Who next for Hatton?

Matt W · Post by **Matt W** » 09 Dec 2007, 15:16

I think he should take a good long rest. I think the defeat will be tough for him emotionally given that his whole career has been an upward trajectory aimed ultimately at last night's fight. I'd like to see him back in about 9-12 months with 1-2 fights in quick succession; the first being a gimme after which he can see how the land lies and look for another big fight, hopefully against Witter who I think he beats. Hatton's pressure would be much more effective against Junior.

He should forget about anything above light-welter.

Matt W · Post by **Matt W** » 09 Dec 2007, 15:18

One thing I do find worrying for Hatton is that it is a matter of time before his between fights lack of conditioning makes it hard to make light welter. We have seen that he will struggle to beat the best at welter, which suggests to me that he may only have another 2-3 top fights in him.

don't call it a comeback · Post by **don't call it a comeback** » 09 Dec 2007, 16:08

Well Hatton doesnt have a belt and if selling his next big fight needs either a belt or a 'name fighter' the options are limited:

Witter - most obvious course but last person you'd recommend for a comeback fight
Torres - he brings the WBO belt and probably would be cheap
Rees - most limited of the belt holders but it would mean doing business with Warren again - welsh fans and manc fans would guarantee a sellout
Malignaggi - I see this fight being made but in New York at some later date

I see it being Torres, if he gets through is next fight he will be looking for a summer fight.

Other alternatives are a rematch with Castillo or ex-champs like Harris or a lightweight stepping up but Juan Diaz is the only one that makes box office sense and that could be a great fight down the road.

If Hatton went Torres, Witter, Malignaggi and then Diaz that would be an interesting series of matches.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 10 Dec 2007, 04:26

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Witters a bad bad match up for Hatton. Hatton was just countered time and again last night and had no defensive answer and thats Witters game. No Witter isn't Floyd Mayweather but he is fantastic at contering and probably hits harder than Floyd

andreas kotelnik couldn't carry ricky's jock and made it close with witter.

hatton is just too solid and consistent for a guy like witter.

witter can't put it together like floyd could.

he's always been disjointed.

he's all arms and legs ffs.

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 10 Dec 2007, 06:09

1 more big fight then call it a day

Gavin Rees or Junior Witter are a looooooooong way from being big fights, by the way

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 10 Dec 2007, 06:14

I can see them trying to get Hatton in with Cotto.

Almost guaranteed to be a wildly entertaining fight and they will be banking on a Cotto win (including a hometown ref at the MSG) which would then make him the obvious choice to take on Mayweather and this time next year we are watching Mayweather-Cotto 24/7.

That's my take on it anyway....

chesh · Post by **chesh** » 10 Dec 2007, 06:23

I think Hatton would do better against Cotto who is stylistically more suited to him. At MSG it would be a smaller ring, smaller gloves and, with a ref like Steve Smoger, we'd have a great fight.

Emule · Post by **Emule** » 10 Dec 2007, 06:38

Can't believe no one has said Amir Khan?

Stick it on at Eastlands at 140lbs and watch the nation go nuts.

Who needs Euro 2008 when you can double it with Joe vs Clinton...

Will FW be brave enough?

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 10 Dec 2007, 06:57

hatton would tear khan a new one.

he ain't ready for a fighter like hatton.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 10 Dec 2007, 07:07

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Witters a bad bad match up for Hatton. Hatton was just countered time and again last night and had no defensive answer and thats Witters game. No Witter isn't Floyd Mayweather but he is fantastic at contering and probably hits harder than Floyd
andreas kotelnik couldn't carry ricky's jock and made it close with witter.

hatton is just too solid and consistent for a guy like witter.

witter can't put it together like floyd could.

he's always been disjointed.

he's all arms and legs ffs.

Yes and Castillo got torn apart by Hatton (and any version of him may have done) but made it close with Mayweather.

Witter wasnt at his best against Kotelnik and ran out of steam after 5, hes better at going 12 rounds now and if they ever rematched would win much more convincingly

Witters big counters are just all wrong for Hattons lack of defense, especially now we've seen him ko'd from a big left hook counter, Witter loves throwing hook counters.

Before Hatton-Tyszu I saw it 80-20 in favour of Witter, after Witter had a few bad fights I though 80-20. Now Hatton's been KO'd I'd go for 80-20 in favour of Witter.

Would you seriously want Hatton to risk himself against Witter in his next 2 fights Hitman?

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 10 Dec 2007, 07:10

Witter - TRICKY HARD HITTING SWITCH HITTER, not the ideal comebakc opponent having faced Maayweather.

Diaz - Good war, Diaz has options though and Hatton would be a big ask

Casamayor - Nobody's mentioned him but he's a champ at 135 and would aprpeciate the pay-day ahs victories over Corrales, Freitas etc

Rees - SN wont be an issue, and it would be entertaining, but REES needs another credible victory to legitimise him I think. And he's a 135 really.

Torres - Could be an option as he's vulnerable

Maglianaggi - TOO TRICKY for his next fight

Cotto - NO CHANCE

I'll go with Casamayor for an IBO type 140 belt.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 10 Dec 2007, 07:13

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote:
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Witters a bad bad match up for Hatton. Hatton was just countered time and again last night and had no defensive answer and thats Witters game. No Witter isn't Floyd Mayweather but he is fantastic at contering and probably hits harder than Floyd
andreas kotelnik couldn't carry ricky's jock and made it close with witter.

hatton is just too solid and consistent for a guy like witter.

witter can't put it together like floyd could.

he's always been disjointed.

he's all arms and legs ffs.
Yes and Castillo got torn apart by Hatton (and any version of him may have done) but made it close with Mayweather.

Witter wasnt at his best against Kotelnik and ran out of steam after 5, hes better at going 12 rounds now and if they ever rematched would win much more convincingly

Witters big counters are just all wrong for Hattons lack of defense, especially now we've seen him ko'd from a big left hook counter, Witter loves throwing hook counters.

Before Hatton-Tyszu I saw it 80-20 in favour of Witter, after Witter had a few bad fights I though 80-20. Now Hatton's been KO'd I'd go for 80-20 in favour of Witter.

Would you seriously want Hatton to risk himself against Witter in his next 2 fights Hitman?

bring witter on anytime.

very confident that hatton wins still.

witter would cause problems but i'm not convinced he's enuff of the full package to finish off hatton.

zeroprobe · Post by **zeroprobe** » 10 Dec 2007, 07:31

Hattons fights are ugly to watch. I don't find hugging entertaining.

Abbo · Post by **Abbo** » 10 Dec 2007, 10:33

I've loved following Hattons career, but I think he should now call it a day.

On stark reflection, his career record isnt spectacular. Looking at his biggest wins, they can all be seriously picked at.

The big interest for me, and lots of others, was whether there was more to come. There isnt is there. You almost feel that history should award Collazo a retrospective W with a "thanks-for-the-loan, but I dont need it now".

Rickys reputation and regard in the UK are huge, and I think they would be tarnished massively if he fought again and lost.

44 pro fights, plus amateur boxing since a young kid.

Get out now Ricky and allow your fanbase and promotion team the opportunity to spin the PBF loss as attractively as possible.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 10 Dec 2007, 10:39

well the resons above about his reputation being tarnished are why he shouldn't take witter from his point of view, however Rees or Maliganani (particularly the latter would inhanse his reputation as the best LWW around)

this bloke · Post by **this bloke** » 10 Dec 2007, 15:07

zab judah would be a good opponent his still a fairly big name and relatively highly rated i think that if he goes back and fights a no name than people outside of britain are gonna continue calling him over rated and i agree with the consensus that witter would be a tough opponent for him right after his first loss but a witter fight is most likely if he doesnt retire

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 10 Dec 2007, 15:11

this bloke wrote:zab judah would be a good opponent his still a fairly big name and relatively highly rated i think that if he goes back and fights a no name than people outside of britain are gonna continue calling him over rated and i agree with the consensus that witter would be a tough opponent for him right after his first loss but a witter fight is most likely if he doesnt retire

Isn't Zab up at Wleterweight where we all aggree Hatton shouldn't be. If he wins a title on his come back that should be enough to get him some Kudos. I think he should go the rees rout, saw in the guardian today a good point that he could probably sell out MSG if he were to fight Paulie Malignani

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 10 Dec 2007, 17:12

if i was hattons gaffer i'd pick malignani - he'd beat PM in NY or over here

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 10 Dec 2007, 18:12

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote: andreas kotelnik couldn't carry ricky's jock and made it close with witter.

hatton is just too solid and consistent for a guy like witter.

witter can't put it together like floyd could.

he's always been disjointed.

he's all arms and legs ffs.
Yes and Castillo got torn apart by Hatton (and any version of him may have done) but made it close with Mayweather.

Witter wasnt at his best against Kotelnik and ran out of steam after 5, hes better at going 12 rounds now and if they ever rematched would win much more convincingly

Witters big counters are just all wrong for Hattons lack of defense, especially now we've seen him ko'd from a big left hook counter, Witter loves throwing hook counters.

Before Hatton-Tyszu I saw it 80-20 in favour of Witter, after Witter had a few bad fights I though 80-20. Now Hatton's been KO'd I'd go for 80-20 in favour of Witter.

Would you seriously want Hatton to risk himself against Witter in his next 2 fights Hitman?
bring witter on anytime.

very confident that hatton wins still.

witter would cause problems but i'm not convinced he's enuff of the full package to finish off hatton.

Will you be campaigning for it on rickythehitmanhatton.com

???

I tried to go on there the other day to see peoples responses to the fight but you seem to need to log on and couldnt be bothered to set up a log in.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 11 Dec 2007, 03:29

This is the least surprising comments made by anyone following the fight Witter wants it!!

I think hatton would be mad to go strate into another fight he could lose to lose once may be seen as unfortunate twice is indicative of a lack of skill. He should take PM in New York or Gavin Rees in Manchester before taking on Witter. I would like him to fight witter and witter to win but in terms of his career that's what he should be thinking.

I would like to see Witter try to take ether of those on (more realistically rees) in order to cut off Hattons options.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Witter seeks Hatton title fight

He has shied away but it should happen, it is the fight the public deserve

Junior Witter on Ricky Hatton
WBC light-welterweight champion Junior Witter has called on Ricky Hatton to stop "shying away" from him and agree to a title fight in the new year.
Hatton is considering his options after being stopped in the 10th round by Floyd Mayweather in their welterweight title bout in Las Vegas on Saturday.

And Witter told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There is no other fight, bring it on.

"He wants to reclaim the mantle as the best light-welterweight in the world and to do that he has to beat me."

Witter has twice defended his WBC belt, the second time with a particularly impressive seventh-round knockout of Guyanese Vivian Harris in September.

And the Englishman said: "He has shied away but I am number one recognised by The Ring (magazine) and he has just lost to Floyd.

"It should happen, it is the fight the public deserve. Boxing is flying in the country at the moment and that is the fight they want."

Hatton has vowed to carry on boxing despite a morale-sapping defeat to Mayweather, with the Manchester-based boxer's trainer Billy Graham claiming a return to light-welterweight was on the cards.

And Bradford's Witter said: "He tried hard but Floyd had too much skill, his skill level was two to three times higher and it showed through the fight.

"What shocked many was that Floyd was better on the inside."

Hatton's camp had hinted at a summer fight against six-time world champion Oscar de la Hoya last week, but that now appears unlikely following Mayweather's dominance at the weekend.

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 11 Dec 2007, 08:19

I don't think Cotto will fight Hatton now, he would stand to lose much more than he would gain... Remember, only Maywehater and Cotto are "UNDEFEATED" now....

Ricky should return to his own weight (Light Welter) were he fights best at, and is most comfortable at...

ASt this moment in time, Hatton is low on confidence, taking your first loss, has always pu boxers at a low point...

JUNIOR WITTER will be smarming for his long-awaited fight with Hatton, (especially now that Hattons confidence has taken a knock)... SO, I think Witter would be a BAD fight for Hatton...

Personally, I thnk he should fight Demetrius Hopkins... That would be s table victory to get the show back on the road...

COTTO WILL FIGHT MAYWEATHER NEXT... AND LOSE!

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 11 Dec 2007, 08:25

Judah may probably do worse to Hatton than Mayweather...think about it:

a) He's a natural welter
b) He's a MASSIVE puncher
c) He's quicker than Mayweather
d) He's a fleet footed southpaw

fried bread · Post by **fried bread** » 11 Dec 2007, 08:38

Witter and Judah would be no-nos for Hatton, though if sold right they will be big attractions in certain places.

If Hatton fights another welter he's just cashing in.

David Payne - I'd write off Casamayor, whose marketability has sunk to an all time low after that lucky, scandallous win over Santa Cruz.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 11 Dec 2007, 08:43

Hatton needs some time to evaluate that loss, the manner of it, and whether he is still the same fighter he was a few years ago.

Hatton cannot afford to go into a fight with a big puncher with skills with that face foward style. He needs to get back to jabbing and using the angles to make room for his own shots, rather than just charging in there as he has been in most of his fights since Tackie.

Before the fight with Mayweather, I thought Hatton would have a good chance with Oscar, now I'm not so sure. Fighting like he did against Mayweather, he would definetly walk onto shots.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 11 Dec 2007, 08:47

jamesmcdonnell wrote:he would definetly walk onto shots.

Combination shots as well.