Glyn Leach wrote:jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Surely not Glyn, I cannot see people buying into Hatton v DLH right now, after a crushing defeat.
I agree that it probably isn't over - Oscar is an egomaniac, he will want to go out with a win - he'll probably have some sort of farewell fight - though considering he looked poor against Forbes and terrible against Pacman, hard to see who they could wheel out - Trinidad? Vargas, both are old and shot - and both need a payday no doubt.
Taking away media credentials - would never happen here of course - oh, wait a minute.......
Doesn't matter where taking away media credentials happens, it's wrong - but more so when some cheesy grinned fake nice guy does it. At least a real promoter will c*** you off to your face and you can have a row with them.
Re Oscar-Hatton, it's not about people James, it's about HBO and an event. Oscar's apologists are out in force already - 'he was drained, he made the weight wrong'. And maybe that's the truth! And let's face it, if people paid in their droves to watch Manfredo and Lazcano, even the ghost of De La Hoya could be considered marketable. Bit of spin, nice 24/7, yeah, that could work.
Fact is even before the fight Oscar was talking about Hatton at Wembley, win or lose. My take on PBF announcing his comeback on the very same day Arum was hinting at Hatton-Pac is that Floyd wants Pacman (and the P4P title again). Neither is hooked up to Golden Boy, it is a mega, mega fight from which they would take all the money, no grafter for Shafter and the boys.
Ricky, meanwhile, is already in bed with Golden Boy, under contract, making Hatton vs the 'rejuvenated' Oscar a natural. Oscar wants to fight in a big outdoor event and there isn't one on offer in the US. Same can be said for his buddy Hopkins, that's why Calzaghe will fight him in Cardiff, despite the first fight being as boring as hell.
It's not about people, it's all about GBP and HBO - what they want goes. They have already proved they believe bums on seats to be old school. If GBP can get the backing of HBO for a fight, it's a done deal.
And don't forget the way the ignorant national press in this country talked up Calzaghe's win over Shaun of the Dead Jones! Name recognition is worth far more than talent in this climate, sadly, and that is what GBP trades upon with it's roster of veterans.
Christ Glyn, you might be right, I really hope not, but I am probably discounting the overwhelming ignorance of the general public when it comes to boxing.
I recently had a conversation with a welsh bloke in the local boozer, going on about how much of a legend Cazlaghe was, and how his victory over Jones was 'amazing like' I soon set him straight on the reality of Calzaghe's 'legendary' career, and said in no uncertain terms, that his victory over Jones as a meaningless and cynical mismatch agaist the ghost of Jones Jr Past, and that Calzaghe was a massive twat for making the fight. His incredulity was palpable, and he was actually someone who considered himself a boxing fan.
I think Hatton himself wants Pacman - and that's the best hope we have for this fight not happening. I cannot see Oscar making 147 again though, or even wanting to try, and therefore what weight could they fight at, 154? Too much for Ricky, surely he's not going to go into a fight at that weight considering his poor showings at 147? Then again - its all about the money, so who knows?
Oh, and by the way, my take on Floyd is that he never intended to retire at all, but just couldn't be fooked to engage in anything other than megafights - which is compounded by the fact that he is a profligate spender, and is probably worrying about his bank balance, and is therefore thinking it's time to make 10 million dollars plus for a night and a training camp's work.
