BoxRec

This undercard is approaching the stage of being shockingly bad - at first it was just poor. Stephen Foster Jr's 'world' title defence is now off according to boxrec, leaving the salivating prospect of Williams - Packheiser and three TBA's. Wayne Alexander is always exciting so that one is okay.

Just checked Foster Jr's opponent out on boxrec. Fits the checklist for a WBU shot: smaller, older, coming in from fighting a guy in December who had no wins and eight losses... and fornicating drawing with him.
In fact, the guys last two opponents had a combined total of no wins, 13 losses, and a draw. About this time last year he was also dropped when drawing (again) for a vacant WBF Intercontinental title.

Remember all that shit the governing bodies (and that includes Warren) said when these titles were first spewed over British boxing - "it's all subjective, why shouldn't these fighters have the same claim to being a 'world' champion the same as other titlists". Hmm, yes, why indeed.

I've been thinking about those McGuigan/Honeyghan comparisons. Two points I haven't seen raised yet - McGuigan got a proper warm-up with LaPorte (which Ricky could have got versus Mitchell or Harris). Plus remember the Cobra was grumbling about being unmotivated at welter and going to 154 over a year before the Lloyd shocker (not taking anything away from that win though - no doubt he was exposed).

REAL_DEAL wrote:

BubiScholz wrote:J, Me and two friends from J will dive on Sat from London to Manchester. It´s my first time at the MEN Arena so you should PM J for a meeting point there. the fight will be very long and there will be a lot of braks.

IMO REAL_DEAL is also there and maybe jamesmcdonnell.

i might not be able to make it

next week i am sparring.

Enzo Macc, scott gammer, Ali Nuumbembe and robin reid.

i mght be dead then

Does Ali Nuumbembe know you're sparring him. I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he doesnt know anything about sparring anyone nest week

off course. say its the bloke staying with him next week.

I am not going. :(

But I shall be with you all in spirit.

Ill be at ringside

I would love to go, but its a fight im looking so forward to watching i want to watch it on the TV as a i dont want to miss a thing

Could have got a ticket if i moved myself but it was so far back it would have been hard to watch & i get drunk

silkov wrote:How much are the tickets going for?.. .. not that I can go or anything, 8) just being nosey.. ..

i got pretty good seats for a hundred a ticket plus ten quif d postage, agents fee etc.

Chris kindlty gave me expert advice on which blocks to go for.

Manos de Oro wrote:I've been thinking about those McGuigan/Honeyghan comparisons. Two points I haven't seen raised yet - McGuigan got a proper warm-up with LaPorte (which Ricky could have got versus Mitchell or Harris). Plus remember the Cobra was grumbling about being unmotivated at welter and going to 154 over a year before the Lloyd shocker (not taking anything away from that win though - no doubt he was exposed).

Good points, I was thinking same thing myself!. Both Honey and Mcguigan had faced better opposition prior to their 'big one'... Barry beat Laporte and Honey beat Mittee and Horace Shufford (who was the number 1 contender)... they also both had good grounding by having gone through British and Europeon title fights.
One of the things that worries me about Hatton is that he was kept in the comfort zone for so long how will he react now when steeping up?.
To have a chance Hatton needs to try and do a Honeyghan on Kostya and really try and hurt him early..... if he thinks he can outbox or outlast Tsyu I think he's in for a shock.

I think Tszyu is going to go for an early win - he'll have seen the Magee fight and will look to test the Hatton chin early IMO - left or right hand, doesn't matter to him.

Don't think he wants a long night at his age, especialy with a fired up young gun in front of 25,000 screaming maniacs. ( that HAS to unerve him a bit - he keeps mentioning it )

Tszyu also insisted the prospect of fighting in front of 22,000 screaming Hatton fans holds no fears.

"If the fans are crazy it will make a great night but I am sure they understand and love boxing," said Tszyu.

"When I fought Chavez in Phoenix in front of 15,000 Mexicans it was so bad I never even waited for the decision.

15,000 Mexicans will be nothing compared to what he's in front of next week. They all knew old man Chavez had no chance anyway.

As for McGuigen/Pedroza, I was ringside for that one

We knew Barry had a great chin after the LaPorte fight - and Pedroza was not a noted puncher either.

Bit different here - Tszyu is a big puncher, and we're not too sure about Hattons chin as yet....

MightyWarrior wrote:I think Tszyu is going to go for an early win - he'll have seen the Magee fight and will look to test the Hatton chin early IMO - left or right hand, doesn't matter to him.

Don't think he wants a long night at his age, especialy with a fired up young gun in front of 25,000 screaming maniacs. ( that HAS to unerve him a bit - he keeps mentioning it )

Tszyu also insisted the prospect of fighting in front of 22,000 screaming Hatton fans holds no fears.

"If the fans are crazy it will make a great night but I am sure they understand and love boxing," said Tszyu.

"When I fought Chavez in Phoenix in front of 15,000 Mexicans it was so bad I never even waited for the decision.

15,000 Mexicans will be nothing compared to what he's in front of next week. They all knew old man Chavez had no chance anyway.

As for McGuigen/Pedroza, I was ringside for that one

We knew Barry had a great chin after the LaPorte fight - and Pedroza was not a noted puncher either.

Bit different here - Tszyu is a big puncher, and we're not too sure about Hattons chin as yet....

I think people are reading too much into Kostyas age really. A lot of the top fighters today are in their mid 30s or even older and they still are at the top of their game... this is partly to do with advanced training, but also because fighters have fewer fights these days so ringwear is slower.
From what I've seen of Kostya recently he has benifited from his inactivity, he is still fresh and hungry, he know if he beats Hatton there are alot of big fights out there for him, so I don't think Hatton will be the hungry one.
Kostyas age and experience will stand him in good stead if the fight is a war he's been there before, ricky hasn't really.
The more I think about this fight the more I see Kostya stopping or koing Ricky and I wouldn't be surprised if he does it with relative ease.
Look what he did to Zab and how impressive Zab has been since... Kostya can end it with one punch.

Got 150 squid ticket.... hopefully I'll have a good view for that.

Can't wait.....

THAT FACE OR WHAT YOU PAID?

I paid 115 for 75 face. Two tix. Matey boy just sorted out his flights, he's coming back in from South Africa overnight on the Friday, at the MEN with bells on.

J wrote:THAT FACE OR WHAT YOU PAID?

My mate has it for me so not sure, but he got them by phone the day they were released

you shoudl be ok then mate.

was just worried you might be stubg if you got em late

saw 2 being sold fomr a link on a site and two 75 pouind tick were going for treble face was all.

what you dont want to be is outer ring for that price though.

better to be slightly raised at the MEN.

J wrote:you shoudl be ok then mate.

was just worried you might be stubg if you got em late

saw 2 being sold fomr a link on a site and two 75 pouind tick were going for treble face was all.

what you dont want to be is outer ring for that price though.

better to be slightly raised at the MEN.

I'm not sure where the seats are, I'm just hoping I can stay sobre enough until 2am !!
Still considering whether to go go to the Harrison/Brodie or watch it in a pub and get wasted (I dont get many weekends away as you might have guessed). Anyone know where would be best to watch it in Manchester??

You wont struggle there ive heard a substantiated rumour bars will stop serviing alcohol sometime before Hatton Zoo.

anyone looking too pissed up wont get in.

Might as well give me your ticket now then J, rather than face the dissapointment of being turned away....

at least ill make it out the limo and not have passed out in a crumpled heap on the back seat

and no you are never gonna live that down