hatton/witter pay per view...

[kevo]

Think the Sky PPVs are usually around 15 nicker

[MightyWarrior]

Hatton can't really call himself champ at 140, linear or otherwise...

Of course he can, you can't be stripped of/dump a linear title, it can only be won or lost in the ring. As far as I know, nobody has beaten him, and there's nobody else that has a decent claim to the title.

Depends how you look at these things, you could lose claim to the "title" if you were perceived as ducking the real challengers to your "title", a bit like Larry Holmes in the late 80's: he was linear champ, but dumped his WBC title as the fights were getting too hard for his old legs.

There must be a lot of linear champs out there - if Shane Mosley got into a sauna for a few hours and made 135 - he'd be linear champ at lightweight once again.

Anyway, last thing we need is another bloody version of the world title.

[kevo]

I suppose your right. The linear title is like the pfp, in that its differs from person to person. Best to nip this in the bud now, before this thread descends into a 'Linear champ' argument, and god knows theres been enough of them!

[MightyWarrior]

I suppose your right. The linear title is like the pfp, in that its differs from person to person. Best to nip this in the bud now, before this thread descends into a 'Linear champ' argument, and god knows theres been enough of them!

You're not wrong there!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Hatton can't really call himself champ at 140, linear or otherwise...

Of course he can, you can't be stripped of/dump a linear title, it can only be won or lost in the ring. As far as I know, nobody has beaten him, and there's nobody else that has a decent claim to the title.

Yes he is linear but not undisputed, Tyszu wasn't undisputed either after his long time out of the ring. Look at the top 10 around the Tyszu fight:

Tyszu
Mayweather
Hatton
Harris
Cotto
Gatti
Witter
Mbaiye
Corley
Ndou

How many of those has Hatton fought? 1. Also for all we know Mayweather/Cotto/Harris/Witter all may have beat Tyszu that night.

Lets look at some recent linear champs - Erdei (175), Gonzalez (175), Baldomir (147), Shannon Briggs (HW) - Linear does not equal best

[kevo]

Nobody said it did. Fact of the matter is, Hatton beat Tszyu, therefore he is the linear champ.

[SIMPSONS]

Nobody said it did. Fact of the matter is, Hatton beat Tszyu, therefore he is the linear champ.

FCUK TyszU, he was 35 and only had a few rounds in as many years.

Fatton is a Fraud and is due to be exposed.

[rhino222]

im being serious, and i heard it on the radio yesterday, but hatton has been promised free pies for life from some kind of promotional deal.

by the looks of hattons waistline...i think it might be gingsters !!

[hitman_hatton1]

see.....here you go again, you are a clone of team hatton and you sound like spuds shoe shine boy.

you mention 'unification' ...

you mention 'title at a higher weight' ...

then hatton drops all of the titles and claims titles mean nothing.

please explain yourself!!!

spud jumped on my bandwagon ffs.

he had to give up the wba and ibf titles at 140 cos HBO refused the ben rabah mandatory. hatton would have kept both those titles if HBO had let him fight that fight. the wba would have made him a super champion.

he's given up the wba title at 147 cos he has been offered the castillo fight at 140. it's all pretty straight forward rhino, what's ya problem u old scruff.

witter has to earn his shot and beating old man corley and struggling against kotelnik and lynes ain't cutting it old man.

[Taki...]

styles make fights, and hattton would come at junior cos hatton knows no other way, so therefore there would be good action, witter v any counter puncher is a potential bore-fest though.

junior might be well behind hatton in the fan amounts, but he holds something that hatton will never have, the WBC crown....so if ricky wants it, and junior still has it, then hatton has got to come to the party. it would be a massive domestic event.

What are you on about? Hatton, despite his little trip into the welterweights, is still the linear champion at light-welter. The WBC 'crown' means sod all. Witter's title has zero credibility; he beats N'dou (just, even though he had his man down), follows that by getting an absolute gift against Kotelnik, fights a man out of his depth in Lynes (who was beaten more impressively by both Lenny Daws and Sam Malinga), and finally beats an over the hill Demarcus Corley, again, just. Witter desperately needs Hatton, not the other way around. And to be fair with the JLC fight just around the corner Witter will have to make do with his WBC 'crown' and the Arturo Morua's of this world... who knows he might not struggle, for a change.

Hatton may be 'linear', but a linear title does not make you undisputed best in a a division and a linear title can be abused by not fighting the best and Hatton is doing just that at the moment. Erdei is linear at 175 but he isn't near the best and doesnt go near the best unless the judges have been sufficiently bribed (Garay).

Witter/Harris/Mbaiye/Judah (hes back) are the top 4 contenders at 140lbs not Castillo who is unproven at 140 aged at 33 (when he fights at 140) got a gift against Cassa and lost and beat Corrales while cheating. Has he been chosen because its suspected Castillo will be aged like many Hatton opponents? Anyway it should be a great fight if Castillo still has IT.

Saying Witter got a gift against Kotelnik is bullshit, Kotelnik did nothing for 6rounds and Witter outworked him in the last round. That makes the scores 7-5. Witter looked bloody awful but he did win it. Hes looked better since by shutting out Corley.

Witter has been learning through mistakes against top10 opponents just like Hatton did when he made mistakes against Magee/Thaxton/Tackie/Phillips. Witter showed stamina and pacing himself problems and Hatton showed defensive problems that nearly saw him getting stopped.

I will give Hatton his props as a true champ (hes a top fighter already)when he faces the best and looks to clean out 140 (which is thin on the ground), any 3 from Castillo, Witter, Judah, Mbaiye, Harris. Or alternatively take the Mayweather fight thats been offered to him on about 5 occasions.

'Undisputed' is the most pointless moniker in boxing. A fighter can go from undisputed to disputed without losing, by fighting the best possible opponent and gettinf stripped, by picking up an injury, by not paying a sanctioning fees...and so on. 'Linear' carries far more weight because it doesn't rely on a bunch of dodgy governing bodies draping their overrated belts around a fighters waist. You win and lose a 'linear' title in the ring. Nowhere else.

Witter, M'Baye, Harris and Judah? I think I'll give a man who destroyed Diego Corrales a little more credibility than those fellows, even if he is moving up 5 pounds. Castillo and Hatton are the banner fighters at 140, irrespective of where the belts are.

When was Hatton 'nearly stopped' early in his career! Are you talking about the flash KD he suffered against Magee?
Witter has not improved at all in the last 3 or 4 years and it's questionable that he's even fought a top 10 140lb fighter. I didn't think N'dou was top 10 at the time Witter beat him I didn't think Corley was either (despite his lofty WBC ranking).

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

What are you on about? Hatton, despite his little trip into the welterweights, is still the linear champion at light-welter. The WBC 'crown' means sod all. Witter's title has zero credibility; he beats N'dou (just, even though he had his man down), follows that by getting an absolute gift against Kotelnik, fights a man out of his depth in Lynes (who was beaten more impressively by both Lenny Daws and Sam Malinga), and finally beats an over the hill Demarcus Corley, again, just. Witter desperately needs Hatton, not the other way around. And to be fair with the JLC fight just around the corner Witter will have to make do with his WBC 'crown' and the Arturo Morua's of this world... who knows he might not struggle, for a change.

Hatton may be 'linear', but a linear title does not make you undisputed best in a a division and a linear title can be abused by not fighting the best and Hatton is doing just that at the moment. Erdei is linear at 175 but he isn't near the best and doesnt go near the best unless the judges have been sufficiently bribed (Garay).

Witter/Harris/Mbaiye/Judah (hes back) are the top 4 contenders at 140lbs not Castillo who is unproven at 140 aged at 33 (when he fights at 140) got a gift against Cassa and lost and beat Corrales while cheating. Has he been chosen because its suspected Castillo will be aged like many Hatton opponents? Anyway it should be a great fight if Castillo still has IT.

Saying Witter got a gift against Kotelnik is bullshit, Kotelnik did nothing for 6rounds and Witter outworked him in the last round. That makes the scores 7-5. Witter looked bloody awful but he did win it. Hes looked better since by shutting out Corley.

Witter has been learning through mistakes against top10 opponents just like Hatton did when he made mistakes against Magee/Thaxton/Tackie/Phillips. Witter showed stamina and pacing himself problems and Hatton showed defensive problems that nearly saw him getting stopped.

I will give Hatton his props as a true champ (hes a top fighter already)when he faces the best and looks to clean out 140 (which is thin on the ground), any 3 from Castillo, Witter, Judah, Mbaiye, Harris. Or alternatively take the Mayweather fight thats been offered to him on about 5 occasions.

'Undisputed' is the most pointless moniker in boxing. A fighter can go from undisputed to disputed without losing, by fighting the best possible opponent and gettinf stripped, by picking up an injury, by not paying a sanctioning fees...and so on. 'Linear' carries far more weight because it doesn't rely on a bunch of dodgy governing bodies draping their overrated belts around a fighters waist. You win and lose a 'linear' title in the ring. Nowhere else.

Witter, M'Baye, Harris and Judah? I think I'll give a man who destroyed Diego Corrales a little more credibility than those fellows, even if he is moving up 5 pounds. Castillo and Hatton are the banner fighters at 140, irrespective of where the belts are.

When was Hatton 'nearly stopped' early in his career! Are you talking about the flash KD he suffered against Magee?
Witter has not improved at all in the last 3 or 4 years and it's questionable that he's even fought a top 10 140lb fighter. I didn't think N'dou was top 10 at the time Witter beat him I didn't think Corley was either (despite his lofty WBC ranking).

Well this argument could go on and on because as a Hatton fan you'll defend his career choices to the hilt and critisise Witter without objectivity. And in turn I'll be a critic until I see the man fully proven. Hatton is a fantastic pressure fighter, maybe the best at 140, maybe not, as a boxing fan I'd like to see put to the test, that is all.

The point about being undisputed is Hatton does not seem to be looking to fight the best (the top5 fighters in his division). Tyszu in his exile was stripped because he didnt fight the best contenders for years.

Top 10s Witters fought - Corley (obvious 1 hes been top10 for about 6years), Kotelnik (beat Abdulev), Ndou (edged Mitchell but got robbed). Witter proved himself at least top4 at 140lbs, maybe hes the best, only 1 way to find that out - see him fighting Hatton.

When was Hatton nearly stopped - Magee, Tackie, Thaxton and to a lesser extent Phillips. All had him close at 1 stage.

My point about Witter is he made foolish mistakes in punching himself out in 2 of his fights, which he will be unlikely to make again.

Castillo is a top fighter but 140 is a different league so he can't be ranked top5 in the division yet. Especially as his last title shot he lost to former Super-Feather Corrales who got outboxed by former past prime Super Feather Cassamoya, who Castillo in turn received a gift against. The funny thing is when Cassamoya was been mentioned as a possible Mayweather opponent after Gatti everyone said Mayweather was taking easy challenges

And you mention Corrales - well Castillo lost to him when all was equal, but out of Witter, Harris, Mbaiye, Judah - I'd expect them all to KO the weaker chinned battle scard Corrales at 140.

Hatton-Castillo is a top fight it just irks me to see Witter, Judah, Mbaiye, Harris frozen out of the world scene. How do these fighters get a shot at the linear champ? Because beating top10 contenders isn't enough it seems.

Another thing about Castillo is that whenever hes fought the best at 135 its been very close - Corrales/Cassamoya/Johnson - when he moves upto 140 surely he should be a level below against the best? Maybe not, maybe he'll be revived at 140

[G-man]

im being serious, and i heard it on the radio yesterday, but hatton has been promised free pies for life from some kind of promotional deal.

by the looks of hattons waistline...i think it might be gingsters !!

It's Holland's - i think this is a bit tongue in cheek on Rick's part before you all lay into him again:

BOXING star Ricky Hatton will be filling' on top of the world if he wins his next fight, as he will get a lifetime supply of East Lancashire pies.

The undefeated boxer heads to Las Vegas in January to take on Columbian hard-hitter Juan Urango in a bid to regain the International Boxing Federation light-welterweight title.

And a win will also see Ricky, 28, named as the undisputed super pie weight champion' thanks to Baxenden-based Holland's Pies, who are guaranteeing victory will taste even better.

For the company has pledged the Mancunian will receive free slices, pies, puds and rolls for life if he defeats unbeaten Urango at the Paris Hotel on January 20.

And Ricky, a self confessed lover of the pies, said he was pleased as punch at the edible incentive to come home a winner.

He said: "I'm a life-long fan of Holland's and when I'm not in training I can't get enough of them! I'm focussed on winning the world title in January and the incentive of winning free Holland's Pies for life when I return from Las Vegas with the belt is giving me extra motivation."

The company is 155 years old and was founded by John Whitaker in 1851 as a confectioner's shop in Haslingden.

It was bought out by Pork Farms in 1972, who were then bought by Northern Foods in 1979. It is now part of one of the UK's major food manufacturing groups.

Simon Clarke, Holland's business unit director said: "Joining forces with Ricky Hatton sees the union of two local heroes.

"We're really proud that Ricky is a fan of our products, and that he's taken time out of his training to help launch our new range.

"We wish him the best of luck for his fight in Las Vegas and we hope that our vans will soon to be dropping off free pies for Ricky and his family."

It is not the company's first foray into sport - the company has supplied the likes of Burnley FC in the past and in August confirmed they would sponsor the Coppice Terrace at Accrington Stanley's Fraser Eagle Stadium which is to become the Holland's Pies End.

[Max Molyneux]

witter has to earn his shot and beating old man corley and struggling against kotelnik and lynes ain't cutting it old man.

How did Hatton earn his shots too though?

Fighters are allowed bad night and Corley's the same age as Witter.

Witter had his shot hard while Hatton had it easy as Fw's cash cow.

Free pies, lucky bastard.

[Max Molyneux]

Holland's sausage rolls suck balls though.

[jamesmcdonnell]

In answer to that last point....

How about, "To shut him up for good and get a payday for an easy fight."

Whilst I agree that Hatton hardly needs Witter, there is definetly a reason to fight him, Hatton would still earn nicely out of it, and I'm sure he's confident of beating Witter, which I think he would, so, why not?

[MightyWarrior]

* Vivian Harris was a possibility for Ricky earlier this year, but he iffed and butted so Collazo, who had a world title, fought Hatton instead. I don't really see how Ricky can be avoided Harris when Ricky had KO'd Maussa who'd KO'd Harris.

But what about the real threat at 140: Miguel Cotto?

Rival champs @ 140 and Hatton moves up to 147. Cotto moves up to 147, and Hatton moves back down.

Coincidence? 8) ok that's maybe a joke - but not in Puerto Rico!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Good debate, thought I'd throw 10pence in...

1 Fight Academy will be announcing some major signings over the next couple of weeks, I've been told who they are and I believe the new additions will make the FA stable as strong as any promoter on the UK front.

2 What will it take for some people to accept Louie Collazo is a very talented young fighter? Collazo holds a win over Jose Rivera – who went on to win the WBA light middle belt and is about to make his third defense. Collazo is also fighting Shane Mosley in March (perhaps at light middle!). And when – not if - Collazo beats Mosley, then hopefully people will come to realize just what kind of fighter Hatton was in with last May. And, yes, I am a Collazo fan ever since I met him in 2004. Great guy and good mix of clever boxing and fighting.

3 Hatton has more right to call himself junior welter champ than Witter. Hatton stopped the linear champion and then the reigning WBA champ. Witter picked up a vacant title against a shot to pieces Chop Chop – 3-3 in his last 6! - and stunk the place out in front of about 600 bored Darren Barker and John Murray fans. Witter couldn't draw money if you dipped him in glue and dragged him through Fort Knox. Ricky Hatton would sell more tickets to him playing cards than Witter does to his efforts in the ring.

4 RHINO - (hello mate, hope you are well) HBO will not have Junior Witter for Ricky Hatton. Period. From from HBO have told me - they will not have Junior Witter. Period. Witter was actually turned down as an opponent for Hopkins on Boxing After Dark FFS! And we all know how rubbish BAD has been of late. The Judah fight ruined Junior's rep in the US and, what, you think Mark Taffet will change his mind if he sees tapes of Junior struggling to defeat Lynes? Of him needing a gift decision not to lose his EBU title to Andreas Kotelnik? Or how about him literally standing still for 30seconds at a time v Corley?

5 Junior Witter's entire career is based on the fact that Ricky Hatton and he live in the same country. Other than being born in England, he's achieved nothing to set himself up as an opponent for Hatton. And fighting a never-was like Morua – who has lost SEVEN times in the last 5 years – is not gonna change that no matter how insulting he gets in press releases.

6 Witter can't beat the likes of Kotelnik but he'd have beaten Tszyu? That supposed to be funny?

7 Hatton v Castillo is not like Calzaghe v Taylor/Wright... that's to say it is not some "plan" or a best-case wish-list. It is happening, terms have been agreed for some time. It's done. It'll happen in the summer.

8 What "top 10" fighters has Witter beaten? I'll give you Ndou - but he's one fighter, not fighterS.

9 Vivian Harris was a possibility for Ricky earlier this year, but he iffed and butted so Collazo, who had a world title, fought Hatton instead. I don't really see how Ricky can be avoided Harris when Ricky had KO'd Maussa who'd KO'd Harris.

10 Junior Witter will be lucky to take home £35-40K for this next fight, whereas Ricky will earn several million for Urango. That is the difference between the two men and their respective careers and gives you some idea of the true worth of Witter and his belt.

11 I spoke to Ricky and Ray Hatton about this on Sunday and they are of the strong opinion that why should they hand Witter, who has done nothing but insult them and base his entire existence on slagging Hatton off, a pay-day that neither he nor his promoter can get for themselves?

Welcome to the forum, hopefully you represent Fight Academy and give better insight than boxinchat does for Sports Network, despite your obvious bias

1. Who? Go on its only a forum

2 Collazo is very good, how good we'll see against Mosley, I think Mosley will win, how we'll see. Collazo level pegged Hatton, if yo uthink Kotelnik was robbed you must agree Collazo was also robbed

3. Yes but how good a JWW champion when he avoids his biggest challenges. Corley fought Mayweather, Cotto, Judah - lets see if Hatton fights those in his next 6 what his win loss ratio will be. Don't worry he won't

4. A. HBO want the great Urango instead of Witter Ok whatever mate. Hopkins turned down Witter because he knew he'd get sparked cold.

4B/6 Oh what rounds did you give to Kotelnik given he did nothing for 6rounds other than cover up and lost the last round? Is 5 a bigger number than 7 now? I see how you see its a robbery.

5. Other than the Tyszu win Hattons CV is equal or below Witters/ Yes Witters whole achievement is living in the same country as Witter. A WBC belt and 3 top 10 JWW victories arent as important as that are they

7. At last his second meaningful fight in 43 fights, pity its a 33yo lightweight

8. Witters Top 10 wins - Ndous, Corley (GO ON NAME 10 fighter you rate above him at 140), Kotelnik (beat Abdulev)

9. Maussa fluked a win against a sick looking Harris. Maussa just lost to a jouneyman btw. Hatton beating Maussa means nothing.

10. Even if thats true, So What?

11. There also of the opinion that its a dangerous fight that Hatton could likely lose. What has Witter siad of disrepect to Hatton - I'd beat him and I'd knock him out. Thats Witter job to beat/KO his opponent. This isn't a business about been nice to your competitor, its the business of been mean to your competitor. Maybe Ray and Ricky would be more at home selling flowers or something?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ok, perhaps American networks wouldn't take it, but Hatton is a draw anyhow, and with the right promotion some nice figures could be done for UK PPV surely?

I know from a purely business angle, Witter doesn't make sense, but the point I was making is that there is also the angle of satisfaction in shutting Witter up. I've always fancied Hatton to make a pretty easy job of Witter, he wouldn't be bothered with all that bodypopping, and would be too busy popping the body instead, and I don't think Witter could handle the pace, or intensity. That said, ok, maybe a lesser payday, but I'm sure Ricky would enjoy giving him a going over, and winning another belt to boot.

Cotto looks awesome at 147, though his opponent was possibly overrated. I don't think Ricky is that much smaller than Cotto, I think that Cotto has a style which translates better moving up, and also that he feels a lot stronger at 147, as he isn't dehydrated any more for days on end. At 147, Cotto would be a big problem for Hatton, but if in 2 years time they are both still around Hatton will maybe be forced to make that move up, and it's a fight I would like to see. At 140, I would have favoured Hatton, as Cotto likes to dictate pace, but at 147, Cotto looks too strong and too proficient.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

1. James - that's my whole point. Ricky would NOT 'earn nicely' out of Hatton v Witter. HBO will not and would not take it, so that would leave UK TV money only.

2. If Witter were an American or had an exciting style, I'm sure HBO would feel differently. However, Mark Taffet is on record saying HBO won't entertain Witter as a Hatton opponent. They won't have him; and surely the reasons why are clear to all.

3. And Ray Hatton told me Sunday that he'd be loath for his son to take a paycut in order to buy Witter - who has slagged off his son for nearly seven years now - a house.

4. Regarding Cotto, I think he looked pretty awesome at 147lbs while Hatton admitted he wasn't at his best when he fought there. The difference is Ricky's current best weight is at '40 while Cotto's is clearly at '47.

5. And Ricky will fight 3 times next year, Jan v Urango, June time v Castillo and then again in October/November/December. As Ricky
insists on only fighting fellow world champs or geninue top tier fighters like Castillo, if he wins all three I think he'll have the year of his career in 2007.

1. Bollox, Witter-Hatton would top any opponent including Castillo (who isn't a big draw himself). The British PPV and British Gate would be huge. Every British fight fan wants this fight and every Hatton fans knows Witter. It would also be a unification fight.

Witter would make him less than none top 10 Urango who lost his last fight? Are you having a laugh?

2. Bollox, if they'll have Winky 'The Cure to Insomnia' Wright they'll take any champ

3. He'd also loath to see his son KTFO by Witter I'm sure

4. And why did Ricky turn down Cotto, Mayweather, Judah, Witter, Harris, Mitchell, Corley when he was offered fights with them at 140 over the space of 6years?

5. Correction, Hatton fights only the worst P4P champions that probably aren't top10 in their divisions.

[SIMPSONS]

1. James - that's my whole point. Ricky would NOT 'earn nicely' out of Hatton v Witter. HBO will not and would not take it, so that would leave UK TV money only.

2. If Witter were an American or had an exciting style, I'm sure HBO would feel differently. However, Mark Taffet is on record saying HBO won't entertain Witter as a Hatton opponent. They won't have him; and surely the reasons why are clear to all.

3. And Ray Hatton told me Sunday that he'd be loath for his son to take a paycut in order to buy Witter - who has slagged off his son for nearly seven years now - a house.

4. Regarding Cotto, I think he looked pretty awesome at 147lbs while Hatton admitted he wasn't at his best when he fought there. The difference is Ricky's current best weight is at '40 while Cotto's is clearly at '47.

5. And Ricky will fight 3 times next year, Jan v Urango, June time v Castillo and then again in October/November/December. As Ricky
insists on only fighting fellow world champs or geninue top tier fighters like Castillo, if he wins all three I think he'll have the year of his career in 2007.

1. Bollox, Witter-Hatton would top any opponent including Castillo (who isn't a big draw himself). The British PPV and British Gate would be huge. Every British fight fan wants this fight and every Hatton fans knows Witter. It would also be a unification fight.

Witter would make him less than none top 10 Urango who lost his last fight? Are you having a laugh?

2. Bollox, if they'll have Winky 'The Cure to Insomnia' Wright they'll take any champ

3. He'd also loath to see his son KTFO by Witter I'm sure

4. And why did Ricky turn down Cotto, Mayweather, Judah, Witter, Harris, Mitchell, Corley when he was offered fights with them at 140 over the space of 6years?

5. Correction, Hatton fights only the worst P4P champions that probably aren't top10 in their divisions.

Superb post!

Lets just hope Hatton gets a spaner thrown in the works & knocked of that pedestool him and his chuckle brother of a Daddy have put themselfs on.

[states]

American TV money has been put forward as the stumbling block with regards to a Hatton-Witter match for far too long now. Frank always claimed Showtime weren't interested, now it's Fight Academy and HBO. Frankly, it's getting boring.

But, as it's been going on for years, Witter needs to either forget all about Hatton, or somehow make a case for himself to HBO. I don't really believe that they will flat out refuse him from now until the end of time. So here's an idea: Get this fight with Morua out of the way first of all. Then comes the tricky part. Was the much-hyped Hennessy/Golden Boy link up all bollocks? It sure has been quiet on that front ever since it was announced. But if there was some truth in it, Meaty Mick needs to get on the Blower to De La Hoya, and get Witter on to the PBF-DLH undercard. With Floyd and Oscar being paid a fortune each for that, Golden Boy promotions probably don't want to shell out loads for the rest of the nights matches, but likewise they don't want a load of fat plodders in 6 rounders. Witter would cost fornicate all, but bring a WBC title match with him. HBO may say they don't want Witter, but I'm sure Golden Bollocks could persuade them otherwise in this case. All Witter would have to do then is look impressive on the biggest fight night of the year, and suddenly he's a much more attractive prospect for HBO.

Just a thought.

[Taki...]

Well this argument could go on and on because as a Hatton fan you'll defend his career choices to the hilt and critisise Witter without objectivity. And in turn I'll be a critic until I see the man fully proven. Hatton is a fantastic pressure fighter, maybe the best at 140, maybe not, as a boxing fan I'd like to see put to the test, that is all.

The point about being undisputed is Hatton does not seem to be looking to fight the best (the top5 fighters in his division). Tyszu in his exile was stripped because he didnt fight the best contenders for years.

Top 10s Witters fought - Corley (obvious 1 hes been top10 for about 6years), Kotelnik (beat Abdulev), Ndou (edged Mitchell but got robbed). Witter proved himself at least top4 at 140lbs, maybe hes the best, only 1 way to find that out - see him fighting Hatton.

When was Hatton nearly stopped - Magee, Tackie, Thaxton and to a lesser extent Phillips. All had him close at 1 stage.

My point about Witter is he made foolish mistakes in punching himself out in 2 of his fights, which he will be unlikely to make again.

Castillo is a top fighter but 140 is a different league so he can't be ranked top5 in the division yet. Especially as his last title shot he lost to former Super-Feather Corrales who got outboxed by former past prime Super Feather Cassamoya, who Castillo in turn received a gift against. The funny thing is when Cassamoya was been mentioned as a possible Mayweather opponent after Gatti everyone said Mayweather was taking easy challenges

And you mention Corrales - well Castillo lost to him when all was equal, but out of Witter, Harris, Mbaiye, Judah - I'd expect them all to KO the weaker chinned battle scard Corrales at 140.

Hatton-Castillo is a top fight it just irks me to see Witter, Judah, Mbaiye, Harris frozen out of the world scene. How do these fighters get a shot at the linear champ? Because beating top10 contenders isn't enough it seems.

Another thing about Castillo is that whenever hes fought the best at 135 its been very close - Corrales/Cassamoya/Johnson - when he moves upto 140 surely he should be a level below against the best? Maybe not, maybe he'll be revived at 140

Why would I defend Hatton's career choices to the hilt? As long as it's not one of those 'hater' arguments I'm more than happy to motor along the highway of objectivity...
Hatton's made plenty of mistakes in career choice. For a start he should've dumped allegedly 2 years earlier than he did, but earning big money for relatively easy fights has its attractions I guess.
If memory serves Harris pulled out of a signed and sealed fight with Hatton. Opting to take Kostya Tszyu was pretty damn ballsy (for Warren as well as Hatton), however that stroke of career genius went off the rails when nothing came of the proposed fight between Corrales and Hatton. Maussa was (clever) opportunism.
As for Tszyu being stripped for not fighting the best contenders... Gatti (WBC) ; nothing better than decent, Harris (WBA); horribly exposed by the limited Maussa, and Sharmba Mitchell (IBF); destroyed in moments by Tszyu. If Kostya Tszyu had managed to avoid injury none of those men would've dented him. Can you imagine Tszyu/Gatti?.. makes me feel sorry for poor old Arturo just thinking about it.

Corley was a top 10 fighter, but in the last 3 years his only wins are against Tyson (50-13), Carter (9-45) and Walker (18-17), how exactly does that make him top 10?
Kotelnik is a top 10 fighter, but Witter got a home town decision in a fight Kotelnik clearly won.
N'dou loses to top 10 fighters whether that makes him top 10 is debatable. N'dou was also clearly passed his best when Witter beat him. Top 15? Perhaps... top 10? Doubtful.

Magee scored a flash KD... thats no more 'almost getting stopped' than Amir Khan falling over in the ropes the other night. Tackie, Thaxton, Phillips... so now getting caught with a decent shot is almost a stoppage?

The old 'he beat him, and he lost to him, and he beat this other guy, so this means this and that means that' reasoning never works, and proves absolutely nothing... Castillo and Hatton are #1 and #2 at 140, no matter that neither was even in the division in their last fight. I doubt you'll find anyone who will argue that point.

Harris blew his chance to 'get a shot' when he lost to Maussa, M'baye has hardly set the division on fire has he... Balbi? Witter, for all your protests, isn't in Castillo's league. And Judah has lost two on the trot.

Castillo/Hatton is the best fight at 140 in every single way possible.

[mattyp151]

Castillo/Hatton is the best fight at 140 in every single way possible.

Couldn't be more correct, my friend.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Well this argument could go on and on because as a Hatton fan you'll defend his career choices to the hilt and critisise Witter without objectivity. And in turn I'll be a critic until I see the man fully proven. Hatton is a fantastic pressure fighter, maybe the best at 140, maybe not, as a boxing fan I'd like to see put to the test, that is all.

The point about being undisputed is Hatton does not seem to be looking to fight the best (the top5 fighters in his division). Tyszu in his exile was stripped because he didnt fight the best contenders for years.

Top 10s Witters fought - Corley (obvious 1 hes been top10 for about 6years), Kotelnik (beat Abdulev), Ndou (edged Mitchell but got robbed). Witter proved himself at least top4 at 140lbs, maybe hes the best, only 1 way to find that out - see him fighting Hatton.

When was Hatton nearly stopped - Magee, Tackie, Thaxton and to a lesser extent Phillips. All had him close at 1 stage.

My point about Witter is he made foolish mistakes in punching himself out in 2 of his fights, which he will be unlikely to make again.

Castillo is a top fighter but 140 is a different league so he can't be ranked top5 in the division yet. Especially as his last title shot he lost to former Super-Feather Corrales who got outboxed by former past prime Super Feather Cassamoya, who Castillo in turn received a gift against. The funny thing is when Cassamoya was been mentioned as a possible Mayweather opponent after Gatti everyone said Mayweather was taking easy challenges

And you mention Corrales - well Castillo lost to him when all was equal, but out of Witter, Harris, Mbaiye, Judah - I'd expect them all to KO the weaker chinned battle scard Corrales at 140.

Hatton-Castillo is a top fight it just irks me to see Witter, Judah, Mbaiye, Harris frozen out of the world scene. How do these fighters get a shot at the linear champ? Because beating top10 contenders isn't enough it seems.

Another thing about Castillo is that whenever hes fought the best at 135 its been very close - Corrales/Cassamoya/Johnson - when he moves upto 140 surely he should be a level below against the best? Maybe not, maybe he'll be revived at 140

Why would I defend Hatton's career choices to the hilt? As long as it's not one of those 'hater' arguments I'm more than happy to motor along the highway of objectivity...
Hatton's made plenty of mistakes in career choice. For a start he should've dumped allegedly allegedly 2 years earlier than he did, but earning big money for relatively easy fights has its attractions I guess.
If memory serves Harris pulled out of a signed and sealed fight with Hatton. Opting to take Kostya Tszyu was pretty damn ballsy (for Warren as well as Hatton), however that stroke of career genius went off the rails when nothing came of the proposed fight between Corrales and Hatton. Maussa was (clever) opportunism.
As for Tszyu being stripped for not fighting the best contenders... Gatti (WBC) ; nothing better than decent, Harris (WBA); horribly exposed by the limited Maussa, and Sharmba Mitchell (IBF); destroyed in moments by Tszyu. If Kostya Tszyu had managed to avoid injury none of those men would've dented him. Can you imagine Tszyu/Gatti?.. makes me feel sorry for poor old Arturo just thinking about it.

Corley was a top 10 fighter, but in the last 3 years his only wins are against Tyson (50-13), Carter (9-45) and Walker (18-17), how exactly does that make him top 10?
Kotelnik is a top 10 fighter, but Witter got a home town decision in a fight Kotelnik clearly won.
N'dou loses to top 10 fighters whether that makes him top 10 is debatable. N'dou was also clearly passed his best when Witter beat him. Top 15? Perhaps... top 10? Doubtful.

Magee scored a flash KD... thats no more 'almost getting stopped' than Amir Khan falling over in the ropes the other night. Tackie, Thaxton, Phillips... so now getting caught with a decent shot is almost a stoppage?

The old 'he beat him, and he lost to him, and he beat this other guy, so this means this and that means that' reasoning never works, and proves absolutely nothing... Castillo and Hatton are #1 and #2 at 140, no matter that neither was even in the division in their last fight. I doubt you'll find anyone who will argue that point.

Harris blew his chance to 'get a shot' when he lost to Maussa, M'baye has hardly set the division on fire has he... Balbi? Witter, for all your protests, isn't in Castillo's league. And Judah has lost two on the trot.

Castillo/Hatton is the best fight at 140 in every single way possible.

What has Castillo done to be called no2 at 140? Beat a Super Feather by cheating the scales? Or losing to a super-feather when all else is equal? Been a 135lb champ who goes 50-50 with the best in his division is good but who knows a decent top10 140lber like Harris/Witter/Judah would have achieved the same or better fighting smaller men too.

Just because a fighter losses doesn't make him sub-standard. Castillo himself is coming off a loss of his own. Judah, Harris have both lost recently. But both are probably the 2 biggest punchers at 140 now they're back and both very good. They have very impressive resumes. Winning 5rounds against Mayweather is an achievement in itself.

Harris wasn't exposed, he had an off night, which many Manny Steward fighters seem to have once in a while. Harris was a big threat to Tyszu if he met the version that Hatton fought especially.

Harris wanted the proposed Hatton fight to goto purse bids as he thought he'd get more money (75%), Hatton pulled out of been mandatory. Harris has had shit management and only would have taken home around $50-$70k from the proposed $750k offer.

Corley is top10 because he gave good contests to Mayweather/Cotto/Judah and hurt them all. No ones shook Mayweather as much as Corley did.

Was Hatton hurt - yes, he was hanging for dear life against Collazo and Tackie. Against Maggee I thought he was hurt from the early kd. He wasn't completely wrecked but hurt all the same and potentially a better finnisher may have put him away but he receovered well.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Balderdash.

I agree Hatton was hurt against Collazo, yes, he did look badly stunned, and he was holding on for dear life, but so what, fighters get hurt in the ring.

Have you actually watched Corley v Mayweather, he briefly stuns mayweather who stumbles back into the ropes, and then proceeds to kick Corley's ass for the remainder of the fight, big deal. The same horseshit was talked about his fight with Cotto, when he landed a temple shot which short circuited Cotto's legs, but never his head. Cotto was totally with it, and hung on and covered up until he felt back to normal.

Magee hurt Hatton only briefly, Hatton was more shaken up than hurt, and fought cautiously back into the fight because it was the first time he had been knocked down and was a bit taken aback, he got caught cold, nothing more.l

Harris is inconsistent, just like Judah is. He would not have beaten Tszyu, absolutely no way. Hatton took massive bombs of Tszyu in the middle rounds, and really had to beat the life out of him with constant pressure, Harris would have gotten torn to shreds.

I agree though that Castillo is being overhyped at 140, what has he done to prove anything at 140. He could turn out to be awesome, he could fold like a broken deck chair, thing is, Hatton is getting to him before we find out either way, and if he beats Castillo, which I think he will, then Castillo I have a feeling won't go on to do much, he's getting on now, and has been in some tough battles, a style like Castillo's doesn't make for longevity, especially when you're in with bigger men.