Hatton Press Release

[FtmPress]

PUNCH PROMOTIONS PRESS RELEASE



RICKY HATTON will be trained by Floyd Mayweather Snr for his fight against IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas on November 22.

The American will be assisted by his close friend Lee Beard, who has been a key member of Team Hatton for more than year.

Mayweather Snr will fly into Manchester later this month and oversee training at Hatton’s new purpose built gym at the luxurious Village Hotel, Ashton-under-Lyne.

The 55-year-old is the father of Ricky’s old rival Floyd Mayweather Jnr, arguably the world’s number one trainer and referred to as the “poet laureate of boxing.”

Among the world champions he has trained are his gifted son, Oscar de la Hoya, Joan Guzman, and current WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.

Mayweather Snr is credited for teaching his son the defensive skills that helped him become an all time great.

Hatton, started his training camp for the Malignaggi at his new base on Tuesday with Beard in command for now.

He said: “At this stage of my career I am not going to change my style too much, but you are never too old to learn.

“I have spoken with my team and we are all sure that I’ll benefit from Floyd’s incredible knowledge.

"The fight against Malignaggi is make or break and I'm convinced this will be the best training camp I have ever had.

“I can’ thank The Village Hotel enough for all the help they have given me and it is fantastic they are backing a local lad in his quest to become the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.”

‘The Hitman’, dad and manager Ray, Beard, lawyer Gareth Williams and agent Paul Speak fly to Las Vegas at the end of next week.

Ricky, 29, will meet up with Mayweather Snr and also come face to face with Malignaggi at a press conference being hosted by Golden Boy Promotions at the MGM Grand on September 13.

A press conference will be held in England soon after when Ricky, Ray, Lee and Floyd will be available to answer all your questions.

[twenty six]

No mention of Kerry then.

[DavidPayne]

Is this the best selection for Hatton the fighter, or Hatton the money-making HBO star?

Lee Beard wouldn't have worked in the build-up commericials as well as Floyd Snr. would he?

And their partnership looks so unlikely...

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Is this the best selection for Hatton the fighter, or Hatton the money-making HBO star?

Lee Beard wouldn't have worked in the build-up commericials as well as Floyd Snr. would he?

And their partnership looks so unlikely...

a good point



When will people learn that boxing is a business?


If i were a fighter i be trained by Flavor Flav from Public Enemy

[oliverfennell]

Is this the best selection for Hatton the fighter, or Hatton the money-making HBO star?

Lee Beard wouldn't have worked in the build-up commericials as well as Floyd Snr. would he?

And their partnership looks so unlikely...

a good point



When will people learn that boxing is a business?


If i were a fighter i be trained by Flavor Flav from Public Enemy

And you might make money for one-fight, in which you'd be badly knocked out, and thus be unlikely to get a decent payday again. Depends if you want short-term income or something that will stand you in better stead later.

You're doing a lot of grandstanding about "boxing is a business", and a lot of what you say if fair enough, but the way you're going on, I'd swear you were a bigger advocate of Celebrity Boxing than the real sport.

[DavidPayne]

Hatton is ALL about the short-term and he could pick Mr. Bean to be his trainer and he wouldn't get knocked out by Paulie he came in the ring with a mallet, and no, I don't mean Timmy.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Is this the best selection for Hatton the fighter, or Hatton the money-making HBO star?

Lee Beard wouldn't have worked in the build-up commericials as well as Floyd Snr. would he?

And their partnership looks so unlikely...

a good point



When will people learn that boxing is a business?


If i were a fighter i be trained by Flavor Flav from Public Enemy

And you might make money for one-fight, in which you'd be badly knocked out, and thus be unlikely to get a decent payday again. Depends if you want short-term income or something that will stand you in better stead later.

You're doing a lot of grandstanding about "boxing is a business", and a lot of what you say if fair enough, but the way you're going on, I'd swear you were a bigger advocate of Celebrity Boxing than the real sport.

Yes i have been, and long time observers will be aware that most, if not all, of what i post is very much tongue in cheek and designed to get a reaction out of people.

anyone who takes anything i have ever said here seriously, needs their head examining

That being said, there are an awful lot of people on here who have a warped idea of boxing as a sport and have a strange notion that boxing wasn't always a business and that back x number of years ago, all the fighters fought the best, no-one ducked anyone and there were non of the politics that we get today. Which is hogwash of the highest order

I find it hard to stomach when people write, without any hint of a joke, that they despise Khan, Hatton, Calzaghe or whoever for taking the big money and softer option, especially as this is how boxing has always been, and how human beings have always been since the dawn of man!

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Hatton is ALL about the short-term

And with 2 fights, max, left, why wouldn't he be?

[Poncey]

That being said, there are an awful lot of people on here who have a warped idea of boxing as a sport and have a strange notion that boxing wasn't always a business and that back x number of years ago, all the fighters fought the best, no-one ducked anyone and there were non of the politics that we get today. Which is hogwash of the highest order

I find it hard to stomach when people write, without any hint of a joke, that they despise Khan, Hatton, Calzaghe or whoever for taking the big money and softer option, especially as this is how boxing has always been, and how human beings have always been since the dawn of man!

I will not mindlessly support a fighter just because he's British, ignorant in the fact that what he's doing is wrong for the longevity of the sport.

I care not about Hatton's fights (I think Malinaggi is a decent test), or Calzaghe (I'm going to that one), but I have a problem with a loud-mouthed prat that calls out Pacman and Murray, then fights an unknown Colombian with more losers on his record than a Bucks Fizz LP and charges an additional £14.99 for the pleasure.

Had he fought John, I would've probably paid. In fact I'd have gone. But when a fighter that hasn't won a British title, European title or World title sets a blueprint for the future like this, do we all have sit here and say "Ow, it's okay. He's British."?

What happens in 2 years time when we have another prospect, say Gavin for arguments sake, in his 10th fight as a headline on PPV?

Khan is a massive draw. But alienating fans like this (less than the 7.5m to 5m that regularly watched his fights will watch this) is the last thing we need right now.

[KO1]

In that charming article published in the British newspaper where Floyd Mayweather said his nickname is "PimpJuice" he said that Hatton was overrated and that the Hattons need me more than I need them ad infinitum, it is wonderful to think that he was hired for such a big payday.
His behavior in public is akin to Roger Mayweather's his brother with all the gutteral and embarrassing talk.

Ricky says he does not want to change his style but he has as much in common with the fighting style of Floyd Sr as John Wayne has with a drag queen. In all of Mayweather Senior's fights, he ran, dropped his left arm down by his hip and ran all night. Then I saw a video of Ricky making fun of how the entire Mayweather team from Roger to Floyd Sr uses the punch mitts to play patty cake and Hatton said it is useless in a fight for training purposes.

I believe Lee has a relative training in Mayweather's gym and perhaps this has something to do with helping each other. With Kerry gone, Mayweather knows absolutely zero about nutrition and one guy in DeLahoya's camp said that he is not a good trainer, but accepted as one because of his son. To have Billy and Kerry replaced with "Pimp Juice" is an abomination, an embarrassment and a disgrace.

[MR UNTOUCHABLE]

I thought Hatton was at Rimmers gym! A problem between the parties already? Surely not?

Using Mayweather is just a media excersise. It will not do anything for riky IMO.

I bet he's not getting as much as Billy and that's whats important.

I think the Hatton's most likely felt pressured into a name after getting rid of Graham.

[Happy Slapper]

Whatever Ricky does he will get criticised. I don't think its a bad appointment as a trainer. Floyd Sr has trained ODLH with success and Oscar's style is not particularly negative or Mayweather-like. Why can't he work for Ricky?

The only thing I do think is that maybe this is part of a longer term plan to lure Floyd Jr out of retirement for a rematch.

[whiskey]

I think Floyd Mayweather is a great trainer.

Lee Beard's son, Adrian, has lived with him for a while now and apparently when Rick hung out with Floyd they got along extremely well.

Just think of the sparring he can bring in - the likes of Joan Guzman etc in the future.

I'm looking forward to seeing a few little changes this time round and then maybe a bit more training together for whatever the next fight holds.

Agree or disagree - nobody can deny that this new chapter is not interesting at the very least !

[observer1]

Hatton is ALL about the short-term and he could pick Mr. Bean to be his trainer and he wouldn't get knocked out by Paulie he came in the ring with a mallet, and no, I don't mean Timmy.

He certainly has enough Sheep... i mean... "Fans" to get money for Nothing-fights. Such as Hatton-Lazcano. i dont think he actually cares much anymore, especially if he actually consideres Maligniaggi a World Class opponent.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Hatton is ALL about the short-term and he could pick Mr. Bean to be his trainer and he wouldn't get knocked out by Paulie he came in the ring with a mallet, and no, I don't mean Timmy.

He certainly has enough Sheep... i mean... "Fans" to get money for Nothing-fights. Such as Hatton-Lazcano. i dont think he actually cares much anymore, especially if he actually consideres Maligniaggi a World Class opponent.

So what is a real fan and what is a "fan"

I guess a "fan" is someone that goes to the live events, buys the PPV and has a good time watching boxing?


Whilst a real fan is a joyless miser, complaining endlessly on internet forums, never going to shows, never buying PPV's or even watching boxing on TV?

[dbf]

It's been well known that Ricky and Oscar have been getting on very well since the success of the Mayweather Jr fight.

I would not be surprised if Oscar reccomended Floyd Sr as he rates him very highly, and this is a man who has worked with the likes of Steward and Roach.

I wouldn't compare Floyd Sr to Roger too much in terms of training, especially the pads, as having seen Guzman, Dawson and Oscar on them, there is a lot less of the pitter patter routine.

Floyd Sr seems to have refined Guzman and worked well with De la Hoya, but I am not convinced that he work any magic with a boxer with Ricky's style. Maybe it is just a PR exercise after all.

I can't lie though, it will be exciting to see one of the big name trainers on these shores.

[Poncey]

I thought Ricky was going to Floyd?

[KO1]

I hope he does not try to teach Hatton his style of fighting that he used against Ray Leonard, arm down around his side and getting blasted into oblivion on the ropes. He was not a good fighter, his brother Roger was not him. As far as replacing Billy Graham and Kerry it is an abomination really. Oscar Delahoya used Floyd Sr's methods againt Floyd Jr and could not even break an egg with that style, never hurt Mayweather jr once, sorry the King has no clothes. He deserves a pay day over Billy and Kerry as much as much as Ben Ladin is going to a Bar Mitzvah in Israel. Great trainer on these shores? Please spare me. Is Angelo Dundee coming here? Because Lee's son is with him is not a 100% reason for Ricky to put himself into a person's hands who said in the Sun, "Hatton is over rated and he needs me more than I need him."

When insults are rewarded and old friends discarded something is terribly wrong, A recipe for bad karma.

[observer1]

Hatton is ALL about the short-term and he could pick Mr. Bean to be his trainer and he wouldn't get knocked out by Paulie he came in the ring with a mallet, and no, I don't mean Timmy.

He certainly has enough Sheep... i mean... "Fans" to get money for Nothing-fights. Such as Hatton-Lazcano. i dont think he actually cares much anymore, especially if he actually consideres Maligniaggi a World Class opponent.

So what is a real fan and what is a "fan"

I guess a "fan" is someone that goes to the live events, buys the PPV and has a good time watching boxing?


Whilst a real fan is a joyless miser, complaining endlessly on internet forums, never going to shows, never buying PPV's or even watching boxing on TV?

I have no problem with someone Following a Boxer (Be it a good one or a bad one).

But it gets pretty tedius and sad when they Claim Hatton is the next best thing sinced Sliced bread when he fights guys like Lazcano. Then afterwards calling him a down-to-earth guy, kinda like a good friend, ignoring the fact he is charging them £15 to watch him fight nobodies, then calling himself a great

[Loynesy]

KO1: nice vitriol and adjectives in the wrong place.

How about you post a lucid set of thoughts with sentences that go on more than six words?

[SticknMove]

Too many posters have a top down analysis about how good or a bad boxer is/was.

I hate the comparisons drawn with the the wrestling/martial artists that win some lose some that leads to thinking that this particular mishmash sport compares with the history and heritage that Boxing provides.

Some of the 'fans' that have got drawn into boxing have quite easily moved over to MMA/UFC because it provides a 'hardman' format. That sport is shite. Full of bells and whistles and can not compare with any genuine world class fight in boxing imo. I feel like a agenda making teacher now, but Discuss.

It may be off tangent given the thread, but some of the latter responses questions why younger audiences get drawn to this sport.

[allworld80]

[Marlin]

[dbf]

I hope he does not try to teach Hatton his style of fighting that he used against Ray Leonard, arm down around his side and getting blasted into oblivion on the ropes. He was not a good fighter, his brother Roger was not him. As far as replacing Billy Graham and Kerry it is an abomination really. Oscar Delahoya used Floyd Sr's methods againt Floyd Jr and could not even break an egg with that style, never hurt Mayweather jr once, sorry the King has no clothes. He deserves a pay day over Billy and Kerry as much as much as Ben Ladin is going to a Bar Mitzvah in Israel. Great trainer on these shores? Please spare me. Is Angelo Dundee coming here? Because Lee's son is with him is not a 100% reason for Ricky to put himself into a person's hands who said in the Sun, "Hatton is over rated and he needs me more than I need him."

When insults are rewarded and old friends discarded something is terribly wrong, A recipe for bad karma.

If that was in response to my previous post, then let me clarify. I said 'big name' trainer not great. Mayweather Sr is unproven working with someone of Rickys style as all of his fighters(to my knowldge - bar maybe Bojado) had a slicker style to start with.

Looking at Bojado, who was a talent, he didn't exactly set the world alight when he was under Floyd Sr's tutelage.

Mayweather Sr is a strange choice. But who knows what will happen as Ricky has been stuck in the same routine for so long. Will a change in prepartion and the lack of Kayes lead to problems with shifting the weight? No more body bag or jumping the bar? Or will Beard and Mayweather only supervise the pad work and strategy?