It is the most eagerly anticipated fight of the decade and has divided opinion across the boxing fraternity. Can Ricky Hatton's fierce willpower and aggression overcome the silky skills of Floyd Mayweather, the 'best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet'?
skysports.com exclusively canvassed six of Britain and Ireland's finest past and present champions for their views on 'Undefeated'.
Lloyd Honeyghan: Former undisputed world welterweight champion who shook up the world when he claimed the title from Don Curry in Las Vegas in 1986:
"This is going to be a classic between a fighter, in Ricky Hatton, and a boxer, in Floyd Mayweather. It is a tough one to predict, and it is going to be the hardest fight of their careers for both boxers.
"Ricky has a great chance, but he has got to be a British bulldog and cut down the size of the ring.
"He has got to go forward with a lot of lateral movement. If he does that he can keep out of the way of those dangerous Mayweather uppercuts and jabs.
"It's all about lateral movement in some ways I've got the blueprint because that is how I beat Don Curry to take the world welterweight belt."
Michael Watson Former Commonwealth middleweight champion and one-time rival to Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn:
"Ricky can win the fight over the distance. I've seen the expression of Mayweather during the press conferences and he looks worried.
"Ricky has all the capabilities of winning this fight. He is highly determined with great self-belief and has all the ingredients of a Michael Watson.
"That's what I admire about him. Ricky Hatton will win because of his devastating body punching. What do they say? "Kill the body and the head must follow."
Nigel Benn The former world middleweight and super middleweight champion spoke to skysports.com courtesy of SJ Dent and Co sports memorabilia shop:
"I like Ricky, he is a personal friend of mine and he asked me to walk in to the ring carrying his belts for this fight against Mayweather, but I have decided against doing that.
"I love Ricky, but this will be his hardest fight, similar to when I fought Gerald McClennan (in Benn's epic victory against the American in 1995). I certainly wish him all the best and he can win on points, but Mayweather is a slippery character and Ricky will have to watch it."
Steve Collins: Ireland's former world middleweight and world super middleweight champion:
"It might be my heart ruling my head but Ricky can jump on him and stop him early. I don't think Mayweather rates fighters from the UK, but never underestimate the intelligence of Ricky, who is a street wise, clever fighter.
"Don't get me wrong Mayweather is a class act and has got talent but if Ricky stands toe to toe with him he can win.
"Ricky is more like a South American fighter in his style and stopped another South American in his last fight with shots to the body which is virtually unheard by a British fighter. Ricky has to jump on him early to stop him."
Junior Witter Bradford's reigning WBC light welterweight champion:
"I think the first couple of rounds will be tight, before Mayweather will run away with it. It will take Mayweather a couple of rounds to adjust to Hatton's style.
"When you look at the skill level between Mayweather and the skill level of Hatton it is too big a gap, and I think the fight is going to come down to boxing skill.
"Hatton has the heart, stamina and determination but there is no doubt about it when it comes down to skill there is a massive gap.
"Hatton jumped into Kostya Tszyu and Tszyu went into a war with him. I just can't see Mayweather doing that because he never gets that emotional in a fight.
"I also cannot see Hatton getting him into a brawl because he has not got the footwork to pin him in a corner. I see Mayweather winning with a late stoppage."
Carl Froch: Unbeaten British super middleweight champion.
"I honestly think Ricky can pull it off. He was in deep water and I had my doubts when he fought Kostya Tszyu but he triumphed then and I think he can do it again.
"He's a rough fighter and terrific handful. Mayweather faces pressure, pressure, pressure from Ricky and Mayweather likes room to box, so he won't like it one bit.
Benn,Honeyghan,Watson,Collins,Witter,Froch on Hatton-May
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thepocketrocket
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 3283
- Joined: 16 Jan 2003, 06:26
Re: Benn,Honeyghan,Watson,Collins,Witter,Froch on Hatton-May
Nothing like trying to grab a bit of the glory for yourself is there. Nigel Benn is almost as bad...STP wrote: "It's all about lateral movement in some ways I've got the blueprint because that is how I beat Don Curry to take the world welterweight belt."
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13284
- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
Witter is the only one who gave an unbiased answer there. The rest just went for Hatton, because he's British. I'll never understand that myself. It's one thing to want someone to win, but why say someone is going to win even when you don't really believe it. It seems that a lot of posters on here are doing the same thing. I bet the majority of the Hatton backers would fail a lie detector test if they said they really believe Hatton will win.
I really believe Hatton will win.
Mayweather is not at his best. That was nearly three years ago against Gatti, although his best-ever performance was Corrales.
He was clearly being done over by Zab and Oscar before they took their feet off the gas, and they were years past their bests. He didn't impress against Mitchell, either, and he was years past his best.
Hatton has looked more nimble than ever this year, and seeing him before the Tszyu fight working on closing the gap I know he has the leverages and footspeed to do it - to cut down that gap. I see him getting his head into Floyd's chest with regularity, and I don't see Mayweather avoiding the ropes for 36 minutes - and whenever Mayweather is on the ropes he aint getting off them.
I just don't see Mayweather winning this fight.
Mayweather is not at his best. That was nearly three years ago against Gatti, although his best-ever performance was Corrales.
He was clearly being done over by Zab and Oscar before they took their feet off the gas, and they were years past their bests. He didn't impress against Mitchell, either, and he was years past his best.
Hatton has looked more nimble than ever this year, and seeing him before the Tszyu fight working on closing the gap I know he has the leverages and footspeed to do it - to cut down that gap. I see him getting his head into Floyd's chest with regularity, and I don't see Mayweather avoiding the ropes for 36 minutes - and whenever Mayweather is on the ropes he aint getting off them.
I just don't see Mayweather winning this fight.
Think Witter would go against Hatton anyway. Not from a personal viewpoint, but from a temperamental. Witter being a tricky boxer who often likes to steal rounds.ArtOfWar wrote:Witter is the only one who gave an unbiased answer there. The rest just went for Hatton, because he's British. I'll never understand that myself. It's one thing to want someone to win, but why say someone is going to win even when you don't really believe it. It seems that a lot of posters on here are doing the same thing. I bet the majority of the Hatton backers would fail a lie detector test if they said they really believe Hatton will win.
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Greg Nicholas
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 516
- Joined: 22 Oct 2005, 19:21
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Greg Nicholas
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 22 Oct 2005, 19:21