Andy Mac wrote:stujones wrote:Andy Mac wrote:I am one of those that doesn't see why the fight with Hatton should take place, but i don't see what this Ben Cohen guy is talking about, when he said Witter is a nasty piece of work. I have met Witter twice, and contrary to popular belief the kid was very polite and approachable. I can only presume that he knows this Cohen fella and is aware he calls himself a boxing journo, and gave him the cold shoulder for that reason.
Are you happy that Hatton is fighting Urango? Not only is Witter better, it will also give Hatton the claim that he has held the WBA/IBF and WBC title (should he win).
Don't get me wrong I am a big Hatton fan, and I think he will knock Witter out. I HAVE been pleased with his decisions since leaving Warren, Maussa was as about an easy a start of a unification process as one could get. He needed to grab that WBA before any of his rival champions did. With Mayweather moving up, and the likes of Judah, Mosley, Gatti and soon to be Cotto at 147 - Hatton needed to test the waters there, and Collazo was again ideal. A proper Welterweight, with a title but not enough (so we thought) to really bother Hatton. He won, but realised Welter isn't for him (yet), so its wise to move down.
Its Urango I have the MAJOR problem with..... Now is the IDEAL opportunity to face off with Cotto or if not Cotto, then he should have waited untill the Witter vs Corley fight and got to fight the winner. Urango is a massive step back.... and actually makes me think that were Maussa and Collazo, part of Hatton's plan to go for "sensible" opponents at the right time, or were they part of his plan to go for easy meat time and time again.
Cotto at 140 now would still be a sensible plan, now is the time to fight him - before someone less credible beats the weight drained fighter first. Urango is crap.
No i'm not particularly happy with Urango, but i don't see how that lets JW into the equation. So he beat Corley, exposed by Mayweather, Judah, and Cotto. If Witter had lost to Corley,, would everyone be demanding that Hatton fight the American? I doubt it. I think that after Tszyu RH was entitled to a relatively easy fight, and Maussa came with the added attraction of a belt. Collazo was hardly an easy fight even on paper, and Hatton had been training for Lazcano up until a few weeks before, then was told that he would instead be fighting a career southpaw Welter by HBO. Doesn't sound like cherrypicking to me.
Hatton has been a highly entertaining fighter at 140 and his style is all about how he overpowers his opponents at that weight. He did not have the same success at 147, and as he has no trouble making 140 he has been wisely advised to go back down. At this stage of his career he is hardly likely to turn into a stylist, so its back to the all action fights that the fans seem to love. He is trying to crack the American market, and like it or lump it Witter is not saleable to the American networks. That is nobody else's fault but his own, so it is not up to Hatton to accomodate him when not many others are interested.
Yes, if Corley would have beaten Witter then I think there would have been a clammour for a fight with Hatton..... Not as big as say for Cotto, Corrales and Castillo - but bigger than there is for Urango. Thats what I really cannot understand, Team Hatton as saying that HBO are nixing Witter (although when was the last time they asked). Yet, apparently Urango is acceptable..... Why? He's VERY lucky to win the belt is no name and not particularly good. I wouldn't be at all surprised that the domestic rivalary could be promoted on US TV and Witter vs Hatton NOW would do bigger buiseness than Hatton vs Urango.
There are so many reasons why I am frustrated with this bout, none the least is Hatton giving up his IBF belt cause he didn't want to face the better Rabah - declaring him not worthy and he didn't want to waste his career. Now, he is fighting someone worse than him (all except for 3 judges knows this).... why? does he really need the IBF belt as a bargining tool.
For whatever reasons, Hatton vs Harris didn't happen.... but due to a fortunate turn of events (Harris would beat Maussa 9 times out of 10, but not that one time) - the WBA title got in possession of an inferior champion and Hatton obliged. The same has happend with the IBF title, Hatton wanted none of Rabah - but now Urango has so fortunately got rid of that obstacle. Hatton more than willing to fight his "successor".
Now, I'm not blaming Hatton fighting Maussa at all. It was such a good career move, I would have looked for Maussa if I was Ricky or if I was involved (in any capacity) in Team Hatton. However, this time Hatton is almost back to square one but with the bargining tool of being the box office attraction. He has picked BY FAR the weakest champion, and many non champions would be a bigger match, and a better match for his legacy.
He is not tied to a mandatory and he doesn't need the belt.... If he does need the belt, there are 3 accomodating champions one of whom is a superstar, the other two are practically well known as Urango. If HBO are so strict regarding opponents, I cannot believe they've accepted Urango.
Collazo was and is a good fighter, but on paper the easiest of the Welterweight champions and in contests vs Mayweather, Baldomir, Judah and Margarito would probably start as the underdog.