A worrying sentence in Hatton's rant.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 09:11

I know I may appear paranoid, but on closer reading of Hatton's tirade against Sports Network, I couldn't help but notice what appears to be a ready-made get-out clause.

This is confusing. I find it hard to believe allegedly wouldn't have consulted Hatton regarding his purse for the fight, this seems unthinkable for a major promoter....

Is this a case of Hatton to try and wrangle more money, what's going on

This is the key sentence which worries me....

"But I am not worried and hope the purse won't prove to be a problem, even though these are things that should be ironed out beforehand."

Is it just me, or does this set alarm bells ringing?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Jul 2004, 09:26

Yeah I just read that. It's odd he's complaining in the papers, because SN have given him exactly what he wants. He went public saying he wanted Harris. He knew he had a big fight in October - a few days later he hears he's got Harris in October....

FW should have told him first, yes, and I'm surprised he didn't. But it's the sort of thing you'd sort out over the phone. There's trouble brewing. Ricky wants to get his head straight, not get into a public slanging match. He's a got a hard fight coming..

As for the money, well he must realise it costs to get a real world champ to come to your backyard, and your own purse will reflect that.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 09:31

My guess, and that's all it is, is that he's unhappy that Harris is getting so much of the pie, and is beginning

If that is the case, then he is the one being unprofessional, and not sports network, if he's so bloody keen at getting a crack at a world title, then he should be prepared to have to accept a pay cut.

Of course, we are not in full possession of the facts, so it's hard to start slanging anyone, but this is very worrying so soon after the announcement.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 16 Jul 2004, 10:47

Hatton's having a laugh.

He's the challenger for Harris's WBA belt and he's balking over purse parity? Who does he think he is? Oscar de la Hoya?

Ricky! Win the title, then the paydays will come.... or should I say come again!!? Because you tell me how many of the champions holding one of the main belts who get the £250,000-£500,000 that gets banded about when people mention what he gets defending his tinpot title bashing up lightweights?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 10:49

I must concur, if he's going to start carping about the money for this fight then my opinion of him is going to sink pretty rapidly.

Christ, he's earnt plenty for very little thus far, so he should be prepared to swallow a pay cut for a crack at a title.

He's got plenty out of boxing, and his fans deserve something back I think.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jul 2004, 10:56

I think he's already feeling a bit of pressure. These minor world champions are in a safety zone. They know full well the genuine champs wouldn't touch their crappy belts with a bargepole so can rant and rant about not getting the breaks and many people believe them. But, in some cases, they get what they wish for.
We all saw how Calzaghe coped with it.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 11:02

Yes, what's the old saying.

'Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.'

Well, it sounds very much to me like allegedly has kept his end of the bargain, and now Ricky must keep his. There may be more to this than meets the eye, but at the moment that is how it looks.

csmith · Post by **csmith** » 16 Jul 2004, 11:17

ricky deserves to earn well whoever he fights,as the biggest ticket-seller in british boxing,harris deserves a good payday also for travelling to the lions den to fight the local favourite,if the promotion doesn"t pay for itself then hatton or harris shouldn"t be expected to suffer financially,maybe its a price the promoter has to pay,he"s done well from hatton"s career too

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 11:21

Well, this is the other possibility of course, which is that Hatton feels that any deductions might come from his slice of the pie rather than Sports Network. However, I still think that Ricky's fans, who after all are the ones who pay most of the wages, are deserving of seeing their hero take on a genuine title holder, even if it means less money.

csmith · Post by **csmith** » 16 Jul 2004, 11:55

less money for who though,hatton could continue fighting average fighters and earn well,he"s taking the risk physically,let frank take the risk financially,this isn"t an early career fight where the fighter needs the promoter,its the other way around as i see it

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 12:01

It all depends how badly Hatton wants to be a champion.

After all, Hatton is the one who has been banging on about how badly he wants the shots, he didn't say anything about he will only take a title shot if the money is right, he threatened to walk unless he got the shot.

If it's all about money, then Hatton shouldn't be carping about not getting the shot at the title, surely he would be happy fighting lightweights in front of packed houses. He cannot have it both ways, it is either more important to be a champion, or more important to make money, either one is fine, but I think Hatton should be honest about it. I would have thought that taking a smaller cut for one fight, for the opportunity to be a genuine world title holder would be worth it, especially as it opens the door for even bigger paydays to come.

I understand what you are saying about the fighter taking the physical risk, and yes Hatton has made Warren a lot of money, but the reverse is true also. Warren has managed Ricky's career very well financially, and I don't think Hatton would be anywhere near as well off if it weren't for his association with Sports Network. I don't think another promoter would have made him as much money, though I am sure many other promoters would disagree.

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 16 Jul 2004, 12:45

yeah it's a done deal...just the small matter of the purse.

To be honest, i think it's all sorted. Boxing Time got an email from Main Events stating that everything is verbally agreed and it's just a case of Vivian putting pen to paper, and i think he'll be flying over soon.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 16 Jul 2004, 15:49

Maybe Ricky is only now realizing the magnitude of the task he's facing and wants big money in case he gets blown out. Maybe he thinks their will be no more big paydays if he loses.

theguru · Post by **theguru** » 16 Jul 2004, 16:15

If SN have a greed a price with Harris there will be no purse bid! Purse bids are a result of both opposing parties not agreeing terms.

Main events would maybe prefer to let SN pay their fighter than waste their money on Harris who doesnt sell well in the USA.

The advantage is with SN,

If Hatton is on £450,000 and Harris was reported to have got £150-£200,000 for Urkal,then that equates to £650,000 to cover the fight.

All SN have to do is agree a purse for Harris privately say £280,000,then put a bid in for £400,000 which would win the bid.Usually a champion fighting away from home gets 70% of the purse the challenger 30% ,each organisation has slighty different rules on what % split it is. £280,000 would = 70% for Harris that leaves Hatton with £120,000.So if SN pay usually pay Hatton £450,000 for the WBU,they have made a nice little saving of £330,000.Once again Ricky loses out.If Hatton had sense he would have in his promotional contract a clause that if he fought any of the current World Champions it would be X amount say £600,000, but I would think that there is also a clause "in the event of a purse bid" which would favor the promoter.All the promoter has to do is make sure he wins the bid with the minimum amount he can.Therefore it doesnt matter what Hatton has on the contract,the purse bid clause overides it.
Regardless of what anyone thinks you have to give FW credit for the Job he has done with Hatton,a ticket seller who can fight a bit and he has made Hatton a lot of money with minimal risk to his fighter.The skill here I am affraid to say is making a silk purse out of a pigs ear,and for that Frank charges a lot of money,which he makes on the Hatton promotions.
Could any of the other promoters done such a good job,I doubt it!

1.Brodie,Manchester,not as popular,well paid or marketed anywhere near as good Hatton.
2.Carl Thompson,his biggest purses and fights all with FW,Barry Hearn or Dennis Hobson couldn't revitalise his career.
3.Steve Foster got the big fights with FW.

Be careful what you wish for it might just come true,has been mentioned,lets just see

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 16 Jul 2004, 17:51

Another public attack on Frank.

It appears from the outside that there is a definate crack, and maybe soon to be crevice in the relationship between SN and team Hatton.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 19 Jul 2004, 04:23

I still dont think this will happen.

I hope it does, but I think the date/coverage problem will scupper this.

Hatton v N'Dou.

I'm still sticking with that prediction.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 19 Jul 2004, 07:15

It's a shame that Hatton's moaning about the money, but as stated by the others, he's done very well so far, financially. FW has made him a lot of money defending a worthless belt in his hometown against opponents that are just past their best; i.e. Tackie, Phillips etc. Now he's got a livewire world champion from Brooklyn who will definately fancy the job. Surely he can take a pay-cut just this once.
I'm no great fan of FW but he has certainly done well with Hatton and Calzaghe. Joe has made a lot of dough too without any real risk to his career apart from Robin Reid and Byron Mitchell.

I wonder what will happen if Hatton loses this one? Do you think Hatton will walk?

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 19 Jul 2004, 07:20

I doubt Hatton will walk - where is he walking too?

Too King? Who has too much money to make at Middleweight and Heavyweight to be worried about Hatton right now?

Hatton will stay with Warren, they have a long-relationship and if the Harris fight comes off - bottom line Warren has kept his promise. Made him 3-4 million, kept him safe and delivered the shot when HATTON demanded it.

You cannot ask much more than that can you?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Jul 2004, 07:22

No, but it seems Hatton already wants more, I think that Hatton doth protest too much, and one wonders whether or not Warren has been rather unfairly represented as being the obstacle in negotiations to the big fights being made, when Ricky perhaps has had a hand in preventing the fights happening.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 19 Jul 2004, 07:55

Possibly true.

But I still think the confusion over dates will be the core problem. Sure if they dont' marry up the money pot wont be big enough but its the dates/coverage/venue equation that currently doesn't work out.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Jul 2004, 08:42

Does anyone know which piece of the puzzle doesn't fit. As far as I am aware they have the venue, and they have showtime money, is it just Sky who don't have the date? Or am I getting it ass about face?

csmith · Post by **csmith** » 19 Jul 2004, 09:00

people have to remember that ricky hatton will sell out the MEN for this fight,that is 18,000 paying customers at an average of £50 ? per ticket, £900,000 in gate receipts alone,that gives him unique bargaining power domestically.add pay per view + other tv rights + spin-offs,there should be no reason for anyone involved to take a pay cut for a fight,least of all hatton.sports network + hatton have done very well from each other,but talk of pay cuts for a fight generating this amount of revenue is disrespectful.does anyone think de la hoya got paid less than felix sturm in a similar situation recently,of course not as de la hoya is the attraction even though sturm was the travelling champion.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Jul 2004, 09:13

How the fornicate can you compare DLH and Hatton!!! DLH is a genuine champion who has won proper world title belts from super featherweight to light middleweight, so leave it out mate.

The least of DLH's belts, the WBO, is still a country mile above the WBU belt that Hatton holds.

Nobody is forcing Hatton to take a pay cut, but the fact is, if he wants a genuine world title belt, then it is his choice. If you want to be a genuine world champion, then sometimes you have to take the thin end of the wedge. I don't care how big a draw Hatton is, if he wants to remain the king of the MEN arena, then so be it, but then he cannot continue complain about getting the big fights. He is getting to challenge for the belt on home turf, and should consider himself pretty fortunate to have been moved as well as he had.

Do you think Hatton would have made as much money with allegedly promoting him, not in a million years. Warren is open to criticism, but nobody can dispute that he makes his headline figthers very rich men indeed. Unless he went with an American promoter, I don't see any other way Hatton would have made the money he has.

J · Post by J » 19 Jul 2004, 09:19

Gotta be said it seems to me our ricky wants his cake and to eat it also, at the end of the day if he backs up what he wants he wouldnt mind fighting for say 150 k as opposed to his usual 300 k or whatever it hardly going to dent his lifestyle is it? He has stated he wants the prestige and glamour of a real world title belt. Now this has been delivered he should shut up in my opinion, get the fornicating fight signed and delivered beofre he starts moaning and back up all the talking with his training. Take thr frustration ot in the gym, sometimes you have to take a step back in life to go forwards you know.
He has got bigger things to worry about such as Harris in october.
Having said that we dont know all thi ins and outs but this is just the way it appears to me at present.

csmith · Post by **csmith** » 19 Jul 2004, 10:49

read again before you react with profanities,i was comparing the fact that dlh/hatton are huge attractions in their respective countries and fighting unknowns who happen to hold titles,not comparing dlh to hatton as fighters,its all conjecture and opinions,no opinions no forums,show some respect,this is a forum for opinions,not a chatline