Open letter to Ricky Hatton

[MightyWarrior]

Good research, Ian, but considering Ricky's will almost certainly be a 100% financial decision, how much did the fighters in your list get paid?

Good point KO. Mr Warren has just made the very same point to me.

Tell us more 8) He must've clocked that pretty quickly.

Excellent article Ian - and it's true, Hatton just has to look who Calzaghe and Harrison have lined up next to know the type of opponents SN will be lining up for him.

[J]

hmm i doubt it is printable on a family website

[KO Artist]

Making shitloads of cash is fine but sooner or later though you want to test yourself against the best, retiring with millions in the bank but with a pitiful legacy can't be very satisfying can it? Or am i an old romantic

I find nothing pitiful about Hattons legacy.

He has made millions and has beaten the very best man in his division.

Most boxers fail to even reach journeyman status and retire penniless.

To refer to Hattons legacy as pitiful is very harsh.

Glory is great, but you speak to all the old champs who are skint, i bet all of them would rather have the money now, and fornicate the glory

[MightyWarrior]

Too true...........

[KO Artist]

So let me get this straight- you don't want to see hatton in more big fights...

Warren's only trump card is the pay thing and if Hatton has any integrity he'd tell Frank to shove his money straight up Calzaghe's arse.

Hatton can make more in the long run in america anyway, if he gets a superfight that's PPV pay and will make a mockery of Warren's paychecks.

Too right, money is one thing but Hatton already has plenty of it. And he has to look at the bigger picture, Allegedly cannot deliver the big fights consistently. The top US fighters are not going to be willing to fight in Manchester, Hatton will have to travel then SN loses all promotional clout anyway unless they plan to stage US shows (which they tried and failed miserably in the past) and Hatton then fights on his opponents promoters bills. He'd be better as the house fighter in the US.

What makes you feel Warren cant deliver big fights.

He has just got Zoo over here for christ sake.

He also got Tyson over here twice,

He also got Don Curry over here, and McClennan.

The only reason Warren hasnt delivered the main belt fights in recent years is because he didnt have a marquee fighter who WANTED to fight the best.

In Hatton, he has just that and the big fights have arrived and will continue.

[nickd]

Too right, money is one thing but Hatton already has plenty of it. And he has to look at the bigger picture, Allegedly cannot deliver the big fights consistently. The top US fighters are not going to be willing to fight in Manchester, Hatton will have to travel then SN loses all promotional clout anyway unless they plan to stage US shows (which they tried and failed miserably in the past) and Hatton then fights on his opponents promoters bills. He'd be better as the house fighter in the US.

What makes you feel Warren cant deliver big fights.

He has just got Zoo over here for christ sake.

He also got Tyson over here twice,

He also got Don Curry over here, and McClennan.

The only reason Warren hasnt delivered the main belt fights in recent years is because he didnt have a marquee fighter who WANTED to fight the best.

In Hatton, he has just that and the big fights have arrived and will continue.

Bollocks, Tszyu travels as he is based in Australia. But the big boys like Mayweather, Judah, Cotto are not going to want to fight in Hatton's backyard Mayweather has already said he would never fight him in Manchester. So its the US for those fights and to be in the best postition for fights over there he needs a US promoter not a UK promoter trying to negotiate on other promoters bills. Far better him being the house fighter on perhaps a Top Rank promotion as opposed to a SN fighter on a Top Rank bill.

[Bard of Boxrec]

It's not worth waiting around to se IF frank will or IF frank won't. His recent track record of poncing around and shying away from big matchups says he probably WON'T, and I believe Frank WON'T. He's had years to match hatton with a top name, and he only delivered when he was forced to, with massive help from showtime. He's now likely to see that as enough, and match Hatton with exactly the same B level foes as he was beating up pre tzsyu.

If frank is so keen to deliver more big fights, why the hell isn't he saying so.

Oh, and bringing tyson to england to fight a sacrificial lamb for big $ isn't quite the same as matching his #1 ranked fighter with the world's best.

[E]

Good research, but frankly a pompous approach......

uh, why???

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

[J]

Good research, but frankly a pompous approach......

uh, why???

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

what planet you on, its format used all the time in boxing, try reading up before judging mate. thats the idea of an "open letter" you see fighters, promoters and journos do it all the time.

as for thinking who the eff is this guy, im sure Ricky knows who Ian is anyway so thats pissed on your chips.

ill let ian respond to you on internet scribe issue, but its needless to say you obviously dont read boxing news or boxing monthly very often.

[KO Artist]

It's not worth waiting around to se IF frank will or IF frank won't. His recent track record of poncing around and shying away from big matchups says he probably WON'T, and I believe Frank WON'T. He's had years to match hatton with a top name, and he only delivered when he was forced to, with massive help from showtime. He's now likely to see that as enough, and match Hatton with exactly the same B level foes as he was beating up pre tzsyu.

If frank is so keen to deliver more big fights, why the hell isn't he saying so.

Oh, and bringing tyson to england to fight a sacrificial lamb for big $ isn't quite the same as matching his #1 ranked fighter with the world's best.

But thats just it, he did match his no1 fighter with the worlds best.

Professional boxing is a business, mate. If Hattons wants glory above everything, he should have stayed amatuer and gone in the olympics.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'm halfway between both camps.

On the one hand, Hatton's combination of talent, desire and marketability is rare, and has allowed Warren to generate enough money to devlier the big fight with Tszyu, who was let's not forget, offered a 'career high purse' according to most sources at the time.

However, whether Warren can afford to risk what has become a massive cash now is another matter. Hatton is streets ahead of anyone else in his stable, except for Khan, in terms of bums on seats factor, and the concern of course is that out of fear of losing his major earner, he will not allow Hatton to fight abroad.

Hatton would definetly have a harder time fighting stateside,

One arguement in Warren's favour is that whilst he may not have delivered the big belts in recent years, his fighters are the highest earners, after all, why else would so many sign with him. He is a canny operator, a survivor, and has bounced back from numerous setbacks in his career as a promoter.

I've not always had the rosiest of times with SN, but it is undeniable that Warren is a good businessman. To keep afloat in what is a very difficult business, and to stay on top for well over a decade is some achievement.

Should Ricky stay or go? I don't know, I guess is depends on what assurances and contractual clauses he can get out of Warren.

[dondada]

Let's face it, Ricky and Ray are already aware that there are other promoters with more clout out there anyhow, or they wouldn't be talking to the likes of Arum, Main events etc. I doubt that they are going to decide on the strength of Ian's piece, and I don't mean any disrespect to Ian in that, I think it's an excellent illustration of the realities of the promotional world.

E - see above. Someone with James' intelligence has understood the nature of the piece - as has everyone else, I think, even if they don't agree with some of the content. And J has also just outlined that is the case.

It was an article, just in a different format. I'm not pretentious enough to believe for one minute that Ricky Hatton would read it himself...though perhaps he might. Sports Network certainly have. I'll be putting up a reply piece from allegedly (which is only fair, naturally) on BBN when he gets back to me.

Even if you did fail to grasp that it was merely a different type of article, what's wrong with writing someone a letter?

Hatton (on the extremely outside chance that he would read it anyway) might indeed think 'Who does this guy think he is?' Then he might look at the list and realise, at the very least, I'm someone who actually puts the time in to do the research.

I am indeed an 'Internet boxing scribe', you patronising shithouse. I'm also a trained journalist and have had copy published in plenty of media. When I need advice on how to be professional from someone whose pseudonym is slang for an illegal substance, I'll throw my keyboard out of the window.

[jamesmcdonnell]

uh, why???

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

what planet you on, its format used all the time in boxing, try reading up before judging mate. thats the idea of an "open letter" you see fighters, promoters and journos do it all the time.

as for thinking who the eff is this guy, im sure Ricky knows who Ian is anyway so thats pissed on your chips.

ill let ian respond to you on internet scribe issue, but its needless to say you obviously dont read boxing news or boxing monthly very often.

As a fellow 'internet scribe' I can also affirm that the 'open letter' is a well known and commonly used conceit used to illustrate a point.

Although the letter is 'addressed' to Hatton, it is of course a device used to speak to the general readership.

And it may surprise you to learn that 'internet boxing scribes' are growing in authority, and are often read by boxers, promoters and others involved in the boxing world.

[E]

uh, why???

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

what planet you on, its format used all the time in boxing, try reading up before judging mate. thats the idea of an "open letter" you see fighters, promoters and journos do it all the time.

as for thinking who the eff is this guy, im sure Ricky knows who Ian is anyway so thats pissed on your chips.

ill let ian respond to you on internet scribe issue, but its needless to say you obviously dont read boxing news or boxing monthly very often.

Boxing News is the best boxing magazine in the world no doubt, but the writing is not always tip top, Jim Brady being the main culprit. But I buy it without fail every week.

I also read Boxing Monthly every month and, though it pains me to say it, the writing in it is terrible...... amateurish and uninspiring. The Ring etc is even worse.

I would suggest that you read something other than boxing magazines and the Daily Sport and you will get a feel of what decent writing looks like.

The old 'Open Letter' format is melodramatic and rather tabloid - you will never see a serious publication use it....

[nickd]

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

what planet you on, its format used all the time in boxing, try reading up before judging mate. thats the idea of an "open letter" you see fighters, promoters and journos do it all the time.

as for thinking who the eff is this guy, im sure Ricky knows who Ian is anyway so thats pissed on your chips.

ill let ian respond to you on internet scribe issue, but its needless to say you obviously dont read boxing news or boxing monthly very often.

Boxing News is the best boxing magazine in the world no doubt, but the writing is not always tip top, Jim Brady being the main culprit. But I buy it without fail every week.

I also read Boxing Monthly every month and, though it pains me to say it, the writing in it is terrible...... amateurish and uninspiring. The Ring etc is even worse.

I would suggest that you read something other than boxing magazines and the Daily Sport and you will get a feel of what decent writing looks like.

The old 'Open Letter' format is melodramatic and rather tabloid - you will never see a serious publication use it....

You are talking shit I am afraid, boxers themselves use open letters all the time.

[J]

whatever mate, i forgot you were william wordsworth.

and tread very carefull one assumes if Ian teaches English and is trianed journo he might have forgotten more about writing than you will ever know.

Also i dont like the insinuation regarding the daily sport and boxing magazines, if you are implying i am thick mate, you are barking up the wrong tree. I also read numerous boxing books over the course of a year as well as boxing news every week.

and if you read Boxing news then you will have come across the odd article from Ian then.

Seems yo have alot to say about other peoples work id be very interested to read some of yours. If so do post us the link so we can critique if not how about shutting the feck up.

anyway i dont really care what you think to be honest, i thought it was an excellent piece, provocative, well reserached and heartfelt as did most others on here.

you always get one out there hey.

[E]

and tread very carefull one assumes if Ian teaches English and is trianed journo he might have forgotten more about writing than you will ever know.

Well by the same logic, no writer who has never boxed should write on it / criticise boxing as he has never done it????

[jamesmcdonnell]

Well addressing it as a personal letter to Ricky is a little pompous - like saying he should personally listen to a internet boxing scribe, considering all HAtton's achieved, it is a bit rich to address him in this manner.

If I was Ricky I would think 'Who does this guy think he is, he can piss off'

It would have been better if it was written as an articly - EG why Hatton should look at other promoters etc

More professional also.

what planet you on, its format used all the time in boxing, try reading up before judging mate. thats the idea of an "open letter" you see fighters, promoters and journos do it all the time.

as for thinking who the eff is this guy, im sure Ricky knows who Ian is anyway so thats pissed on your chips.

ill let ian respond to you on internet scribe issue, but its needless to say you obviously dont read boxing news or boxing monthly very often.

Boxing News is the best boxing magazine in the world no doubt, but the writing is not always tip top, Jim Brady being the main culprit. But I buy it without fail every week.

I also read Boxing Monthly every month and, though it pains me to say it, the writing in it is terrible...... amateurish and uninspiring. The Ring etc is even worse.

I would suggest that you read something other than boxing magazines and the Daily Sport and you will get a feel of what decent writing looks like.

The old 'Open Letter' format is melodramatic and rather tabloid - you will never see a serious publication use it....

Right, and which 'serious publication' do you know of that has regular boxing columns?

You are a patronising prick, and I'd love to know what qualifies you as an expert on journalism, seeing as you can't even spell fornicating article.

Boxing journalism by and large is more melodramatic, especially in boxing publications. It's a matter of style. Having worked with Ian closely on producing magazine based material, I can say he is capable of producing more than one style.

[KO Artist]

Though I dont agree with Ians yardstick of how many top title fights ahve been delivered by promoters, I think his is a good piece, the format of which (open letter) has been used in Ring Magazine going back to the 1940's.

Pomposity does not come into it. Boxers are usually quite down to earth and read boxing mags and websites.

I think it is very likely that Ricky will read it, and would be pleased that people are taking an interest.

I'd like to think he'd ignore Ians advice and go with my suggestion of resigning with Warren

[Bard of Boxrec]

It's not worth waiting around to se IF frank will or IF frank won't. His recent track record of poncing around and shying away from big matchups says he probably WON'T, and I believe Frank WON'T. He's had years to match hatton with a top name, and he only delivered when he was forced to, with massive help from showtime. He's now likely to see that as enough, and match Hatton with exactly the same B level foes as he was beating up pre tzsyu.

If frank is so keen to deliver more big fights, why the hell isn't he saying so.

Oh, and bringing tyson to england to fight a sacrificial lamb for big $ isn't quite the same as matching his #1 ranked fighter with the world's best.

But thats just it, he did match his no1 fighter with the worlds best.

Professional boxing is a business, mate. If Hattons wants glory above everything, he should have stayed amatuer and gone in the olympics.

Your attitude baffles me.

First of all, give me some credit for knowing how boxing works. Do you think I don't realise this is a money orientated business, like anything.

I am a boxing fan, and you are too. I however want to see the best matchups. AS A FAN. You want to see hatton get money fighting stiffs. I think I am in the majority with my view.

when american promoters have confidence in their fighter, match them with the world's best, and see them win, do they then look to rest on their laurels feeding the guy with soft touches? NO! Did you ever think jermain taylor WOULDN'T rematch Hopkins after he beat him the first time, as opposed to Warren refusing a return with Tzsyu irrespective of kostya's plans? What about Barrera, Morales, Mayweather? Did they think 'I've done enough' when they won their world titles and then just go into regression? NO! They furthered their career, doing would they could to maintain their status by fighting the best available.

FOR GOOD MONEY.

Again, I say that Hatton has the capacity for a megafight in America. They'd love him over there, he's THE champ at 140, and it'd be easy to fix a big fight that would make a mockery of Warren's cheques.

So tell me how it is financially better for Hatton to stay with Warren, I'm intrigued.

[nickd]

It's not worth waiting around to se IF frank will or IF frank won't. His recent track record of poncing around and shying away from big matchups says he probably WON'T, and I believe Frank WON'T. He's had years to match hatton with a top name, and he only delivered when he was forced to, with massive help from showtime. He's now likely to see that as enough, and match Hatton with exactly the same B level foes as he was beating up pre tzsyu.

If frank is so keen to deliver more big fights, why the hell isn't he saying so.

Oh, and bringing tyson to england to fight a sacrificial lamb for big $ isn't quite the same as matching his #1 ranked fighter with the world's best.

But thats just it, he did match his no1 fighter with the worlds best.

Professional boxing is a business, mate. If Hattons wants glory above everything, he should have stayed amatuer and gone in the olympics.

Your attitude baffles me.

First of all, give me some credit for knowing how boxing works. Do you think I don't realise this is a money orientated business, like anything.

I am a boxing fan, and you are too. I however want to see the best matchups. AS A FAN. You want to see hatton get money fighting stiffs. I think I am in the majority with my view.

when american promoters have confidence in their fighter, match them with the world's best, and see them win, do they then look to rest on their laurels feeding the guy with soft touches? NO! Did you ever think jermain taylor WOULDN'T rematch Hopkins after he beat him the first time, as opposed to Warren refusing a return with Tzsyu irrespective of kostya's plans? What about Barrera, Morales, Mayweather? Did they think 'I've done enough' when they won their world titles and then just go into regression? NO! They furthered their career, doing would they could to maintain their status by fighting the best available.

FOR GOOD MONEY.

Again, I say that Hatton has the capacity for a megafight in America. They'd love him over there, he's THE champ at 140, and it'd be easy to fix a big fight that would make a mockery of Warren's cheques.

So tell me how it is financially better for Hatton to stay with Warren, I'm intrigued.

Totally. Hatton has earned good money, but now with some stateside exposure and his marauding style he is in a position to go on to be one of the best earners in the sport - more than he could ever earn fighting on SN shows at the MEN. Just imagine how much Hatton would make from a PPV in Vegas against the likes of Mayweather?

[KO Artist]

It's not worth waiting around to se IF frank will or IF frank won't. His recent track record of poncing around and shying away from big matchups says he probably WON'T, and I believe Frank WON'T. He's had years to match hatton with a top name, and he only delivered when he was forced to, with massive help from showtime. He's now likely to see that as enough, and match Hatton with exactly the same B level foes as he was beating up pre tzsyu.

If frank is so keen to deliver more big fights, why the hell isn't he saying so.

Oh, and bringing tyson to england to fight a sacrificial lamb for big $ isn't quite the same as matching his #1 ranked fighter with the world's best.

But thats just it, he did match his no1 fighter with the worlds best.

Professional boxing is a business, mate. If Hattons wants glory above everything, he should have stayed amatuer and gone in the olympics.

Your attitude baffles me.

First of all, give me some credit for knowing how boxing works. Do you think I don't realise this is a money orientated business, like anything.

I am a boxing fan, and you are too. I however want to see the best matchups. AS A FAN. You want to see hatton get money fighting stiffs. I think I am in the majority with my view.

when american promoters have confidence in their fighter, match them with the world's best, and see them win, do they then look to rest on their laurels feeding the guy with soft touches? NO! Did you ever think jermain taylor WOULDN'T rematch Hopkins after he beat him the first time, as opposed to Warren refusing a return with Tzsyu irrespective of kostya's plans? What about Barrera, Morales, Mayweather? Did they think 'I've done enough' when they won their world titles and then just go into regression? NO! They furthered their career, doing would they could to maintain their status by fighting the best available.

FOR GOOD MONEY.

Again, I say that Hatton has the capacity for a megafight in America. They'd love him over there, he's THE champ at 140, and it'd be easy to fix a big fight that would make a mockery of Warren's cheques.

So tell me how it is financially better for Hatton to stay with Warren, I'm intrigued.

Easy, he will get better money, and better terms all round. He may also retain home advantage for some fights.

Hatton already earns more than most of the stars on Ians list, and that was BEFORE he became champion.

How many on Ians list earned as much as Hatton did up to and including the fight they became champion?

Hardly any if any at all.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hard to argue with that I think.

There is almost certainly more money for Ricky 'over there.' However, I guess there is always a risk in going with new promoters and fighting away from home.

In theory, with his showtime connections, there's no reason Warren cannot deliver big fights in America, my guess is that Hatton feels he has to overcome resistance on Warren's part, and his talks with other promoters may well be just to prove that if his wishes aren't met, he will go elsewhere.

I have a feeling Rick will resign with Warren.

[Bard of Boxrec]

But thats just it, he did match his no1 fighter with the worlds best.

Professional boxing is a business, mate. If Hattons wants glory above everything, he should have stayed amatuer and gone in the olympics.

Your attitude baffles me.

First of all, give me some credit for knowing how boxing works. Do you think I don't realise this is a money orientated business, like anything.

I am a boxing fan, and you are too. I however want to see the best matchups. AS A FAN. You want to see hatton get money fighting stiffs. I think I am in the majority with my view.

when american promoters have confidence in their fighter, match them with the world's best, and see them win, do they then look to rest on their laurels feeding the guy with soft touches? NO! Did you ever think jermain taylor WOULDN'T rematch Hopkins after he beat him the first time, as opposed to Warren refusing a return with Tzsyu irrespective of kostya's plans? What about Barrera, Morales, Mayweather? Did they think 'I've done enough' when they won their world titles and then just go into regression? NO! They furthered their career, doing would they could to maintain their status by fighting the best available.

FOR GOOD MONEY.

Again, I say that Hatton has the capacity for a megafight in America. They'd love him over there, he's THE champ at 140, and it'd be easy to fix a big fight that would make a mockery of Warren's cheques.

So tell me how it is financially better for Hatton to stay with Warren, I'm intrigued.

Easy, he will get better money, and better terms all round. He may also retain home advantage for some fights.

Hatton already earns more than most of the stars on Ians list, and that was BEFORE he became champion.

How many on Ians list earned as much as Hatton did up to and including the fight they became champion?

Hardly any if any at all.

Totally. Hatton has earned good money, but now with some stateside exposure and his marauding style he is in a position to go on to be one of the best earners in the sport - more than he could ever earn fighting on SN shows at the MEN. Just imagine how much Hatton would make from a PPV in Vegas against the likes of Mayweather?

[E]

Right, and which 'serious publication' do you know of that has regular boxing columns?

You are a patronising prick, and I'd love to know what qualifies you as an expert on journalism, seeing as you can't even spell fornicating article.

Boxing journalism by and large is more melodramatic, especially in boxing publications. It's a matter of style. Having worked with Ian closely on producing magazine based material, I can say he is capable of producing more than one style.

Allright settle down people! Not able to handle a little constructive criticism.... and labelling me 'patronising' - well personally I find it patronising that boxing journalists write about boxers and tell them how to lead their lives / fight when they have not been in the ring...

(Not necessarilly referring to anyone here, but it would be interesting to know out of curiosity if yourself or Ian have ever boxed, and if so at what level etc...)