Ricky fought Urango with a chest infection!

Greg Nicholas · Post by **Greg Nicholas** » 25 Jan 2007, 11:44

Ricky Hatton's Las Vegas debut was almost scuppered by a chest infection.

Hatton beat Juan Urango comprehensively on points in the gambling capital last Saturday night to take the IBF light-welterweight crown.

But now his dad Ray has revealed that the Hitman was on the verge of having to pull out after being hit by a chest infection 10 days before the bout.

And he claims this was the reason his son's stamina appeared to be a problem in the later rounds.

He told The Daily Express: "People have said Ricky looked jaded in the second half of the fight and I'm not surprised.

"Ricky suffered a really bad chest infection in the lead-up to the fight while out in Las Vegas.

"The doctor said it would linger for weeks. We carried on, but if the infection had started a few days later, we'd have pulled him out."

Hatton now has time to recuperate before his next appearance - against Jose Luis Castillo in Vegas in June.

--

That explains why he looked so weak and sloppy then.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Jan 2007, 11:47

Well I hope that was the case, it would explain a lot, especially how pale and drawn he looked in the run in to the fight, he looked fekking awful in the photographs I saw.

JC · Post by JC » 25 Jan 2007, 11:51

Just watched the fight on Youtube, Larry Merchant's chat about Man City as Hatton comes to the ring is amusing.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 25 Jan 2007, 11:58

"where David Beckham became the worlds most famous star as a fighter"

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 25 Jan 2007, 12:00

Theres always an excuse isnt there!??... personally I find this a little hard to swallow!...

8)

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 25 Jan 2007, 12:13

I've had a throat & chest infection for a month and it's not stopped me going to the gym, pub or smoking!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Jan 2007, 12:16

Well, the fact you've had it for a month should tell you something.

I did the same thing with a throat infection once and ended up having a throat and chest infection for 2 1/2 months, and they nearly had to remove my tonsils they were so infected.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 25 Jan 2007, 12:57

Really? I think I'll heed that warning Jim. I was on anti-biotics for a week but they didn't make the blindest bit of difference.

It's improved slightly but I've still got a rank cough.

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:10

When they left FW didn't the Hatton's say he would never fight again unless he was 100%?

caster · Post by **caster** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:21

I was judt waiting for Hatton's camp to come out with something like this...

personally I think Hatton just isn't used to someone who can stand up to him hitting him back.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:51

I had a throat/chest infection a few years ago. I got it when I went back to university. Always happens when I go out of my comfort zone. I was hungry as fvck and went to a chippy. Had a fish & chips. The hot crispy batter was agony in my throat - no way could I have fought Juan Urango on that form.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:59

viciousmaussa wrote:no way could I have fought Juan Urango on that form.

Usually you'd batter him then?

Maybe its true, maybe he just had a cold he shook off, maybe he was tip top shape. I think its got more to do with Urango been a beast and making him look bad personally.

Since when does a chest infection make yuu drop your hands and when does it make you lose your head movement while keeping up your usual workrate? Ricky just met someone as big as him, stronger than him him, who could punch back for once.

Castillo wont be as strong or as hard hitting as Urango though. He will work harder and be more accurate and skilled though

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:59

Doesn't really matter now , he won, so has now set up the fight with Castillo.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 25 Jan 2007, 14:15

But it does make you feel well out of sorts. Anything to do with the throat/chest is bad news, if you ask me.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 25 Jan 2007, 14:20

viciousmaussa wrote:But it does make you feel well out of sorts. Anything to do with the throat/chest is bad news, if you ask me.

Definately but if he really wasn't 'right' he would have surely dropped out, I don't think Hatton would have risked himself against a puncher like Urango without been at least 95%. So I think its just an excuse, sure maybe he had a cold but nothing serious.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 25 Jan 2007, 14:36

doesn't matter anyway. So long as he delivers against Castillo, that's what matters. IMO it's always good to go into a big fight slightly humble. Never good to go in cocky or overconfident, so Hatton knows he has to be VERY good next time and should take precautions. Live clean. Go to America much before the final fortnight. Get used to the place that you're in mentally and physically. Don't allow things to go wrong enouhg that you have to make excuses.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 25 Jan 2007, 14:38

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:But it does make you feel well out of sorts. Anything to do with the throat/chest is bad news, if you ask me.
Definately but if he really wasn't 'right' he would have surely dropped out, I don't think Hatton would have risked himself against a puncher like Urango without been at least 95%. So I think its just an excuse, sure maybe he had a cold but nothing serious.

Still, he knew Urango was a clueless strong oxe, who he could basically school despite the rough patches. Urango was tough, strong, but is not a clever fighter. In fact he's plain thick. He acts like he's still in Florida where the home judges award him the W for moving forward.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 25 Jan 2007, 20:21

Hatton says In his book too that Graham wouldn't let him even train unless he's 100%

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 26 Jan 2007, 04:28

Max Molyneux wrote:Hatton says In his book too that Graham wouldn't let him even train unless he's 100%

there's more stakes now, with the HBO contract etc

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 26 Jan 2007, 05:24

I just think that after a win that was dissapointing, we should just get told - sorry.

Then again we expect him to fight like he did against Kostya every time he gets in the ring. Everyone fights differently, and you have to have a gameplan against them all

Smigga · Post by **Smigga** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:20

I was in his suite the morning of the fight, on the way back from the second weigh in he had to stop several times at bins, to spit out phlem.

during the fight, watch on the camera yourselves, at how much he is spitting?

if he would have pulled out the fight imagine, seriously now. the last thing a fighter wants to do is admit to himself he isnt 100%

even if he's not.

so stop all the "I was waiting for this" eh, give him a break. he's the best fighter we have got

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:24

i'm sure we can find a recent quote from Hatton that he doesn't make excuses for performances? didn't he say something similar recently and then list problems he's had over the years?

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:26

Recent Hatton quote (build up to the Urango fight)

"To be honest I hate it when a fighter says “oh my hands were hurting or I had a cold” if things are that bad you should pull out off the fight. There is nothing worse than watching a fighter have an off performance then they start making excuses about this and that. I kept quiet about my injury even though I have had it for three and four fights but this is the best it has been for the last three or four fights as I‘ve had plenty of manipulation work on it.”

Post by **The Law** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:54

Lenny Albert wrote:i'm sure we can find a recent quote from Hatton that he doesn't make excuses for performances? didn't he say something similar recently and then list problems he's had over the years?

Well Hatton didn't make any excuses for his performance. In the Hatton quote he merely mentioned that he has had injuries in the past that he has kept quiet about, he didn't use it as an excuse for a specific fight or say that it hindered his performance in anyway. Furthermore, he can't control what his dad says 24 hours a day

Hatton felt that he was 100% fit for the fight, what his dad thinks is irrelevant. I'm pretty sure Hatton wouldn't have asked his dad to make those comments. Hatton despises fighters who make excuses.

caster · Post by **caster** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:57

Hatton's a good fighter but his contradictions, excuses and cliches get on my nerves.