Hatton/Mayweather - Britain's next Hamed/Barrera

[slapbangwhallop]

there are more parallels - could there be a repeat?

[Carbo]

there are more parallels - could there be a repeat?

Hamed was big favouite. Hatton is underdog. Hamed was the flashy one, Barerra was the salt of the earth man.

[Rocky Balboa]

Maybe their are some similarities, but Hamed clearly felt all he had to do was show-up in order to beat Barrera. That's not taking nothing away from Marco!

Mayweather will not take Hatton lightly. Despite all the trash-talk, the bravado & all the rest of it, Mayweather is no dummy when it comes to boxing. He'll train accordingly for Hatton and will be ready. I can understand why some people feel Floyd will underestimate Ricky, but I don't feel that's going to be the case.

Hamed was the big favourite against Barerra, but is Floyd a bigger favourite against Hatton? I don't think so!

Barrera was seen as a somewhat shot fighter when they Hamed bout came around. Damn, people were proved wrong & in a way, I was pleased Barrera had won. In fact, to tell you the truth, I was rooting for Marco to win, but didn't think he would do it. One of the few times a person is pleased to be proved incorrect!

Hatton vs Mayweather is a very intriguing fight in my view. Two very people, fighters, styles etc.

[stujones]

Neither fighters in the fight has been particularly exposed, well you could say Hatton was vs Collazo but not to the degree Barrera was vs Junior Jones.

Most pundits thought that Hamed was going to KO, Barrera who was moving up in weight. I think most are expecting a distance fight this time.

Can Hatton fight more than one way?

Sorry, I don't see that many similarities..... Duran/Leonard yes, but not Hamed vs Barrera.

[Autobarn]

It's hard to say Barrera was exposed by Junior Jones. Lost a couple of fights, came back a better fighter...He just faced a guy who had his number. Got absolutely hammered, nearly won the rematch (only stopped from being gun shy understandably after fight 1) and then obviously went on to beat some tremendous fighters as he had done before.

I don't think Hatton was exposed by Collazo. It was poorly planned vs a style that gave him fits in the Magee fight (southpaw counter puncher with flat feet). He still won it.

Sure Hatton can fight more than one way. A guy like Castillo, who's slow but well schooled, is pretty much stuck with what he was vs a slick type. Hatton's way faster on his feet, has the speed and balance that lets him come in at different angles. If he doesn't do this, it's because Mayweather has lulled him. Mayweather can't lull everyone into fighting his fight.

[Albert]

there are more parallels - could there be a repeat?

Hamed was big favouite. Hatton is underdog. Hamed was the flashy one, Barerra was the salt of the earth man.

Well summed up.

[hitman_hatton1]

there are more parallels - could there be a repeat?

Hamed was big favouite. Hatton is underdog. Hamed was the flashy one, Barerra was the salt of the earth man.

if anything i see mayweather being the one on the end of it.

hatton is too solid in all area's to be embarassed.

[STP]

I think Calzaghe-Kessler will be.

[Grilling Machine]

There might be a psychological comparison, in that Mayweather - the favourite - could crumble slightly as Hamed did. If Floyd's not winning rounds comfortably, I'd expect him to be reluctant in upping his attack. I always felt Hamed could've turned the tables on Barrera with a sharpening of pace, but he apparently wasn't interested in chasing a boxer who had the ability to make him look a bit clumsy.
Of course Hatton could lose his confidence too, although I think he's too much of a workhorse mentally for that.

Calzaghe-Kessler is pure style and talent, I can't see either man being overly scared in their match. Calzaghe should ease ahead with combinations. The big doubt is whether Kessler can sustain enough pressure to upset Joe's rhythm...

I'm looking forward to JC-MK more because it's a purist's fight, but Ricky-Floyd is by far the greatest potential downfall for either man in recent boxing history. Career ending, and that's exciting, even if the action ain't up to much.

[stujones]

It's hard to say Barrera was exposed by Junior Jones. Lost a couple of fights, came back a better fighter...He just faced a guy who had his number. Got absolutely hammered, nearly won the rematch (only stopped from being gun shy understandably after fight 1) and then obviously went on to beat some tremendous fighters as he had done before.

I don't think Hatton was exposed by Collazo. It was poorly planned vs a style that gave him fits in the Magee fight (southpaw counter puncher with flat feet). He still won it.

Sure Hatton can fight more than one way. A guy like Castillo, who's slow but well schooled, is pretty much stuck with what he was vs a slick type. Hatton's way faster on his feet, has the speed and balance that lets him come in at different angles. If he doesn't do this, it's because Mayweather has lulled him. Mayweather can't lull everyone into fighting his fight.

What I meant by Barrera being exposed was that viewpoint of many boxing experts before the Hamed fight (certainly before the first Morales fight).... Remember he was hyped as the successor to Julio Cesar Chavez butafter Junior Jones he was hyped as "okay, not that good".... A bit like Lacy is now. Naturally he showed after that he was truly a great fighter and a worthy successor to Julio Cesar Chavez. It is my belief that had Barrera not fought Junior Jones he would have started that Hamed fight as the favourite.

As for Hatton being exposed vs Collazo... I think you answered the question he cannot fight "flat footed, southpaw" counter punchers.... So yes, Collazo futher exposed this.

As for Hatton fighting more than one style, I cannot read the evidence that he can. I was merely meaning it in the context of this "Barrera vs Hamed" comparison.... Do you seriously think Hatton could counter punch Floyd to a decisive decision win? No chance.

[Deram]

Hatton-Mayweather is a simple fight.

Hatton will have to pressure Mayweather with the style that Hatton has. There is no way he can pot shoot with Floyd. No way he can counter box Floyd etc.

Kessler-Calzaghe is different. That fight is for the feinshmeckers. Kessler could beat Calzaghe from a distance using jab and counter rights. Calzaghe could also beat an attacking Kessler by slipping and barraging every time Kessler missed. Kessler could stand and trade with little to no parades like he did in round 12 with Andrade. Calzaghe could stand and trade witu little to no parades like he has done on several occasions. and so on. This fight is far more multi-dimensional and much harder to predict.

[Max Molyneux]

No way are mere jabs and straight rights will beat Joe.

Joe has a great southpaw jab which he could use to put Kessler on the back foot where Kessler ain't at his best. Joe can get Kessler near the ropes where he usually overwhelms his opponents for a stoppage too.

I think Calzaghe-Kessler will be.

More Hatton and Mayweather will be.

[bugs]

Look for Hotton to surprise everyone, including Mayweather, by fighting a purist boxer style off the back foot and outdoing Mayweather at his own game

[Razor]

Really hope Hatton wins, just seen that youtube thing with Floyd on when hes on MTV Cribs, he goes on like a pure tit.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

No its a different type of fight. But Hatton is stepping up to fight the best elite fighter in his prime around his weight division just as Hamed was. So in that sense Ricky may come a cropper and get a boxing lesson just like Hamed did

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

For Hamed it was the first step-up but Hatton has already fought and beaten Tszyu so it is pretty different. Plus Naz completely lost all perspective of what was at stake whereas Hatton is more grounded.

I'd say the fight itself is completely different.

First step up? He'd beat all belt holders at 126 and some from 122 and 118 including Vazquez, Johnson, Kelly, Bungu, Soto. Barrera was a step up but not a huge 1

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yeah, Hamed really acted like a complete prick in the run up to that fight. He was so confident he didn't even bother training properly.

I remember those shots of Barrera running in the desert, while Hamed was poncing around in Palm Springs acting like the Yemeni Frank Sinatra.

Hamed had already withered on the vine by that point, although personally, I doubt these days whether he would ever have beaten someone as good and tough as Barrera.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

For Hamed it was the first step-up but Hatton has already fought and beaten Tszyu so it is pretty different. Plus Naz completely lost all perspective of what was at stake whereas Hatton is more grounded.

I'd say the fight itself is completely different.

First step up? He'd beat all belt holders at 126 and some from 122 and 118 including Vazquez, Johnson, Kelly, Bungu, Soto. Barrera was a step up but not a huge 1

Vasquez, Johnson, Soto and Kelly had all seen better days. Bungu was coming up in weight.

Barrera was a step-up. He was fresh, a better fighter than all those guys and was in a division that suited him. Those other guys were below Marco, hence it was a big step-up.

Naz acted like a tool before the fight and threw his own spanner into the works but people forget that he was out of sorts against Sanchez and Augie walked right onto his bombs. Barrera out-boxed him first and foremost and that made his balance go and that made him look awful.

Tyszu, Castillo and Phillips had all seen better days themsevles.

In terms of a prime elite level operator Mayweather is Hattons first like Barrera was Hameds first.

[J]

i dont think thats fairto say Zoo wasnt a prime level operator he had just destroyed Sharmba mitchell the fight before he met Hatton.
Not in his prime fair enough - not elite utter tosh.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I would agree thought that Mayweather is undoubtedly the only fighter in Hatton's ledger who will be UTTERLY beyond reproach.

There are grounds to criticise Tackie, Phillips, Tszyu and Castillo, though with the latter, I think that they are unfair, given how many people predicted beforehand that Ricky would get his ass handed to him by both men.

Mayweather is still in his prime, and has shown no signs of slipping whatsoever.

[DavidPayne]

The irony is Barrera was regarded as tired and flawed back then.

[Autobarn]

And if Mayweather loses: too small to withstand all that pressure, not as mobile anymor,e bad hands, already had retired, lost his hunger, not comfortable under pressure even in his prime. There will be a zillion reasons to reproach him.

[Loynesy]

My goodness, a lot of revisionism around here.

Let's go back to Barrera v Hamed. Naz was the clear betting favourite (I think 1-3 at the sportsbook at the MGM on the way to the fight). Barrera didn't school him; it wasn't 120-108, but he beat him well, I had it 117-111 from near ringside, most writers had it on a similar margin plus or minus one, a few had it 116-114 - they were wrong I am just trying to add some perspective to the debate.

What step of logic takes one from there to Hatton v Mayweather?

This is a board full of people who know boxing; I assume like me you have each seen 20 plus fights of each fighter on TV and some have seen them live.I thought De la Hoya would draw Mayweather in early and hurt him (I was wrong, that cost me a few Gs at the sportsbook). This one seems a simple debate: can Ricky draw Floyd into a fight on the inside, if he can't he eats the flick jab and cross right all night, if he can get Mayweather away from the lateral movement, he was a real chance - about the same odds as Marco had against Naz a few years ago...

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think the debate is less simple.

If Hatton can keep floyd in retreat and land enough of his own shots without Mayweather getting enough time and space to land many of his own, he can win a clear decision. Hatton doesn't give his opponents much time to land, and especially as Mayweather cannot afford to stand his ground against Hatton. Unlike Castillo and Tszyu, who hit Hatton on the way in and stood there giving Hatton time to retaliate, Mayweather will want to retreat to the side and get the hell out of there after he lands. Now it's not so easy to do that and look good. I thought Mayweather clearly beat Oscar, I didn't have it close, but the judges didn't see it that way.

Floyd's style is not the kind that tends to go down well with Vegas judges, it's only because he has been able to prevent opponents to land much in return that he has kept on winning. Hatton has the fastest feet that Mayweather has seen for some time, and an aggressive and high pressure style. That's not a good combination for Mayweather, who needs time and most importantly space to execute his hit and run tactics.

[Loynesy]

Fair assessment James, I simply fear that Hatton has no chance to crowd Mayweather to do his best work. I hope I am wrong and I hope we are debating it over a beer in Vegas on Dec 8th before the fight.

Hatton is doing everything right at the moment; drawing Mayweather out of his faux retirement; saying the right thing at the press build up, and that's his best chance of success.

Unless Mayweather thinks Hatton is a talentless cretin, he won't engage with him, he won't let it be an inside fight, I hope you are right in that if Mayweather doesn't want that, Hatton can force it nonetheless.

Intriguing.