Hatton unpopular amoungst real boxing fans?

[DaveyH]

I never said Hatton-Lazcano didn't sell well. My point was Hatton-Witter would have sold just as well if not better. The only reason I mentioned it was because Hatton said the reason he didn't want to fight Witter was because he didn't bring enough to the table financially. But I'm certain the fight would have sold just as well.

The old risk vs reward argument is just a polite way of saying a fighter doesn't believe in his own abilities to beat another fighter. Which looks bad if you ask me, especially when you're claiming you're the undisputed best at a certain weight but only if you don't fight certain opponents.

Anyway, Witter blew his chance, and I doubt he'll get another. But to me it was a bit of a cringeworthy time for Hatton and I bet he was damn relieved when Witter lost!

[DG.]

I never said Hatton-Lazcano didn't sell well. My point was Hatton-Witter would have sold just as well if not better. The only reason I mentioned it was because Hatton said the reason he didn't want to fight Witter was because he didn't bring enough to the table financially. But I'm certain the fight would have sold just as well.

The old risk vs reward argument is just a polite way of saying a fighter doesn't believe in his own abilities to beat another fighter. Which looks bad if you ask me, especially when you're claiming you're the undisputed best at a certain weight but only if you don't fight certain opponents.

Anyway, Witter blew his chance, and I doubt he'll get another. But to me it was a bit of a cringeworthy time for Hatton and I bet he was damn relieved when Witter lost!

Only took 10 years for Witter to lose, Hatton can breathe easy now.

He is a cash cow and not someone who need to woirk his way into contention..

Cash talks and he generates it.

[sharpei_louis]

I never said Hatton-Lazcano didn't sell well. My point was Hatton-Witter would have sold just as well if not better. The only reason I mentioned it was because Hatton said the reason he didn't want to fight Witter was because he didn't bring enough to the table financially. But I'm certain the fight would have sold just as well.

The old risk vs reward argument is just a polite way of saying a fighter doesn't believe in his own abilities to beat another fighter. Which looks bad if you ask me, especially when you're claiming you're the undisputed best at a certain weight but only if you don't fight certain opponents.

Anyway, Witter blew his chance, and I doubt he'll get another. But to me it was a bit of a cringeworthy time for Hatton and I bet he was damn relieved when Witter lost!

Only took 10 years for Witter to lose, Hatton can breathe easy now.

He is a cash cow and not someone who need to woirk his way into contention..

Cash talks and he generates it.

I agree, and I'd have had more time if Hatton had just have said 'you know what, I think I beat Witter, but he's awkward, can produce rubbish boring fights and I've got more to gain by fighting ...... (pretty much anyone)' What Hatton means in terms of the financial aspect, is that in big 'might lose' fights, you may as well pitch up against someone who generates some of the money themselves rather than a name who takes a big cut of all the cash you have generated yourself. That's why Witter needed a title, and why his chances went with losing it.

I would prefer Hatton to be cleaning out Bradley, completely unifying 140 and then chasing p-4-p, as I'm sure a lot of purists would have preferred him taking British, Commonwealth, European titles rather than some paper WBU title. However, looking at the likes of Thaxton and Magee, I don't doubt that Hatton could have achieved those levels, I just wish he had.

I totally agree and accept the point about real boxing fans. I got on my high horse a bit calling it snobbish, but I also laugh when I head the old' why doesn't Hatton fight Calzaghe question, which comes up with surprising regularity. And also when my overweight 5'7" friend declares that he'd have to fight at cruiserweight. And I say maybe that wouldn't actually be his natural division!

I think Hatton is under appreciated because of his overpublicity, like when a good song is on the radio too much. He's a better boxer than people give him credit, although not a classy boxer and not a p-4-p or atg stylist. He doesn't hold as much as people like to make out, and he has a style and technique of his own. But conversely his matchmaking has been poor until recently, and that's held against him. I think he's had a hard time from the purists in terms of criticising victories over Tszyu and Castillo, which to me are both good victories against not-shot fighters, albeit fighters not at their peak. The fact that his style has contributed to their defeats and they have gone on to look shot is overlooked IMO.

But for all my praise his popularity has wained somewhat with me with his own Nuts TV show etc, absolute self indulgent rubbish. I hate knowing what his mother and father look like - why should I know that? They should be in the background, behind the scenes, not central characters. What Hatton has done outside the ring - cashing in on celebrity culture - detracts from the aspects of his boxing I love(d?). I think I'll appreciate what he did when he's long retired, cause fighting bill-toppers in Vegas for a period of 4-5 years from 27-31 years is a pretty good achievement - I hope he keeps chasing the big fights. Beats the Sports Network patties (Amir Khan will never face another puncher) stuff we're being fed at home.

[hurlock]

why do people rant on about witter he's known in the states for not winning a round v judah & losing to bradley???
he stunk the gaff out against judah hence u.s tv not touching him with a ten foot barge pole.
i felt it was abit un sportsman like of hatton to not face witter as they was both goading one another hatton once jumping in the ring impersonating witter,& said b'coz he was disrespectfull he'd never give him a pay day...& hatton called out mayweather

[DaveyH]

Without wanting to keep on about it, I think your assessment of Witter is a bit harsh, Hurlock. Ok he is frustrating to watch at times, but up until the Bradley defeat he was WBC Champion, and also British, Commonwealth and European Light Welter Champ. However dull he may be, he worked his way up the hard way and while ever he held the WBC strap he was a legit contender.

Regarding Judah, come on, Witter was a 17 fight novice who took the fight at short notice. His previous fight was against Arv Mittoo, boasting a 7-31-3 record. Judah was the undefeated IBF Champ and considered the next big thing. Comparitively it'd be like Michael Lomax going in with Andre Berto and taking him the distance. Remember one judge scored the Judah-Witter fight 116-112, it wasn't a complete shut out like you suggest and even though the fight was dull, he should have been destroyed a la Lockett against Pavlik, Jennings against Cotto.

Hatton would have still won the fight but it was definitely a legit contest.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

why do people rant on about witter he's known in the states for not winning a round v judah & losing to bradley???

He actually won 3-4 rounds against Judah and made Zab look a bit foolish

[DaveyH]

why do people rant on about witter he's known in the states for not winning a round v judah & losing to bradley???

He actually won 3-4 rounds against Judah and made Zab look a bit foolish

Bloody hell does this mean we actually agree on something PN?

[WOODDDDDDDYA]

I have been reading and posting on boxing forums for a good five years and have noticed how real boxing fans have turned against Ricky over the last few years. I personally feel no different to him now than i did before the KT fight but a large numbe seem to be on his case, so why is this? here are some ideas which you may or may not agree with:
1. he is to over exposed and we here the same old sound bites over and over again?
2. That he has been adopted by the casual sports fan who when talk boxing only know Hatton and the hype that sky have fed them?
3. he didnt fight Witter?
4. His poor lifestyle outside of the ring?
5.his excuses to losing to PBF or bad performences?
6. how he seems to talk about himself in the third person?
7. playing the lad card with all the football, oasis BS?

As i said before i dont have a problem with the guy but wish he would sort out his drinking and lifestyle between fights as its a bad advert for the sport. I do hate all the fools & horses stuff mind.

I think you're right about the points you have raised but at the end of the day Ricky's a decent lad who's just doing his best. I think if Ali was fighting now, we would all get sick of hearing the same quotes and poems but again we all know he's a good guy. I remember hearing Leonard say that when he became a star all his old friends seemed to resent it and became envious. I think alot of people have this attitude with Calzaghe just because he's managed to retire unbeaten. Going back to Ricky, it drives my father mad when he always mentions the 'pound for pound title'!

[sharpei_louis]

Yeah it is irritating when Hatton talks about the pound for pound title - like it's some belt you can win. He seems to think that if you beat the p-4-p #1 then you become it in linear fashion. I don't think that's the case at all, if Hatton beats Klit, who's p4p, Mosley again, JMM? Definitely not Hatton anyway.

[MightyWarrior]

Can't say I'm a Hatton fan any longer, in fact this is the first time in 30 odd years that I'd actually like the other guy to win, rather than the Brit.
Just fed up with Hatton picking and choosing who he meets and who he ducks, year in year out.

We had the long, drawn out tear-your-hair out WBU years, which was all forgiven on that brilliant night when he took out Tszyu, but then all went to shite when he took on a string of near unknowns to follow - each one carefully veted and chosen by team Hatton. No real dangermen in there at all.
And you can't really say Mayweather was a risky fight - he had nothing to lose against the P4P #1, and a winning lottery ticket at the end of it. Plus Floyd was viewed and smaller and not a big puncher - a no brainer for Hatton that one.

And the Pacman fight falls into the same category. Fair play to him as they say, but I'll be hoping he gets mullered, personally

[hurlock]

Yeah it is irritating when Hatton talks about the pound for pound title - like it's some belt you can win. He seems to think that if you beat the p-4-p #1 then you become it in linear fashion. I don't think that's the case at all, if Hatton beats Klit, who's p4p, Mosley again, JMM? Definitely not Hatton anyway.

yes it is annoying but in his defence he must have to answer so many questions his answer are bound to get a bit far fetched as he trys to sound original.

he's selling the fight i'll think you'll find.dont know why he does though??it insults peoples intelligence.

if he'd beat mw he could of acclaimed p4p status as he was unbeaten,he really fancied it against mw as he was the smaller of the welters & not a real touted ko merchant but he got exposed like dog's nut's.

[shamboo]

Can't say I'm a Hatton fan any longer, in fact this is the first time in 30 odd years that I'd actually like the other guy to win, rather than the Brit.
Just fed up with Hatton picking and choosing who he meets and who he ducks, year in year out.

We had the long, drawn out tear-your-hair out WBU years, which was all forgiven on that brilliant night when he took out Tszyu, but then all went to shite when he took on a string of near unknowns to follow - each one carefully veted and chosen by team Hatton. No real dangermen in there at all.
And you can't really say Mayweather was a risky fight - he had nothing to lose against the P4P #1, and a winning lottery ticket at the end of it. Plus Floyd was viewed and smaller and not a big puncher - a no brainer for Hatton that one.

And the Pacman fight falls into the same category. Fair play to him as they say, but I'll be hoping he gets mullered, personally

Your fed with hatton picking and chosing dodging fighters what utter utter nonsense you speak. The man fought mayweather a guy at the top of his game(an alltime great boxing technician), he took a risk moving up to welterweight fighting a quality fighter in collazo, hes beaten castillio,some experts even thought malignnai would have too much for him
Now hes fighting pacman who has just destroyed de la hoya, shot or not he still did it in spectacular fashion. now hattons fighting his SECOUND lb per lb king at the top of his game in the space of two years, what more do you want??? please god dont tell me your a calzaghe fan?

[J]

ive given up defending hatton on here mate.

its like having a wank when your pissed, far too much aggravation and energy for very litle reward.