HITMAN CHALLENGES FLOYD LEGACY - Sky Sports.com

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 18 Jun 2007, 14:31

HITMAN CHALLENGES FLOYD LEGACY
Monday 18th June 2007

Ricky Hatton believes he can lure Floyd Mayweather Jr out of his 'supposed' retirement if he beats Jose Luis Castillo on Saturday, insisting the American still needs a career-defining fight.
The Hitman is preparing for the biggest fight of his career in Las Vegas, knowing victory would catapult him to super-fight status alongside the likes of Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya.

Hatton predicts the clash with Castillo will be one of the battles of the decade, and he has challenged the undefeated Mayweather to create his own legacy before ending his 38-fight career.

"I don't think Mayweather will retire because he wants to be remembered as an all-time great but to do that he has still got to do something a little bit more," said Hatton about the possibility of a future bout.

"As far as talent and boxing ability goes he is second to none but in terms of excitement I haven't seen Mayweather in one good fight yet. He has got very negative as he has got older.

"In 10-to-15 years' time when you're a fight historian and you look on that shelf where all the great fights are, are you going to reach for a Floyd Mayweather video?

"I think Floyd is a far better fighter than Arturo Gatti but I think people will be watching Arturo Gatti's fights for long after they'll be watching Mayweather's. He just never gets me on the edge of my seat."

Meanwhile, Hatton's sparring partner Steve Forbes believes the Hitman is ready to become box-office in America, insisting the US public will demand more of the Manchester fighter if he overcomes Castillo.

He said: "Ricky has the drawing power to fight one of the big guys. I think it is all based on his next performance and if he looks really good people could demand something like that.

"Castillo is known as a warrior, win, lose or draw. I think it will be an excellent fight but with a win over Castillo, Ricky will really come to be respected over here in the United States."

wiganboxer · Post by **wiganboxer** » 18 Jun 2007, 15:43

old news

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 18 Jun 2007, 19:48

Who'd want to watch Gatti getting more brain damage over Floyd using skill and boxing properly?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Jun 2007, 05:32

Hatton's point is a valid one, Gatti was a crowd pleaser, which is evidenced by the fact that he earned a fortune for three fights with Mickey Ward, without there even being a title on the line. Cannot remember if they were PPV events, but the fact is, Gatti was a huge draw, and was involved in several fights of the year, Floyd has yet to be involved in one, and probably never will be now.

It's not all about skills, fans turn up to see a fight, not a glorified sparring session, which is what most of Floyd's fights resemble.

The fact is, Sugar Ray Leonard, who had skills just as good (better in my opinion) made a much better job against Hagler, than Floyd did against Oscar, I watched it recently, and Leonard actually landed plenty of hard shots against Hagler, sure, he didn't actually hurt him, but then, who could hurt Hagler?

Floyd has lovely skills, but aside from a technical standpoint, he is pretty boring to watch. I'd far rather watch the likes of Toney or McCallum in their prime, skilled boxers who put a bit of spite into their work.

Floyd never stuck around long enough at 140, where possibly we would have seen him rattle a few bonces, rather than scooting to 147 and 154 where he has zero pop, and therefore doesn't wish to stand and fight virtually at all.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 19 Jun 2007, 07:19

Heard off some thread on ESB that Hatton's getting 10 million for a new HBO 3 fight deal too If he beats Castillo.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/sho ... .php?t=216

Isn't Legacy about resumes too though? Floyd's Is better than Hatton's In that way so FLoyd could challenge Hatton's too.