Mayweather v. Matthew Hatton an embarrassment, says Graham

[ianmx5]

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=24526

By Terence Dooley

Billy Graham caught up with BS.com to give his take on the rumoured fight between Floyd Mayweather and Matthew Hatton, a bout that could take place if the Pacquiao soap opera ends badly and Floyd decides to take his skills on the road as part of a ‘world tour of boxing’.

Graham has been up close and personal with both boxers; he trained Matthew and took Ricky Hatton into a showdown with Floyd. However, the trainer believes that this particular Hatton-Mayweather tussle is not a good advertisement for the sport of boxing.

“Matthew fighting Floyd is something that I don’t think will happen – it would be an embarrassment for Floyd to have that fight,” declared Graham. “It is a wonderful opportunity for Matthew and he can say he’s been in with the best but it wouldn’t be good for boxing, the fans, or Floyd Mayweather as it is a complete mismatch. Matthew would get a big payday and something to look back on but every time he threw a punch he’d be punished for it as he’s not in the same league as Floyd.”

The grizzled former trainer is a fan of Floyd; he believes that Mayweather can turn fights against the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez into public spars and that this does not bode well for Matthew.

“I would be quite disappointed in Floyd (if he took this fight), I really would”, he continued, “but everyone is entitled to an easy payday. Then again, and let’s face it, Floyd can go out and have an easy payday against someone like Marquez, that is how good he is, so why have this one? Matthew wouldn’t be able to land a punch and boxing would be embarrassed, but good luck to him.”

Speaking of Marquez, rumours persist that Juan could be in the frame for Ricky Hatton, who looks certain to make a return to the sport during 2010. Graham believes that the Marquez contest is a winnable fight for Ricky yet he also stated that this is not reason enough for Ricky to embark on a comeback.

“I don’t think there really is an ideal fight for Ricky to comeback for,” he declared. “I don’t know what Ricky has got left but Marquez is probably the safest big name out there for him because he’s relatively small. Ricky is a lot bigger than Marquez. I’m a big fan of Marquez, a fantastic fighter, but he’s a safe-ish fight for Ricky.

“I don’t think Ricky has got any trainers around him anymore, either, as the last ones he had were detrimental to him. I’ve taken enough flak and won’t go down the route of talking about Floyd Mayweather or Lee Beard but the fact is that they took away from Ricky Hatton, they made him more upright and tried to get him throwing shots that did not suit him, that is my opinion as an expert on Ricky Hatton.”

Speculation is already raging as to who will guide Ricky should he return to the ring. Graham, known for his extravagant taste in headwear, revealed that he would not throw his hat into the ring even if he were still actively training fighters.

“I wouldn’t take Ricky into any fight now. I wouldn’t even consider it as he’s done now,” he stated. “Look, all fighters who go on end up badly, look at what’s happened to Roy Jones, untouchable in his prime, a fantastic defensive fighter and he’s just been bombed out again. Ricky is in your face, he’s all action, he comes in and entertains the fans by doing what he does best, fighting up-close and to a pace. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Ricky is in any immediate danger, or has suffered any lasting damage through boxing, but he is best left alone.”

[ALI]

He's right on the money, and good on him for telling it like it is.

It would be the miss-match of the decade, the whooping of the century, and the final straw for all Mayweather fans with an IQ of average or above!

[hitman_hatton1]

Graham is right, but good luck to matty, imagine if he pulls of the upset of a lifetime

if this gets made it's another i can add to the worst matchmaking thread we currently have.

can't believe it's actually being considered by team mayweather.

they lose all credibility if they make this fight.

[Carbo]

When they say "Mayweather" in relation to fighting Matthew Hatton, I assume that they mean Roger's six year old son who looked fairly promising on Mayweather-Marquez 24/7?

Honestly, if the Mayweathers go for this, they'll loose more respect than a pissed chav girl who at 2 on a Saturday morning ends up lying in a pool of her own vomit with her legs akimo, mini-skirt up around her hips, showing a donner kebab sticking out either side of her panties, and a stag party taking turns to pose next to her for iPhone pictures.

[Spud]

Speculation on who will train Ricky Hatton - a "dark horse" is Richard Poxon - why do you ask - because he is already in the Hatton set up.

[Cossack]

Speculation on who will train Ricky Hatton - a "dark horse" is Richard Poxon - why do you ask - because he is already in the Hatton set up.

any more in-the-know posts spud? please tell us all your information, we really await hearing it. you are so connected in the game and so highly respected.

cheers mate. great to have someone with your knowledge and experience on the board. you have worked in the game and know so much about the current people involved. and lets not forget all the inside information that you have

[FLINT ISLAND]

Speculation on who will train Ricky Hatton - a "dark horse" is Richard Poxon - why do you ask - because he is already in the Hatton set up.

any more in-the-know posts spud? please tell us all your information, we really await hearing it. you are so connected in the game and so highly respected.

cheers mate. great to have someone with your knowledge and experience on the board. you have worked in the game and know so much about the current people involved. and lets not forget all the inside information that you have

[FLINT ISLAND]

It should have been obvious from the comeback opponet Floyd selected that his comeback was all about grabbing money.

He has even shamelessly said it openly in a interview he is just back to grab more cash.

He selected Marquez because he held every conceivable physical advantage over him - and need a payday to pay off the IRS tax bill he had.

Now he needs to pay off some gambling debts - so Matthew Hatton will do.

Manny Pac - he agreed to reluctantly because of the obsence amount of money that could have been made and he loves money so much. But even then he sabotaged that with his drug tests demands.

Forget Shane Mosley or Andre Berto - because they might be able to give him a real fight.

[FLINT ISLAND]

Its another exclusive interview scoop from Terry D D

[Chambers2]

Totally agree with Graham, Matthew Hatton Vs PBF would be farcical

[lefthook82]

I ould hope Haton knocks him out with 1 punch, legal or illegal

In boxing terms Floyd is dead to me if he takes this fight

[Chambers2]

I ould hope Haton knocks him out with 1 punch, legal or illegal

He couldn't take Floyd out with a Samurai sword

[alexpaterson]

This would be a joke of a contest. Hatton is domestic level at best, Mayweather is a top p4p fighter it would be an embarrassement