Hatton - did he benefit from firing Graham?

[johnswan1]

He looked awful against Lazcano before an improved performance against Malignaggi followed by a chilling KO against Pacquiao.

1. Did Ricky improve at all after getting rid of Graham or was it a case of too little too late?

2. Should he have moved from Graham prior to the Mayweather fight and would that have resulted in a different outcome?

3. Did Graham fall in love too much with the increasing TV exposure and resulting celebrity status he received (particularly after the 24/7 shows) to the point where he was reluctant to pack it in after his body already showed serious signs of doing so?

4. In the build up to the Pacquiao fight Graham was quoted as saying that Hatton would win easily. Was this a typical case of an ex-trainer trying to preserve his own reputation by suggesting beforehand that he would be unimpressed with a win?

5. Anybody know if these two have remained friends or whether there is still bitterness?

6. Was Rickys drug addiction rumoured to have been something that plagued him during his boxing days or was this something he developed after the Pacquiao defeat?

[whiskey]

Personally they say a change can breathe life into a tired formula.

For me Billy was a tremendous character and I could listen to his interviews and banter all day. Although he trained his fighters to be like buzzsaw's from the opening bell to attack, attack attack. His approach wasn't rocket science.

This was brilliant entertainment, but flawed against the very best and I think in the end, the talk of Graham looking on from the corner of the gym, unable to even do pads added to the momentum following the Mayweather defeat and caused cracks in their relationship.

I think during Lazcano, Ricky's "hardest ever fight, in his own words" in his career, given his previous defeat - Billy went off midway through camp for a Caribbean holiday or something (?)

After that poor performance and outside politics, it ended up in a split that seemed to have been handled very badly (from the public's point of view).

Against Malignaggi, when Beard took on the UK side of things he looked very polished indeed. Plenty of timing, making space for his work and controlling the action. He was awesome in that one.

Then Mayweather took over the full Pacquiao camp from the outset and by all accounts had Ricky charging up sandy desert mountains at 5am, before getting kicked in by middleweight southpaws all day. He was being pad trained in the Orthadox fashion - and the report goes Beard and Mayweather fell out because Beard was then trying to work on tech stuff important to the bout that Mayweather didn't bother doing.

Mayweather turning up after Ricky's hands were bandaged and he was warmed up, just 15 minutes before the fight - then him fooking off straight after, not even going to the press conference was dreadful. He wanted his cheque dropping off and that was that as far as he was concerned.

So did Graham OUT and MAyweather IN benefit Ricky ? god knows !

But at least Billy loved Ricky.

[johnswan1]

Excellent insight as always Gomez.

[Counter-puncher]

3. Did Graham fall in love too much with the increasing TV exposure and resulting celebrity status he received (particularly after the 24/7 shows) to the point where he was reluctant to pack it in after his body already showed serious signs of doing so?

i would say a strong 'no' to this one, I don't think Graham even likes the eposure that much. and if he was reluctant to pack it in, i don't think it was because he'd miss the exposure. i think it would have been because he really liked his job, working with fightersm, and he loves boxing in general.

[CB]

1) From the evidence I would probably say no.

2) Maybe he should have, as someone else has said it may have gave him fresh impetus but regardless the result would have remained the same if not maybe the manner of the result.

3) I don't think so he was very well known already by that stage.

4) Personally, I don't think he could have said much else. He wasn't in all reality going to say that he thought Hatton would get knocked out.

5) Haven't got a clue but it would be a big shame if they hadn't.

6) Drug addicition? Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't he just doing a bit of sniff here and then? Not as if he was the next Pablo Escobar and I would say it was unlikely and just something he got into after years of not being able to do it when (allegedly) some of his mates were.

[TheCobra]

I think Ricky probably needed the change of trainer as people have said to freshen him up and give some new insights. The split with Billy Graham seemed to be handled REALLY badly though, the Hatton's didn't come out of that with very much dignity.

The choice of Mayweather though baffled me from the start, I don't like the guy as a human being and got the impression he was trying to make Hatton into something he wasn't, he also had no bond with Ricky and didn't seem to care much for Hatton as a person, instead he was too consumed with his own ego.

Freddie Roach would have been the natural choice, Ricky could have got some tough sparring at the Wildcard and would have benefitted from Roach's more personal approach and the conditioners he has there, like Khan has. However Roach had Pacquaio and I guess with Hatton aiming ultimately for a Pacman fight, that would never have worked!

[hurlock]

hatton should of retired with graham.both had plenty of miles on the clock.

they worked well together.cant stand graham myself but he was the one for ricky.

as for mayweather snr he told hatton what he expected from him coming into camp, weight etc & that if he wanted to be near his sons level he'd have to do as he was told & he did & the results were good & then he fell back into his comfort zone again & mw never really entertained him with beard doing more.

great career tho & one of are greatest fighter's & he never doubted his ability & would charge anyone & thats why he was so loved.