is more be revealed.

[Poncey]

I sense this thread will be deleted or locked.

[acenabox]

Teddy 007 has issues doesn't he !
So Billy Graham has announced to anyone that is listening that he was sacked, and now, predictably, some people are up in arms saying “what a disgrace” and “he deserved better” etc etc. Whether he was formally dismissed from his duties or not, only the people in the room know, but I am sure that the Hatton family would have no intention of deliberately trying to belittle Billy Graham or what he has done with the brothers over the years. No one likes to be sacked, and if true Ray Hatton had no reason to paper over events, but he did to spare Billy’s pride. It’s now been thrown back in his face.
Quite regularly trainers and boxers become stale, repetitive training methods, lack of ambition to improve, lack of enjoyment and basically tiring of each other are all things that can happen when you work in a boxing environment. At this point both trainer and boxer have a decision to make, either stick with it to the bitter end, or look to freshen things up, bring in varied training ideas, and hopefully this will give the grind of day to day training a fresh injection of enthusiasm and improvement. The decision was made by the Hatton family to bring in Lee Beard to the camp over two years ago and he has worked quietly, and exclusively, behind the scenes with Mathew Hatton and Matthew Macklin. Lee did all the work with both lads up until the night of the fight, when Billy came in and did the corner. Not ideal. Lee continued to work with Matthew Macklin after he left the Phoenix Camp Gym until he linked up with Buddy McGirt and Paul Smith in the US and during this time with Lee, Matthew Hatton was rated as one of the most improved boxers in the country. Matthew lost his last fight, so he made the decision to have the person he works day to day with, Lee Beard, to have full control over his next camp. In seeing the day to day work with Matthew, Ricky brought in Lee as co trainer for the Lazcano fight and for the upcoming Mallinaggi fight. Billy, for whatever personal reasons, dismissed the idea and continued along the same tired road.
At one time Billy had Ricky and Matthew Hatton, Matthew Macklin, Paul Smith and Michael Gomez in the gym, one by one they all left. Why ? lack of personal attention ? lack of enthusiasm ? they are not all Ricky ? Who knows, but Billy was the man in charge.
The fact is Lee Beard is highly rated by all the boxers who work with him, along with Matthew and Ricky, Matthew Macklin enjoys working with him, as did Amir Khan. Floyd Mayweather snr (trainer of Floyd jnr. Oscar De La Hoya, Joan Guzman, Chad Dawson etc) rates Lee highly, and more and more boxers and trainers are beginning to request Lee’s services. Not bad for a lad who despite having 10 years training amateurs has no experience ! Where do people think boxers and coaches come from, off street corners ? Only when Lee has been given full scope to work with boxers in a training camp, something Billy would never allow, can those who have never worked in a boxing environment pass their ill informed “judgements”

[liamlion]

No one likes to be sacked, and if true Ray Hatton had no reason to paper over events, but he did to spare Billy’s pride. It’s now been thrown back in his face.

Thats ironic... Ray Hatton is the one to feel hard done by!!??

At one time Billy had Ricky and Matthew Hatton, Matthew Macklin, Paul Smith and Michael Gomez in the gym, one by one they all left. Why?

Lack of loyality, unable to take the blame for their own failings...

[WildWaylon]

Billy Graham said even before the Mayweather fight that he and Hatton had made a fortune out of boxing. He said he had more money than he could ever spend. So at 50+ with his health not as good as it was and plenty in the bank its a sensible decision to make. He also retires with the reputation of being one of boxings best ever trainers at the highest level. Was he pissed off with the Hattons love of money? I really dont know. Was he in conflict with Hatton Snr, again I dont know. One thing is for certain Graham was a dedicated trainer who wanted to retire when Ricky did. Money was no longer an issue for him, it was all about doing his job and Ricky winning fights. Something changed all that, but what exactly has yet to be revealed, and maybe the truth will never be known. Good luck to Billy in whatever he chooses to do with the rest of his life, first things first I think he deserves a good rest and time to think.

[sweetscience]

didnt Smith leave Graham due to FW

im not knocking this Beard chappie, i know nowt about him, but my first thoughts were that hatton will have sacked graham off cause there is no need to pay him £1or2m when he can pay this Beard geezer a pitance, which im sure he is on

i will plat shit if he is on a %

[acenabox]

So if lee is that f*cking good why did matthew hatton lose?
If you had the slightest inkling of what goes on in a corner during a fight, you would realise that the boxer looks for direction from the person doing his corner. If that cornerman is telling him to throw single shots, totally different to what he was working on in training, and absolutely the wrong tactics, there is a clue to why things didn't work out.