Could the ref wreck Ricky's chances?

[deadpan]

Clearly the key to a Hatton victory is to rough up PBF, crowd his offence and clinch when necessary.

However an overly officious/blatantly hometown ref could scupper this. In Brit v US title fights in the past we've seen Eddie Cotton be as biased as a Clive Tyldesly Man Utd commentary in Lewis-Tyson and Bruno got docked a point for holding in the first round against Tyson.

If Hatton gets another homer and he's docked points early doors the dream turns to mush.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He'd better hope it ain't Cortez, he doesn't allow any holding.

However, strictly speaking, Hatton works in the Clinches, he doesn't just hold on for dear life, so I'm not certain that the same applies.

[steve689]

Good points. He needs to avoid Jay Nady like the plague. His treatments of Howard Eastman (v Joppy) and Oleg Maskaev (V Hasim Rahman II) showed he favours the home man. Plus his "great fighter" speech to Floyd remember before he fought Baldomir? Anyway if Ricky can't take Dave Parris with him Mabe firm but fair Joe Cortez could do the job or up and comer Kenny Bayless.

[steve689]

Hatton works in the Clinches, he doesn't just hold on for dear life

Remember Juan Urango round 11 & 12 James? I know it was a one off. I don't see why Ricky couldn't get a British ref, i mean whenever the yanks go abroad they take judges, officials and referees all over with them to help negate the other mans home advantage. Why can't the role reversal apply?

[nickd]

Good point, but Hatton has been on the right side of many homers as you call them himself. He'd have been stopped on cuts against Thaxton but for the hometown refereeing.

[states]

He'd better hope it ain't Cortez, he doesn't allow any holding.

However, strictly speaking, Hatton works in the Clinches, he doesn't just hold on for dear life, so I'm not certain that the same applies.

Well, Cortez didn't seem to mind Hatton's work against Castillo. I thought he was a bit hard on Castillo, in fairness.

I agree with Steve, Jay Nady would be the worst possible ref for Hatton.

[steve689]

That's true...i just noticed whenever Americans go to say Italy, Germany, Poland wherever they get American refs sent with them. Is the fight going to be in Vegas?

[Flump]

Nevada always use their own refs as far as I'm aware, I can't remember the last time even an East Coast ref was used never mind a foreigner.

[Carbo]

I'd take Richard Steele just in case we have another Chavez - Taylor.

Seriously, though, look for the Mayweather camp and the US media to try to do a similar job on the referee as Australia's disgraceful haranguing of the ref before the last Rugby World Cup final.

Australia wanted the scrum, and the physical side of the game in general de-powered and disempowered. Mayweather's team, and certain blinkered sections of the American press, will want the same.

The more erudite among you will know that a big factor in Ali's comfortable win in the second fight of his trilogy against Frazier was down in no small part to the efforts of Ali's camp -- no doubt mainly from the savviest of savvy trainers, Dundee -- to 'get to' the ref and make sure the fighters were broken as soon as they got within 3 feet of each other.

It's a big worry for Hatton and, if his team are smart, they'll not try to defend Hatton's tactics, but instead go on the attack from the word go, letting everybody know that Floyd will try to pretend every bit of inside work is 'Hatton illegal mauling' or 'clinching and tying' which is messing the fight, while trying to make it clear that these are legitimate tactics in boxing.

I'm not saying that Hatton doesn't cross over the boundaries, but they need to go on the attack and take every advantage they can.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hang on, is it Nady I'm thinking of, who was it who reffed Jones Jr v Ruiz?

[chris s]

It is down to the Hatton camp to ensure they have a say in the Nevada ref and insist on a British judge

[Autobarn]

If Hatton is holding like in the Urango fight - ie holding rather than fighting in the 2nd half - he will get punished in a fight of this magnitude.

However if he uses it constructively, to do subtle things inside like create space for punching room and smothering Floyd's shots, it shouldn't be a problem.

They should not let Nady into a fight like this, having made that sick speech to Floyd as well as his dodgy military salutes when he's being introduced.

Hatton is not a Ruiz fighter. Ruiz had to hold you to hit you because he was so rubbish.


Let's not forget, Floyd doesn't like fighting inside. He does plenty with that forearm which he sticks in his opponent's face.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

He'd better hope it ain't Cortez, he doesn't allow any holding.

However, strictly speaking, Hatton works in the Clinches, he doesn't just hold on for dear life, so I'm not certain that the same applies.

Well, Cortez didn't seem to mind Hatton's work against Castillo. I thought he was a bit hard on Castillo, in fairness.

I agree with Steve, Jay Nady would be the worst possible ref for Hatton.

Was it Cortez in that fight? It was disgraceful reffing, Castillo been docked a point for hitting on the beltline after the ref said hitting on the belt was fine in during the instructions. Terrible!!!

To be honest Hatton does bend the rules so when he brakes them he should be penalised. Working in close is fine, holding and hitting and wrestling are breaking the rules. Mayweathers a pretty clean fighter except for the use of elbows to the head in close. Mayweather can be tricky in close himself

[steve689]

Beware of any wannabe celebrity ref that uses a stupid catchphrase and Joe Cortez fits into that Mills Lane, Mickey Vann group with his "fair but firm" speech. I do believe it was Jay Nady that reffed Jones Jnr-Ruiz.

[mattym]

Clearly the key to a Hatton victory is to rough up PBF, crowd his offence and clinch when necessary.

However an overly officious/blatantly hometown ref could scupper this. In Brit v US title fights in the past we've seen Eddie Cotton be as biased as a Clive Tyldesly Man Utd commentary in Lewis-Tyson and Bruno got docked a point for holding in the first round against Tyson.

If Hatton gets another homer and he's docked points early doors the dream turns to mush.

by breaking when Hatton has Floyd on the ropes and not letting Ricky keep him there, the ref could EASILY lose this fight for Ricky Hatton.

[Fat Gav]

hang on...so it won't be mickey vann??

[deadpan]

The other possible liability of a hometowner would be a premature stoppage if Ricky is on the ropes and Floyd is landing a few, but Ricky is blocking most of them and then one shot rocks Hatton's head back.

The ref leaps in, Ricky protests and the Setanta commentator is exasperated. (Shame it won't be Darke and Watt).

I think I've just made myself believe that that's the outcome.

And that's without Ricky getting cut...

[DavidPayne]

Clearly the key to a Hatton victory is to rough up PBF, crowd his offence and clinch when necessary.

However an overly officious/blatantly hometown ref could scupper this. In Brit v US title fights in the past we've seen Eddie Cotton be as biased as a Clive Tyldesly Man Utd commentary in Lewis-Tyson and Bruno got docked a point for holding in the first round against Tyson.

If Hatton gets another homer and he's docked points early doors the dream turns to mush.

In the way Jay Nady did for Ruiz versus Jones?

Possible.

[Autobarn]

Nady just looks like a sick fvck. When you see the close up of him in the intros, and he does that army salute with a self righteous look on his face...he looks like one of these army Christian crusader maniacs. The type that tried to goad a film crew into "reaching into their pockets" at gunpoint in Haiti, before realising someone had a camera trained on them.