Hatton v Witter

[winkveron]

Anyone notice that Witter was working in Hatton's gym recently, sparring with Rabchenko? It was on Twitter. I might be being slow on the uptake, but seems they've buried whatever hatchet was there.

[mickey1975]

Anyone notice that Witter was working in Hatton's gym recently, sparring with Rabchenko? It was on Twitter. I might be being slow on the uptake, but seems they've buried whatever hatchet was there.

I'm assured by people who have met him, that Junior is a lovely bloke.

[Chambers2]

Pettiness and fear.

Nuff said

It was the biggest all British fight available for years, Witter wanted it, Hatton didn't

[mickey1975]

If I remember rightly, Hatton's story at the time was just that Witter had pissed him off in the past and he didn't want to give him the payday. I remember reading an interview with Hatton where he was like, "well he's doing alright for himself seeing as he's got a world title so maybe it'll happen" although it never did.

I never liked that and it DID seem like Hatton was ducking him. Of course, Witter did his rubbish snake hand lead thing against Timothy Bradley (who I remember thinking at the time looked like he'd be in trouble against Hatton) and lost the title. So that killed it stone dead. Bradley obviously sank without trace...

I just don't think Ricky fancied it. If you dislike someone that much, get in the ring and kick his arse.

By the time Witter picked up a world title Hatton was heading towards Mayweather, which had been the plan post-Kostya and was due to take in Gatti, prior to his defeat.

People can spout nonsense about being denied an epic fight, but Hatton's career was geared towards Kostya and Mayweather, both of those bouts required U.S. TV and fighting a domestic battle away from that TV radar wasn't part of the plan.

Hatton and Graham didn't fear Witter, not by any means, they just didn't need him.

Well said, terry.

[Cyclops]

If I remember rightly, Hatton's story at the time was just that Witter had pissed him off in the past and he didn't want to give him the payday. I remember reading an interview with Hatton where he was like, "well he's doing alright for himself seeing as he's got a world title so maybe it'll happen" although it never did.

I never liked that and it DID seem like Hatton was ducking him. Of course, Witter did his rubbish snake hand lead thing against Timothy Bradley (who I remember thinking at the time looked like he'd be in trouble against Hatton) and lost the title. So that killed it stone dead. Bradley obviously sank without trace...

I just don't think Ricky fancied it. If you dislike someone that much, get in the ring and kick his arse.

By the time Witter picked up a world title Hatton was heading towards Mayweather, which had been the plan post-Kostya and was due to take in Gatti, prior to his defeat.

People can spout nonsense about being denied an epic fight, but Hatton's career was geared towards Kostya and Mayweather, both of those bouts required U.S. TV and fighting a domestic battle away from that TV radar wasn't part of the plan.

Hatton and Graham didn't fear Witter, not by any means, they just didn't need him.

I don't like Witter's style and don't really care that much whether Hatton fought him or not ultimately, but he had a world title after Hatton had beaten Kostya and lost to Mayweather, and he fought Bradley almost at the same time as Hatton fought Lazcano. Hatton could have won a title and had an all British showdown in the process. It's not like people weren't calling for it, because they were. Most interviews I read with Hatton at the time they asked him about Witter at some point. Nobody was calling for Hatton to fight Lazcano. The fact that the fight sold out anyway illustrates your point that they didn't need Witter. But if they didn't fear him why didn't they fight him then instead of Lazcano, who brought nothing other than being an opponent? This is why: Lazcano was an easier fight. They didn't need him, and they didn't fancy it either.

I just always felt a bit sorry for Witter. Here's Hatton with millions and here's Junior, a guy whose quite rightly trying to talk himself into a big fight and earn enough to have a dream life, has earned a world title and is RIGHT THERE, and Hatton says he just doesn't want to give him the payday because he was rude to him once? That's the first time I started to dislike Hatton a bit. That, and his obsession with horrible racist comedian Bernard Manning.

[Lenny Cravats]

Because it would have been a horrible, dog sh!t fight, that's why.

[wrimc]

Its a shame it didnt happen. It wouldnt have been pretty Witter would have had a decent fight. As mentioned Witter struggled to sell out the Doncaster dome whilst Ricky was taking 20k+ to Vegas. Its a shame but it was the business of boxing. I think if they had met it would have been a messy close maybe even an SD win for Hatton. I dont think Witter would have liked some of the dirty tactics Hatton would have employed as he would get frustrated with WItters style.

[Trojans44]

Have to say I don't think its that bad to duck this type of fight in this type of situation. Hatton fought at elite level, secured a terrific legacy and financial future. He took all the aspirational fights and made it to the top. I think in that scenario its OK to duck someone you really think is tricky, has little to offer in career terms and who could completely derail your career.

What isn't OK is e.g. Calzaghe only fights nobodies until its just embarrassing or Ricky Burns rejects a great opportunity to enter the elite stage.

[brian13]

By the time Witter picked up a world title Hatton was heading towards Mayweather, which had been the plan post-Kostya and was due to take in Gatti, prior to his defeat.

People can spout nonsense about being denied an epic fight, but Hatton's career was geared towards Kostya and Mayweather, both of those bouts required U.S. TV and fighting a domestic battle away from that TV radar wasn't part of the plan.

Hatton and Graham didn't fear Witter, not by any means, they just didn't need him.

Am I reading that right in thinking Hatton was suppose to fight Gatti in around 2005 / 2006 ? - Sorry, I only became a fan of boxing a year or two after those year.

[Pugilist-specialist]

If I remember rightly, Hatton's story at the time was just that Witter had pissed him off in the past and he didn't want to give him the payday. I remember reading an interview with Hatton where he was like, "well he's doing alright for himself seeing as he's got a world title so maybe it'll happen" although it never did.

I never liked that and it DID seem like Hatton was ducking him. Of course, Witter did his rubbish snake hand lead thing against Timothy Bradley (who I remember thinking at the time looked like he'd be in trouble against Hatton) and lost the title. So that killed it stone dead. Bradley obviously sank without trace...

I just don't think Ricky fancied it. If you dislike someone that much, get in the ring and kick his arse.

By the time Witter picked up a world title Hatton was heading towards Mayweather, which had been the plan post-Kostya and was due to take in Gatti, prior to his defeat.

People can spout nonsense about being denied an epic fight, but Hatton's career was geared towards Kostya and Mayweather, both of those bouts required U.S. TV and fighting a domestic battle away from that TV radar wasn't part of the plan.

Hatton and Graham didn't fear Witter, not by any means, they just didn't need him.

Witter told Hatton he would destroy him in 2000 at Wembley - he didn't box Tsyzu until 2005. In this time he boxed 3 British fighters and some poor foreign opposition. They were both promoted by the same promoter and Witter's name was often put forward as an opponent.
Hatton claimed in this time that he had the fight written into his contract. Does anyone believe that was true?
Witter would occasionally bump into Hatton at shows or hotel corridors and felt that Hatton was intimidated by him.
Hatton and Graham didn't need him, but I don't believe that they didn't fear him or the fight would have happened.

[expe]

If I remember rightly, Hatton's story at the time was just that Witter had pissed him off in the past and he didn't want to give him the payday. I remember reading an interview with Hatton where he was like, "well he's doing alright for himself seeing as he's got a world title so maybe it'll happen" although it never did.

I never liked that and it DID seem like Hatton was ducking him. Of course, Witter did his rubbish snake hand lead thing against Timothy Bradley (who I remember thinking at the time looked like he'd be in trouble against Hatton) and lost the title. So that killed it stone dead. Bradley obviously sank without trace...

I just don't think Ricky fancied it. If you dislike someone that much, get in the ring and kick his arse.

By the time Witter picked up a world title Hatton was heading towards Mayweather, which had been the plan post-Kostya and was due to take in Gatti, prior to his defeat.

People can spout nonsense about being denied an epic fight, but Hatton's career was geared towards Kostya and Mayweather, both of those bouts required U.S. TV and fighting a domestic battle away from that TV radar wasn't part of the plan.

Hatton and Graham didn't fear Witter, not by any means, they just didn't need him.

I don't like Witter's style and don't really care that much whether Hatton fought him or not ultimately, but he had a world title after Hatton had beaten Kostya and lost to Mayweather, and he fought Bradley almost at the same time as Hatton fought Lazcano. Hatton could have won a title and had an all British showdown in the process. It's not like people weren't calling for it, because they were. Most interviews I read with Hatton at the time they asked him about Witter at some point. Nobody was calling for Hatton to fight Lazcano. The fact that the fight sold out anyway illustrates your point that they didn't need Witter. But if they didn't fear him why didn't they fight him then instead of Lazcano, who brought nothing other than being an opponent? This is why: Lazcano was an easier fight. They didn't need him, and they didn't fancy it either.

I just always felt a bit sorry for Witter. Here's Hatton with millions and here's Junior, a guy whose quite rightly trying to talk himself into a big fight and earn enough to have a dream life, has earned a world title and is RIGHT THERE, and Hatton says he just doesn't want to give him the payday because he was rude to him once? That's the first time I started to dislike Hatton a bit. That, and his obsession with horrible racist comedian Bernard Manning.

Witter meant no US TV, that's a big thing for any fighter, HBO and Showtime wouldn't go anywhere near him, TV is where the big money is, not ticket sales. Why feel sorry for Witter? He was a good fighter, but he was boring, no one wanted to watch him and was unmarketable, for what reason did he deserve a payday?

[mrbassie]

I'll never understand why people bring up Tszyu and Mayweather when discussing why this fight never happened but neglect to mention Aldo Rios, Denis Holbaek Pedersen et al.

[Pugilist-specialist]

[



Witter boxed Judah in 2000. Graham's a honest guy, he told me that Witter was not as hard to make as it was to sell and there was the issue of trying to accommodate it alongside Hatton's US drive, but some people will never get that as only see things from a UK perspective, they lack wider vision. They'd rather have a domestic fight that meant nothing long-term and historically than the Kostya, Floyd and Manny nights.

In 2000 Judah was being regarded as one of the next big things and Witter boxed him at 9 days notice. I don't buy it that US TV wanted Hatton to fight the likes of Rowland, Magee and Stephen Smith and a selection of foreign lightweights and super-feathers rather than a name who had just had a world title fight at that weight.
I also can't see that Graham believed in 2000 that boxing a kid from Bradford would have prevented a fight with Tsyzu 5 years later or Mayweather 7 years later.
You say that Graham is an honest guy. Was Hatton being honest when he repeatedly said that the Witter fight was written in his contract?

[Pugilist-specialist]

I'll never understand why people bring up Tszyu and Mayweather when discussing why this fight never happened but neglect to mention Aldo Rios, Denis Holbaek Pedersen et al.

Not to mention Pep, Bailey, Pendelton, Rowsell, Hutchinson etc etc

[rob h]

Hatton's WBU reign was an absolute joke. I don't know how anybody can deny that. Warrren and him pulled the Calzaghe trick for years fighting has been's or never were's.

[Cyclops]

Witter meant no US TV, that's a big thing for any fighter, HBO and Showtime wouldn't go anywhere near him, TV is where the big money is, not ticket sales. Why feel sorry for Witter? He was a good fighter, but he was boring, no one wanted to watch him and was unmarketable, for what reason did he deserve a payday?

A little thing called empathy. Some of us strive to make the most of our lives, and want the best for ourselves and family. A Hatton fight could have given Witter a great payday and put his kids through university, bought him a nice house, a better life. The fact that Hatton openly stated that he didn't want Witter to get payed as the reason for not making the fight (whether that was true or not) rankled me a little. I remember at the time struggling and wondering where my life would go, and to have the chance to earn a life changing amount of money denied you, by somebody who hadn't come from much himself and was now a big fat millionaire referring to himself in the 3rd person... It seemed petty and cruel.

I feel sorry for a lot of boxers actually. I'm such a f*cking woman!

[expe]

Witter meant no US TV, that's a big thing for any fighter, HBO and Showtime wouldn't go anywhere near him, TV is where the big money is, not ticket sales. Why feel sorry for Witter? He was a good fighter, but he was boring, no one wanted to watch him and was unmarketable, for what reason did he deserve a payday?

A little thing called empathy. Some of us strive to make the most of our lives, and want the best for ourselves and family. A Hatton fight could have given Witter a great payday and put his kids through university, bought him a nice house, a better life. The fact that Hatton openly stated that he didn't want Witter to get payed as the reason for not making the fight (whether that was true or not) rankled me a little. I remember at the time struggling and wondering where my life would go, and to have the chance to earn a life changing amount of money denied you, by somebody who hadn't come from much himself and was now a big fat millionaire referring to himself in the 3rd person... It seemed petty and cruel.

I feel sorry for a lot of boxers actually. I'm such a f*cking woman!

Witter brought nothing and wanted everything. Yes, he had a belt, but Hatton had two at light welter, won another at 10st 7lbs, then moved back down and took his IBF title back. Witter also struggled to sell out the Doncaster Dome when Hatton was taking 50,000 to Las Vegas, throw in that he was boring as well and he just didn't bring anything to the table and actually removed US TV as well. He could have at least tried to make his fights a bit more interesting to give Hatton a reason to take the fight. He shouldn't be short of money either, I know he wasn't a big draw, but he did have six world title fights, nine British, Commonwealth and European title fights as well as a world title eliminator. So, while he won't be a millionaire, if he's taken care with his money, he should be able to live comfortably, possibly while working part time, maybe as a personal trainer or if he wants to stay in boxing, as a trainer.

[palooka]

Witter meant no US TV, that's a big thing for any fighter, HBO and Showtime wouldn't go anywhere near him, TV is where the big money is, not ticket sales. Why feel sorry for Witter? He was a good fighter, but he was boring, no one wanted to watch him and was unmarketable, for what reason did he deserve a payday?

A little thing called empathy. Some of us strive to make the most of our lives, and want the best for ourselves and family. A Hatton fight could have given Witter a great payday and put his kids through university, bought him a nice house, a better life. The fact that Hatton openly stated that he didn't want Witter to get payed as the reason for not making the fight (whether that was true or not) rankled me a little. I remember at the time struggling and wondering where my life would go, and to have the chance to earn a life changing amount of money denied you, by somebody who hadn't come from much himself and was now a big fat millionaire referring to himself in the 3rd person... It seemed petty and cruel.

I feel sorry for a lot of boxers actually. I'm such a f*cking woman!

Witter brought nothing and wanted everything. Yes, he had a belt, but Hatton had two at light welter, won another at 10st 7lbs, then moved back down and took his IBF title back. Witter also struggled to sell out the Doncaster Dome when Hatton was taking 50,000 to Las Vegas, throw in that he was boring as well and he just didn't bring anything to the table and actually removed US TV as well. He could have at least tried to make his fights a bit more interesting to give Hatton a reason to take the fight. He shouldn't be short of money either, I know he wasn't a big draw, but he did have six world title fights, nine British, Commonwealth and European title fights as well as a world title eliminator. So, while he won't be a millionaire, if he's taken care with his money, he should be able to live comfortably, possibly while working part time, maybe as a personal trainer or if he wants to stay in boxing, as a trainer.

What Witter did bring was the very real possibility of an upset, that more than anything else was the reason the bout didn't go ahead, Witters style degraded into a hardly watchable mix up but in his prime he was very agile, very powerful and very tricky. Hatton would have had his hands full for sure and it's debatable whether Ricky would have had thousands going to Vegas (or if he'd have got to Vegas) if Witter had beaten him, and that is the crux of it; Ricky had a hell of a lot to lose.

[Pugilist-specialist]

Witter brought nothing and wanted everything.

He offered to fight him for nothing when they were with the same promoter.

[mickey1975]

Witter brought nothing and wanted everything.

He offered to fight him for nothing when they were with the same promoter.

And meant it? That's maybe why he has nothing and his rival is loaded?

[Pugilist-specialist]

Witter brought nothing and wanted everything.

He offered to fight him for nothing when they were with the same promoter.

And meant it? That's maybe why he has nothing and his rival is loaded?

Has the money done him good mickey? He was accused of being a "liar" and a "hypocrite" in court when his ex-trainer had to take legal action to get paid and his own family abuse him on social network sites.

Ironically, the man who wasn't the "man of the people" is still training at the same gym.

[banjo]

Hattons interest in 2006 onwards was to crack America and make big money, US TV had no interest in Witter, they gave the Hattons a list of acceptable opponents, Witter wasn't on it.