Great win. Nice to see Kostya looking like he's still got it. The sky team got it spot on, wrong tactics from Mitchell. Although it might be a case of him not having enough left to fight any other way.
How will Hatton cope, should the fight come off? Still undecided. This fight showed me nothing that i didn't already know about Tszyu. He can be outworked by a decent pressure fighter, so the question is; can Hatton stand a few of those right hands? Because he's going to have to if the fight happens.
My gut feeling is Tszyu looks to fight Gatti, Cotto, or Mayweather next. If i had to make a prediction it'd be for Tszyu to ditch the IBF belt, go in against Gatti, and win the WBC version. Leaving Hatton to fight for the vacant IBF title.
Riddick Blowe wrote:WHY DOES ANYONE WANT TO SEE TZSYU/GATTI?
it would be a demolition.
Despite this tremendous performance, I still disagree - Gatti is better than Mitchell. In my opinion he has faster hands, hits harder. I still think that is an interesting contest.
I thought Sky were a little harsh on Tszyu, they were saying that Mitchell was either tactically wrong or shot. In my opinion he is not shot (view N'dou's performance vs Mitchell and compare it with his performance against Cotto). He had to fight that way simply because Tszyu wouldn't let him fight any other way. He was awesome and I think Hatton is all wrong for him. The first shot the wobbled Mitchell was landed when Mitchell was right up close (as Hatton said he would be).
Great performance by Tszyu, looked as good as ever from what we saw of him. I don't think Mitchell was shot it was just a case of you can only fight as well as your opponent allows you to. Tszyu simply impossed his will on the fight and basically walked through his opponent.
I think the reason Mitchell started relatively aggressively was he wanted to get Tszyu's respect and was hoping to catch him cold, banking on the Aussie being a slow start and ring rusty. But it of course didn't happen.
Even if Mitchell had of run more from the start Tszuo IMO would still have walked him down with simular results. Also Mitchell didn't seem to have the power to get Tszyus respect and keep him off him.
Riddick Blowe wrote:WHY DOES ANYONE WANT TO SEE TZSYU/GATTI?
it would be a demolition.
Despite this tremendous performance, I still disagree - Gatti is better than Mitchell. In my opinion he has faster hands, hits harder. I still think that is an interesting contest.
I thought Sky were a little harsh on Tszyu, they were saying that Mitchell was either tactically wrong or shot. In my opinion he is not shot (view N'dou's performance vs Mitchell and compare it with his performance against Cotto). He had to fight that way simply because Tszyu wouldn't let him fight any other way. He was awesome and I think Hatton is all wrong for him. The first shot the wobbled Mitchell was landed when Mitchell was right up close (as Hatton said he would be).
Gatti would get a worse beating than he got of Delahoya if he fights Tszyu. I don't think that Gatti has hand speed or foot speed anywhere near Mitchell the only chance he has is a lucky punch against Tszyu.
lirva33 wrote:i can see hatton vs Mitchell happening now. or maybe Mitchell isn't that shot yet. I can't see hatton beating Zoo if they had 100 fights to be honest.
Oh please don'y even say that!
I would love to see Tszyo V Hatton, I really think Hatton has a chance, although he would of course be the underdog.
I doubt it will happen, I assume Tzsyo will go after the big money fights hopefully Mayweather or Cotto, maybe even Spinks at Welterweight?
Haven't seen the fight yet, but what a nice comeback win for Tszyu! The thing I'm concerned about though, is how tight Kostya is at the weight, he looked extremely gaunt at the weigh-in and had those horrible indents at his temples. Maybe he just had to torture himself for this fight only, and he'll be more comfortable next time? If that's not the case, and his body just isn't accepting light-welter anymore, then I'd like to see him move up and face Spinks.
I think he has a good chance of kayo'ing Spinks - who was decked by Mayorga and put out on his feet by Judah. I think Tsyzu hits harder and more accurate than both those two and I fancy his chances in what would be a high-profile match. Hatton is more likely to fight Mitchell for the vacant belt if Tsyzu moves up, but it would still be interesting because I doubt Mitchell was 'shot' for this fight, more a case of just not having enough to beat Tsyzu. I also think he wasn't mentally right for this fight.
lirva33 wrote:i can see hatton vs Mitchell happening now. or maybe Mitchell isn't that shot yet. I can't see hatton beating Zoo if they had 100 fights to be honest.
Oh please don'y even say that!
I would love to see Tszyo V Hatton, I really think Hatton has a chance, although he would of course be the underdog.
I doubt it will happen, I assume Tzsyo will go after the big money fights hopefully Mayweather or Cotto, maybe even Spinks at Welterweight?
Manos de Oro wrote:Haven't seen the fight yet, but what a nice comeback win for Tszyu! The thing I'm concerned about though, is how tight Kostya is at the weight, he looked extremely gaunt at the weigh-in and had those horrible indents at his temples.
'If' he is tight or weak at the weight that can only be good news for a young, strong high, pressure body-puncher like Hatton.
However like you say this may be a one off, after a 22 month lay-off it would be undestanable for a fighter in his mid 30's to struggle with the last few pounds. If he remains active there is every chance it will be easiier for him next time, I assume.
Well, Hatton and Warren were all for saying that they'd like to get Tszyu into the ring. Wonder if they'll be in such a rush now. I'd imagine, now Tszyu has shattered Mitchell, that they'll be more interested in a Mitchell fight now than they were.
I've actually just watched the fight on Sky a little while ago (was playing golf this morning so missed it then).
Have to admit, I thought Tzsyu was awesome, especially after so long out of the ring. Sure, people can say that Mitchell has lost a lot of his speed but Tszyu was cutting down the ring, making Mitchell fight his fight, picking his punches and finished the fight likes the world class fighter he is. Hatton said afterwards that he reckons you have to get close to Tszyu to have the best chance. Easier said than done, I can see Tszyu picking Ricky off with those rights hands as Hatton comes on and, in time, they'll take effect.
Of course, I'll predict now that Hatton won't be fighting Tszyu in 2005.
I think Hatton won't last as long as Mitchell, Mitchell has a good chin and he was made to look like he had a glass jaw. Hatton is easier to hit and will be stopped within 2 rounds.
Kilburn wrote:The big question is could Hatton actually hurt Tszyu? Because if he can't then he's fucked end of story.
Tszyu has been Knocked Down a few times and stopped by Phillips a long time ago but i have never really seen him hurt in the early rounds or later ones for that matter accept against Phillips. I think the Phillips one was more from bad preperation and going to hard in the early rounds which he was winning easily. Hatton is a decent puncher but i don't think he can hurt Tszyu enough to keep him off him. I think as soon as Hatton feels a straight right he will be forced into a defencive fight and who knows how he will be on the back foot.
Kilburn wrote:The big question is could Hatton actually hurt Tszyu? Because if he can't then he's fucked end of story.
I'm sure he'd be able to hurt Tszyu if he landed correctly enough times but he wouldn't. Floyd probably wouldn't hurt Tszyu but that doesn't mean Tszyu would beat him.
Tszyu was hurt in the first round against Zab, but I really doubt Hatton hits hard enough to trouble him.
Still, it wont happen - Tszyu can pick and choose, and no doubt it'll be Gatti up next for a one sided battering. Bad match really, Gatti has NO chance. Kostya should fight Harris or Cotto next.
Yes a great performance, but that was a pretty dire performance by Mitchell, for a supposed rival world champion.
His legs seem to have gone: he took the punches better in the first meeting, when he supposedly had one leg, and I doubt Tszyu is hitting any harder than he was first time round.
Hatton & Warren must be kicking themselves for not taking on Mitchell when they had the chance. Good chance he might have walked through this latest version of Mitchell. Too late now........