Woods poised to rule light heavies

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 15 Jun 2006, 07:30

I have been really impressed with Dawson in every fight I have seen him in.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 15 Jun 2006, 07:49

nickd wrote:The big difference is Hatton has a huge following and Woods doesn't.

I find it a shame Woods doesn't get a huge following like Hatton does though. He is a champ after all so should be getting one.

Precisely.

However, you could argue that without Warren, Hatton would never have had that huge following, he was incredibly well moved and marketed was Hatton. His fighting style and persona helped, but Sports Network did as good a job with Hatton as I've ever seen anyone do with any fighter.

Hmm maybe Woods would be better with SN than FA. Warren is good as making fighters into decent names when they deserve it.

Warren did a great job no doubt.

Bear in mind Woods has been fighting in Leisure Centres and small venues most of his career, I dont think he's had too many fights at the Hallam Arena maybe 1 or 2.

I don't blame Haye for leaving them as most FA fights seem to be in Leisure centres mostly.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 15 Jun 2006, 08:08

But Woods has got so many chances through FA, i'm sure SN wouldn't have been able to secure him 4 shots at the title, 3 at home. He's IBF champ and has a fight with Johnson coming up, I think he's being very well managed.

Hatton is in a league of his own as far as popularity goes in this country

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 15 Jun 2006, 10:24

Lets be honest, would Woods have had cracks at genuine belts if he had been with SN? More likely he'd have been a WBU champion.

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 16 Jun 2006, 06:16

Beating Johnson gives Woods great cred and legitimizes his belt quite nicely, but it won't make him the undisputed anything at 175. I wonder when Tiozzo is going to die/retire so we can finally get some unifications going.

I don't know what Erdei is up to and Adamek has his hands full with King and Briggs and the WBC all trying to take his belt away.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Jun 2006, 06:26

nickd wrote:Lets be honest, would Woods have had cracks at genuine belts if he had been with SN? More likely he'd have been a WBU champion.

Yeah as long as he's good enough which he is.

i'm sure SN wouldn't have been able to secure him 4 shots at the title, 3 at home. He's IBF champ and has a fight with Johnson coming up, I think he's being very well managed.

Warren proved he can secure title shots with home advantage though.

Well managed having a title and fighting decent fighters yeah, exposure and good money no.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jun 2006, 06:59

The acid test is this, who is the richest active UK fighter.....?

Ricky Hatton.

Who did he make the majority of his money with?

Sports Network.

Over the years Sports Network have made me seethe at times, especially during the long run of bilge that was being served up regularly on Sky a couple of years back, but the fact is, they are good at what they do, and can deliver big fights when their fighters really want them.

Calzaghe v Lacy and Hatton v Tszyu, were two of the biggest fights featuring British fighters since the days of Naz, Eubank and Benn.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:01

jamesmcdonnell wrote:The acid test is this, who is the richest active UK fighter.....?

Ricky Hatton.

Who did he make the majority of his money with?

Sports Network.

Over the years Sports Network have made me seethe at times, especially during the long run of bilge that was being served up regularly on Sky a couple of years back, but the fact is, they are good at what they do, and can deliver big fights when their fighters really want them.

Calzaghe v Lacy and Hatton v Tszyu, were two of the biggest fights featuring British fighters since the days of Naz, Eubank and Benn.

True, my point is Hatton and Calzaghe are clearly elite fighters. Woods is a nice fella but he is a rung or two below them in all honesty. Would SN have delivered 4 title shots to Woods? I dont think so.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:02

They would of certainly delivered at least one when deserved and probably would of made him more money than what FA pay him.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:07

I don't think he would have got a shot, Woods wasn't a name when he got the Jones fight which made him. Who's to say SN would have made him more money? Also now being a IBF champ he is a position to make more than if he wasn't. Woods has only looked close to world class in winning and since his title.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:13

Lenny Albert wrote:I don't think he would have got a shot, Woods wasn't a name when he got the Jones fight which made him. Who's to say SN would have made him more money? Also now being a IBF champ he is a position to make more than if he wasn't. Woods has only looked close to world class in winning and since his title.

Exactly. Would safety first Warren have put Woods in a no win fight like the Jones fight? I dont think so. He'd have preferred to keep him winning in lesser fights. That defeat made Woods as you say.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:20

nickd wrote:
Lenny Albert wrote:I don't think he would have got a shot, Woods wasn't a name when he got the Jones fight which made him. Who's to say SN would have made him more money? Also now being a IBF champ he is a position to make more than if he wasn't. Woods has only looked close to world class in winning and since his title.
Exactly. Would safety first Warren have put Woods in a no win fight like the Jones fight? I dont think so. He'd have preferred to keep him winning in lesser fights. That defeat made Woods as you say.

Lesser fights? Warren has risked his fighters before.

You guys considered Lacy and Tszyu a risk.

Benn was considered cannon fodder to Mc Clellan yet Warren put him in with him.

Graham Brett · Post by **Graham Brett** » 16 Jun 2006, 07:42

jamesmcdonnell wrote:The acid test is this, who is the richest active UK fighter.....?

Ricky Hatton.

Who did he make the majority of his money with?

Sports Network.

Over the years Sports Network have made me seethe at times, especially during the long run of bilge that was being served up regularly on Sky a couple of years back, but the fact is, they are good at what they do, and can deliver big fights when their fighters really want them.

Calzaghe v Lacy and Hatton v Tszyu, were two of the biggest fights featuring British fighters since the days of Naz, Eubank and Benn.

Yes and lets face it its not hobson or waterman paying hatton its sky/hbo, via FA

Has Hatton had all his purse for the Collazo fight passed onto him by FA?.

Are SKY still interested in Hatton?