Hatton-PBF confirmed?

[Kilburn]

Hatton might be one of the strongest British fighters to emerge in a while, but is he really stronger than Carlos Baldomir or Oscar De La Hoya? I think not.

As much as I want Hatton to win, the idea that Mayweather is going to succumb in the same way as all the others, is a total insult IMO.

I'm not surprised Mayweather wants to be the one to burst the bubble.

[lvlarc]

Hatton has a solid jab when used. I'm sure Billy and Ricky know exactly what strategy to follow in order to beat Floyd and will be prepared 100%. Hatton has enough things going for him to make this one close or even pull out a win.

Doesn't matter how good his jab is, he flat out does not use it. That's like being proud you have a Ferrari that stays locked in a garage.

Yeah but if you have one in your garage you get it on special occasions.

I don't see Hatton having as much success as Oscar did with the jab anyway, Mayweather's reach advantage will be too much. Hatton will make this a dirty dog fight if need be, rough Floyd up on the inside, get off those body shots early to slow him down and try to build on from there.

[Autobarn]

Definitely faster than Baldo -an awful fighter, if we're honest - and fitter than DLH.

All some of us are saying is that Hatton brings some pretty overbearing aggression, and has the kind of approach that may not suit Mayweather.

[mattyp151]

Doesn't matter how good his jab is, he flat out does not use it. That's like being proud you have a Ferrari that stays locked in a garage.

Yeah but if you have one in your garage you get it on special occasions.

I don't see Hatton having as much success as Oscar did with the jab anyway, Mayweather's reach advantage will be too much. Hatton will make this a dirty dog fight if need be, rough Floyd up on the inside, get off those body shots early to slow him down and try to build on from there.

Floyd does have a freakishly long reach for a guy who's 5-8ish, Hatton, on the flip, is as Auto said "stumpy."

[Kilburn]

Why is Mayweather taking this fight, is it because he has financial problems? Is it because he feels he hasn't achieved enough in boxing over the last 10 years? Is it because his legacy will be tainted by whispers of "yeah but he never fought Ricky Hatton did he.."? Or is it because America is putting pressure on him to take the fight?

No it's none of those. He wants to fight Hatton because he wants to kick the arse of another fan favourite, and get paid well doing it. And when Mayweather wants to kick arse you'd better be prepared for that to happen.

[SticknMove]

A jab doesn't have to land to be effective. All it has to do is move your opponents guard for combos. Wlad makes a killing off that, he hooks off a blocked jab like no one's business, and he uses the jab to set up massive straight rights. Oscar's jabs weren't landing either (Compubox had 40 of 246), but they still did their job.

Lacy didn't jab because he doesn't have one. The Lacy/Grant fight was on ESPN Classic at 2 AM this morning, left hook, overhand right, left hook, straight right.

he had one vs Robin Reid. Someone remarked it was a "shotgun jab".

It's quite possible Jeff hurt his shoulder in the Calzaghe fight.

I agree, a jab can really break an opponent's rhythm, even if it doesn't land. But I'm not sure how much help it'd be for a stumpy-ish guy like Hatton to jab with Mayweather.

Dan Rafael once called it like "a shotgun at 1000 yards", which basically fits Lacy's jab to a T.

As for Hatton, if he uses he jab for effect, not for damage, it will be much easier for him to work his way in. If he comes in trying to hook and uppercut, like Oscar did late, he's going to eat way too many punches. Hatton's reach could kill him however.

Well that's what shorter fighters do: slip the jab on the way in and hook body and head. Jabbing suits the taller DLH because taller fighters are rangier. Hatton has good lateral movement and quicker feet. Obviously he will have to use the jab in spots, but he shouldn't look to DHL's first third of the fight as a template to beating PBF. The longer he keeps it at close quarters the better for him. How he is able to implement that over the duration of the fight against someone as quick as PBF is another matter.

[mattyp151]

he had one vs Robin Reid. Someone remarked it was a "shotgun jab".

It's quite possible Jeff hurt his shoulder in the Calzaghe fight.

I agree, a jab can really break an opponent's rhythm, even if it doesn't land. But I'm not sure how much help it'd be for a stumpy-ish guy like Hatton to jab with Mayweather.

Dan Rafael once called it like "a shotgun at 1000 yards", which basically fits Lacy's jab to a T.

As for Hatton, if he uses he jab for effect, not for damage, it will be much easier for him to work his way in. If he comes in trying to hook and uppercut, like Oscar did late, he's going to eat way too many punches. Hatton's reach could kill him however.

Well that's what shorter fighters do: slip the jab on the way in and hook body and head. Jabbing suits the taller DLH because taller fighters are rangier. Hatton has good lateral movement and quicker feet. Obviously he will have to use the jab in spots, but he shouldn't look to DHL's first third of the fight as a template to beating PBF. The longer he keeps it at close quarters the better for him. How he is able to implement that over the duration of the fight against someone as quick as PBF is another matter.

Eh, Hatton doesn't slip too much of everything, his guard is his face more than it should be. However, Floyd doesn't jab a ton himself, and if he does, it's usually followed by his strong straight right, or he throws multiple hooks off of it, while moving to his left. Sure, it takes some pop off the punch, but if it lands, it scores.

[SticknMove]

Dan Rafael once called it like "a shotgun at 1000 yards", which basically fits Lacy's jab to a T.

As for Hatton, if he uses he jab for effect, not for damage, it will be much easier for him to work his way in. If he comes in trying to hook and uppercut, like Oscar did late, he's going to eat way too many punches. Hatton's reach could kill him however.

Well that's what shorter fighters do: slip the jab on the way in and hook body and head. Jabbing suits the taller DLH because taller fighters are rangier. Hatton has good lateral movement and quicker feet. Obviously he will have to use the jab in spots, but he shouldn't look to DHL's first third of the fight as a template to beating PBF. The longer he keeps it at close quarters the better for him. How he is able to implement that over the duration of the fight against someone as quick as PBF is another matter.

Eh, Hatton doesn't slip too much of everything, his guard is his face more than it should be. However, Floyd doesn't jab a ton himself, and if he does, it's usually followed by his strong straight right, or he throws multiple hooks off of it, while moving to his left. Sure, it takes some pop off the punch, but if it lands, it scores.

I agree he tends to take more than he should on the way in. But he can and does slip punches too. Mainly by stepping off the straight line to get on the inside. It is what he can do there if he gets there that will determine how well he does against PBF.

You make it sound as though Hatton will not be able to land a glove on PBF all night.

[ciscokid]

You have got to love the pics bbc have put on their site on this (which is the main headline under sport),

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6920484.stm

Not sure if they have tried to make it look like hatton is clock pbf, whilst he covers and looks worried!