Ricky Hatton has died

[Nightmare Roy]

RIP Ricky Hatton.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve felt like shit all week ever since hearing the news. It’s bizarre I feel like I’ve lost a relative & I’ve never met the guy.

Felt.exacly the same mate, never been upset when a famous person died before, bit sad maybe but this was proper gutting. I had a bloke who I used to watch the fights with 20 odd years ago who I haven't seen in over 10 years get in touch, he felt the same. I guess a lot of us related to him, he seemed so happy back in the day, always used to love the sky clips of him and Billy Graham having a laugh and taking the piss out of each other.

[Steveh583]

With Witter, the risk reward didn't add up, despite the fact Hatton would have been a heavy favourite.
Furthermore Sitter needed Hatton for the payday, and because Hatton didn't like him, and could earn the same money elsewhere, he was happy to leave Witter fighting in leisure centres

without being disrespectful to the man, his memory or legacy, witter was all wrong for him and they knew it. I would have fancied jnr to have won. The "he was only known by the hardcore fans" argument doesn't hold water. After the floyd loss Witter was the WBC champ and it would have been the perfect homecoming. I appreciate this isn't the thread or the time, but it was a duck.

[Steveh583]

I think witter had the style to de rail the hatton machine so why risk it . Losing to mayweather and paccy . Well they were greats . But even then Ricky had an hard time getting over it. Idont think he even wated to chance a loss against Jnr

[Coco]

With Witter, the risk reward didn't add up, despite the fact Hatton would have been a heavy favourite.
Furthermore Sitter needed Hatton for the payday, and because Hatton didn't like him, and could earn the same money elsewhere, he was happy to leave Witter fighting in leisure centres

without being disrespectful to the man, his memory or legacy, witter was all wrong for him and they knew it. I would have fancied jnr to have won. The "he was only known by the hardcore fans" argument doesn't hold water. After the floyd loss Witter was the WBC champ and it would have been the perfect homecoming. I appreciate this isn't the thread or the time, but it was a duck.

Ducking is different to choosing not to fight someone

[THEBUTCH]

Apparently I'm of "a certain age" regarding Witter v Judah

Witter bemoaned about getting opportunities and was handed a thoroughly undeserved world title shot against Judah. It was a late notice offer because Jason Rowland pulled out through injury.

Somehow Witter is given a free pass by some for his effort. IMO Witter was 'effing abysmal and hell bent on survival ! Terrified of being knocked out by Zab, who was a very dangerous puncher to be fair.

The thing is untold boxers get late notice shots and try their best to win, even going out on their shield in the process. Not Witter.

Anyway, back to the immensely popular Hatton, who coined the funniest line of his whole career labelling Witter "Lord of the dance"

Hatton gold !

[Steveh583]

With Witter, the risk reward didn't add up, despite the fact Hatton would have been a heavy favourite.
Furthermore Sitter needed Hatton for the payday, and because Hatton didn't like him, and could earn the same money elsewhere, he was happy to leave Witter fighting in leisure centres

without being disrespectful to the man, his memory or legacy, witter was all wrong for him and they knew it. I would have fancied jnr to have won. The "he was only known by the hardcore fans" argument doesn't hold water. After the floyd loss Witter was the WBC champ and it would have been the perfect homecoming. I appreciate this isn't the thread or the time, but it was a duck.

Ducking is different to choosing not to fight someone

I respectfully disagree. the UK (and rickys fans) would have loved it. his team wanted no part of witter despite there clearly being a demand. when your local rival is the WBC champ and calling you out repeatedly, it would certainly have been bigger than lascano. its a duck.

not that i want to even argue about it at this time. hes been on my mind all week. just so sad.

[coneye]

without being disrespectful to the man, his memory or legacy, witter was all wrong for him and they knew it. I would have fancied jnr to have won. The "he was only known by the hardcore fans" argument doesn't hold water. After the floyd loss Witter was the WBC champ and it would have been the perfect homecoming. I appreciate this isn't the thread or the time, but it was a duck.

Ducking is different to choosing not to fight someone

I respectfully disagree. the UK (and rickys fans) would have loved it. his team wanted no part of witter despite there clearly being a demand. when your local rival is the WBC champ and calling you out repeatedly, it would certainly have been bigger than lascano. its a duck.

not that i want to even argue about it at this time. hes been on my mind all week. just so sad.

Its not an argument just a discusion , but i agree with Coco , he was'nt ducking has opposed to choosing not too , facts are Witters style would off been a nightmare for Ricky , Personaly i'm not so sure Witter would of beat ricky but interesting it would of been . So why did he choose , simple it would of made good money in Britain but Mayweather and Paccy sold worldwide , Ricky had a brand , a following and why risk losing against Witter which would of brought him down to earth and just a mere mortal ,

Basicly i think originaly it was just buisness and good buisness to give Witter a miss , later on it may have been more personal when Ricky said he did'nt want to give him the payday ,

Note Ricky did'nt fight Zab Judah either , I myself always thought whilst Ricky was good , i don't think he was has good has the British fans thought he was , , Against Zoo he was fighting a guy who had only done a couple of rnds in what 2 years , was coming off shoulder surgery and really was finished and just looking for a big cash out day what he got with Ricky , then on top of that just go back and watch it again , probably one of the most biassed displays of bad reffing and fouling you have ever seen , there was no way Zoo was gonna take that belt hme ,

Later in the day when he stepped up Ricky was'nt just beat he was WELL BEAT easily by the other top names , good chance Witter would off outboxed him so why Risk it

[Ruthless-RKO]

Same gets said with Khan.

Why risk a potential loss to your arch rival, when you can prolong it and still make millions elsewhere, which he did.

When he finally had nowhere to go, he then took the fight.

Khan and Hatton were way more popular than their rivals. Facts.

Hatton could have taken the Witter fight at the end of his career. By then Witter had taken few more losses too.

Even in 2012 was it? When he made that comeback fight, against Senchenko.

[veriton]

'Choosing not to' and ducking are the same thing when the fight is a natural to make.

Hatton didn't fight Witter because he might have lost before he made the big bucks in the USA. It was a business decision and if you look at it through that lens then it's the correct one.

However if you look at it through the sporting lens, it's a cast iron duck. Hatton had no problem fighting Mayweather for millions, even though Floyd was Witter on steroids (not literally obviously) but he and his team obviously didnt want to risk it for lesser cash on a smaller stage.

Anyway this isn't having a go at Hatton as I'd have probably done the same. It was Bunce and Crolla rewriting history, and neither of them can claim they hadn't heard of Witter.

[Controversial]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

Yh PRIZE over PRIDE!

It’s a short career. You’re in it to earn money.

[Controversial]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

Yh PRIZE over PRIDE!

It’s a short career. You’re in it to earn money.

Exactly, many are finished by the age of 30-35, they are a long time retired.

[Steveh583]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

I dont think lascano would have earnt him more than witter at that point in time tho

[TheLeprechaun]

Not normally one for watching these types of videos as I'd rather put on the actual fights themselves but this was a good recap of his career I thought.

[Controversial]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

I dont think lascano would have earnt him more than witter at that point in time tho

Witter lost the title to Bradley two weeks before Hatton beat Lascano. Witter wasn't a big draw so I just think Hatton saw bigger money elsewhere.

[TheLeprechaun]

Don’t most fighters do this, they all want as much money as possible, it’s prize fighting at the end of the day. I think Hatton would’ve beaten Witter anyway but I can see why they chose to get bigger money elsewhere, even if they were harder fights.

I dont think lascano would have earnt him more than witter at that point in time tho

Witter lost the title to Bradley two weeks before Hatton beat Lascano. Witter wasn't a big draw so I just think Hatton saw bigger money elsewhere.

That was the perfect time to make the Witter fight though. But Lazcano was an easier fight and US TV approved. We have to remember that Witter was banned on US TV for several years after the Judah showing. His stock plummeted after that one.

[Controversial]

I dont think lascano would have earnt him more than witter at that point in time tho

Witter lost the title to Bradley two weeks before Hatton beat Lascano. Witter wasn't a big draw so I just think Hatton saw bigger money elsewhere.

That was the perfect time to make the Witter fight though. But Lazcano was an easier fight and US TV approved. We have to remember that Witter was banned on US TV for several years after the Judah showing. His stock plummeted after that one.

Personally I don’t think Hatton was avoiding him because he thought he’d lose, I just think their eyes were on bigger fish.

[gilgamesh]

Witter lost the title to Bradley two weeks before Hatton beat Lascano. Witter wasn't a big draw so I just think Hatton saw bigger money elsewhere.

That was the perfect time to make the Witter fight though. But Lazcano was an easier fight and US TV approved. We have to remember that Witter was banned on US TV for several years after the Judah showing. His stock plummeted after that one.

Personally I don’t think Hatton was avoiding him because he thought he’d lose, I just think their eyes were on bigger fish.

If you're gonna lose, might as well lose to the biggest name for the biggest money possible.

[SeanBrennan]

Witter lost the title to Bradley two weeks before Hatton beat Lascano. Witter wasn't a big draw so I just think Hatton saw bigger money elsewhere.

That was the perfect time to make the Witter fight though. But Lazcano was an easier fight and US TV approved. We have to remember that Witter was banned on US TV for several years after the Judah showing. His stock plummeted after that one.

Personally I don’t think Hatton was avoiding him because he thought he’d lose, I just think their eyes were on bigger fish.

I quite liked Witter not getting the Hatton fight, Witter was always trying to goad him into a fight and Hatton just cracked on and did his thing. I don’t think he dodged him. Witter was hard to like as he was always a bit whiney, like Robin Reid 1999 onwards after SD vs Joe. Although I like Robin and ironically despite neither Witter nor Reid making big money, both held the WBC belt, albeit briefly in Reid’s case.

[JamesPhilips]

That was the perfect time to make the Witter fight though. But Lazcano was an easier fight and US TV approved. We have to remember that Witter was banned on US TV for several years after the Judah showing. His stock plummeted after that one.

Personally I don’t think Hatton was avoiding him because he thought he’d lose, I just think their eyes were on bigger fish.

I quite liked Witter not getting the Hatton fight, Witter was always trying to goad him into a fight and Hatton just cracked on and did his thing. I don’t think he dodged him. Witter was hard to like as he was always a bit whiney, like Robin Reid 1999 onwards after SD vs Joe. Although I like Robin and ironically despite neither Witter nor Reid making big money, both held the WBC belt, albeit briefly in Reid’s case.

Ageed. Also Hatton actually wanted the fight originally, but management steered him away and I think in the end he was persuaded not to give Junior the payday. Witter and Ingle overstepped the line especially after the Thaxton fight - which was also disrespectful to Jon after giving Ricky such a tough fight… especially as Thaxton was with Ingle

[SeanBrennan]

Personally I don’t think Hatton was avoiding him because he thought he’d lose, I just think their eyes were on bigger fish.

I quite liked Witter not getting the Hatton fight, Witter was always trying to goad him into a fight and Hatton just cracked on and did his thing. I don’t think he dodged him. Witter was hard to like as he was always a bit whiney, like Robin Reid 1999 onwards after SD vs Joe. Although I like Robin and ironically despite neither Witter nor Reid making big money, both held the WBC belt, albeit briefly in Reid’s case.

Ageed. Also Hatton actually wanted the fight originally, but management steered him away and I think in the end he was persuaded not to give Junior the payday. Witter and Ingle overstepped the line especially after the Thaxton fight - which was also disrespectful to Jon after giving Ricky such a tough fight… especially as Thaxton was with Ingle

I have just remembered that now you have mentioned it. Excellent point. You have a good memory.

[a force]

Same gets said with Khan.

Why risk a potential loss to your arch rival, when you can prolong it and still make millions elsewhere, which he did.

When he finally had nowhere to go, he then took the fight.

Khan and Hatton were way more popular than their rivals. Facts.

Hatton could have taken the Witter fight at the end of his career. By then Witter had taken few more losses too.

Even in 2012 was it? When he made that comeback fight, against Senchenko.

No comparison between the two for me.

Brook was a big name in his own right who had headlined PPV’s, had a big win in the States, sold out arenas & had big viewing figures on Sky.

Witter was the exact opposite of that. No fan base of any note & an unattractive style. The only thing he had going for him was the belt.

I don’t think it was strategic from Khan, I think he needed the money after the well publicised wedding venue disaster. I don’t think he ever had any intention of fighting Brook. He had two years out of the ring after Canelo & it was six years on from that fight that he finally fought Brook. I’ve never seen a fighter walk to the ring & look as beaten as Khan was that night. He knew he had no chance.

[a force]

The Hatton - Witter fight would have had to have happened pre-Mayweather.

It’s easy to say he should have fought Witter instead of Lazcano but if you remember Malignaggi was the chief support & the plan was for the winners to meet in a big Vegas fight which happened. Hatton then went straight into the Pacquaio fight after that.

He then understandably took a long break / retirement before coming back to fight Senchenko by which point Witter wasn’t really relevant as he had lost several times.

[JamesPhilips]

I quite liked Witter not getting the Hatton fight, Witter was always trying to goad him into a fight and Hatton just cracked on and did his thing. I don’t think he dodged him. Witter was hard to like as he was always a bit whiney, like Robin Reid 1999 onwards after SD vs Joe. Although I like Robin and ironically despite neither Witter nor Reid making big money, both held the WBC belt, albeit briefly in Reid’s case.

Ageed. Also Hatton actually wanted the fight originally, but management steered him away and I think in the end he was persuaded not to give Junior the payday. Witter and Ingle overstepped the line especially after the Thaxton fight - which was also disrespectful to Jon after giving Ricky such a tough fight… especially as Thaxton was with Ingle

I have just remembered that now you have mentioned it. Excellent point. You have a good memory.

Sometimes lol but I just remember at the time being shocked by their behaviour and you could see the hurt (understandably) in Thaxton’s face… Ingle is regarded as a saint for some reason but is far from perfect….

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

RIP - I genuinely believe Ricky's suicide is due to drug related lows. I used to have a female friend who would regularly wake me up at 5am talking about suicide and not making much sense otherwise. Each time she had heavily consumed cocaine the night before and she was facing a massive low after the massive high. She seemed fine the rest of the time. Ricky was known not just for drinking heavily but dabbling in the white stuff. I think that was the cause.

Ricky and anyone else struggling with substance addiction would do really well by going to a free organisation called CGL - Change Grow Live. Allot of the courses they offer really helped me overcome depression, even though I haven't overcome my drinking habit.

Apparently I'm of "a certain age" regarding Witter v Judah

Witter bemoaned about getting opportunities and was handed a thoroughly undeserved world title shot against Judah. It was a late notice offer because Jason Rowland pulled out through injury.

Somehow Witter is given a free pass by some for his effort. IMO Witter was 'effing abysmal and hell bent on survival ! Terrified of being knocked out by Zab, who was a very dangerous puncher to be fair.

The thing is untold boxers get late notice shots and try their best to win, even going out on their shield in the process. Not Witter.

Anyway, back to the immensely popular Hatton, who coined the funniest line of his whole career labelling Witter "Lord of the dance"

Hatton gold !

Witter-Judah being a poor showing is a myth created by American's who didn't know much about boxing not enjoying a tactical boxing match. They probably would of hated watching Pernel Whitaker, Willie Pep and let's be honest the likes of Larry Merchant hated Floyd Mayweather Jr too. As for 'thoroughly undeserved title shot', except for the fact Judah had already defended against someone Witter had beat.

Witter made Judah look foolish many times in that fight and held his own IIRC. This really isn't the thread to start a Hatton-Witter back and forth in anyway.

EDIT this was also when Judah was Showtime's golden boy 'A Pernel Whitaker with a knock out punch' they branded him as, so when Witter made him look bad they didn't want him anywhere near their golden ticket ever again