BoxRec

Ricky Hatton is turning into the UK's answer to Brian Nielsen, which is sad as I belive Hatton is class and one of the very best Light-Welterweights in the world.

Harris said the other day that just to make the fight happen he would be willing to give Ricky 40% instead of the usual 25%. This is truly shocking news, 36-0 eh.

This is an absolute pr disaster as someone said earlier. Ricky just completely made up the minds of the many Americans who call him protected. His reputation might not ever recover.

Its funny, Joe Mesi gets absolutely slated for his opposition and he's not even had 30 fights I think, Rickys far worse, he's a fraud. Can anyone ever imagine a big American fighter giving up a mandatore position in the circumstances Rickys in. He would get absolutely massacred by the press over there and called a coward.

Someone should write a brutal article on Hatton on a major boxing website just to inform as many people as possible of what happened here.

Warren's statement proves how idiotic he is.

So Hatton would only get £400k? So What!

If he beats Harris, he'll be WBA Champion, and how much will he be able to command in fights then??????? A LOT!!!!

Why on earth don't they look beyond "the next fight", if they are so confident in Hatton's ability?

Who is this guy FW? He certainly doesnt have the charisma of a Don King, and looks to be unable to make any big fight happen. Personally, Im sick of hearing bout this guy and im allowed my opinion that he is complete jerkoff (or will I get sued by his legal counsel?). I mean he does seem have some power when it comes to threatening lawsuits on websites.

Hatton needs to fight and away from that damn MEN place, he is/was too good a talent to be wasted such. Obvioulsy, FW cannot make a good fight in the UK. I thank the lord that he is across the seas and not over here. We got enough bad promoters as is, but at least they make the fights when the demand arises!

FW hasn't promoted a genuine world title fight since December 2000.

jamesmcdonnell Posted: 06 Aug 2004 16:00
I cannot recall the last time a challenger threw away their mandatory position
Didn’t Hatton walk away from a mandatory with the WBO?
Then there was also talk of a fight with Branco to become the WBC mandatory before the Italian’s fight with Gatti.

Its not Fwanks fault he did offer good money, Harris did pull out, and may i add . I for one don't blame him .

No the blame lies fair and square with Hatton the protected, start with he demanded the fight, Fwank got the fight , Hatton is the unreasanable one he wants the fight in his backyard and all the money.

Now the guy gives up the very thing fighters fight for , he is a fackin embarresment to British boxing, Manchester boxing, and himself

Jeez i hope the next lightweight they bring lands one on him and ko's him big style

Hatton must have little faith in his ability or Warren has little faith, this could be the best thing for Hatton's career regardless of were the fight is held.

Maybe what people have been saying for a few years now is true that Hatton will retire 50-0 and as the undisputed W.B.U champion.

What is really humorous is that FW pulls this bait and switch with British fans all the time, and they still buy his act and go watch their guys (Hatton/Calzaghe) in massive quantities regardless of the opponent. FW would announce a match with a good opponent before things are finalized, and then try to shortchange the opponent and switch to a crappy one when the guy walks away (for an example recall Calzaghe-Telesco).

Also, the excuse FW uses when he comes up with a piss poor opponent is that "no one else would take the fight." It seems to me that FW needs not look beyond Britain (Witter) or Europe (Urkal, M'Baye, even Branco) to find a credible opponent who would take the fight in a hurry. How he's able to sell his act to the fans is beyond my comprehension.

P.S. Toney withdrew from a mandatory WBC Cruiser position against J.C. Gomez a few years ago, so sadly there are precedents.

From fightnews.com
Vivian Harris back to Germany!
By Alessandro Ferrarin
WBA 140lb champ 'Vicious' Vivian Harris is finally headed to Europe again, after his long-discussed matchup versus British hero Ricky Hatton did not come to fruition. Harris (24-1-1; 16KOs) will defend his WBA title against mandatory challenger Oktay Urkal (34-2; 11KOs) of Germany, thanks to an agreement reached just a few hours before the scheduled purse bid process in Miami, FL. Chris Meyer of Sauerland Event negotiated on behalf of Urkal's promoter Wilfried Sauerland and persuaded Harris' manager Emanuel Steward and promoter Main Events to ink the dotted line of a contract which will bring the WBA champ to Germany for a second title fight in six months. In fact, Vivian Harris already earned a majority decision win over Oktay Urkal in Berlin on April 17; both fighters have been idle since that clash. The second Harris vs Urkal matchup is likely to take place in Berlin again and the working date is October 23, but official date and site will be announced on Monday by Sauerland Event.

Freiheit wrote:From fightnews.com
Vivian Harris back to Germany!
By Alessandro Ferrarin
WBA 140lb champ 'Vicious' Vivian Harris is finally headed to Europe again, after his long-discussed matchup versus British hero Ricky Hatton did not come to fruition. Harris (24-1-1; 16KOs) will defend his WBA title against mandatory challenger Oktay Urkal (34-2; 11KOs) of Germany, thanks to an agreement reached just a few hours before the scheduled purse bid process in Miami, FL. Chris Meyer of Sauerland Event negotiated on behalf of Urkal's promoter Wilfried Sauerland and persuaded Harris' manager Emanuel Steward and promoter Main Events to ink the dotted line of a contract which will bring the WBA champ to Germany for a second title fight in six months. In fact, Vivian Harris already earned a majority decision win over Oktay Urkal in Berlin on April 17; both fighters have been idle since that clash. The second Harris vs Urkal matchup is likely to take place in Berlin again and the working date is October 23, but official date and site will be announced on Monday by Sauerland Event.

Good, Urkal deserves this fight more than Hatton - lets hope the Judges get it right this time.

Fairy tail ending to this debacle.

Harriss goes to Germany.

Harris loses to Urkal , Urkal crowned the champ.

Witter fights Urkal and wins.

Witter tells Hatton the protected go get Facked,

Fightnews:
Harris-Urkal in Berlin!
By Alessandro Ferrarini
German promotional firm Sauerland Event confirmed today that the WBA jr. welter title clash featuring the rematch between Vivian Harris and Oktay Urkal will take place in Berlin, Germany, on October 23. Site of the fight will be the Tempodrom Arena, whose capacity stands around 3,500 seats. TV network ARD 'Das Erste' will broadcast live in Germany.


Anyone think Harris is getting $750K plus for this? If he's getting any less, he might be wondering why the hell he hired Manny in the first place.

Anyone here knows what is the main obstacle for a Hatton-Witter fight? Is it Warren who does not want to make the fight?

Sorry, I'm just a dumb American trying to figure out how things work....

Cos witter might punch back

The last I heard the excuse for the Witter fight was it couldn't be done without American tv money and they don't want to see Witter fight after his fight against Judah. Its absolute bullshit, Witter has no real place to go and says he would take the fight for 150k. Hardly outragous demands. Witter is just too dangerous for him, Frank fears Witter would outbox him or blow him out.