Is it me thats annoyed or are you?

[silkov]

Is this the "knock Ricky Hatton thread" ??

He's just beaten Jose Luis Castillo and you're going on about Witter like he's the second coming!! Who's he beaten?

Hatton would walk through him.

Who did Castillo beat at 140???....
if Witter is such an easy fight for Hatton why doesnt he fight him??....
are you saying that Collazo and Urango were better fights for Hatton than Witter??...
Lets get the Castillo fight in perspective.... Castillo was a great warrior but he was plainly shot in his last fight and had done nothing at 140.... simple as that...

[stujones]

Is this the "knock Ricky Hatton thread" ??

He's just beaten Jose Luis Castillo and you're going on about Witter like he's the second coming!! Who's he beaten?

Hatton would walk through him.

Who did Castillo beat at 140???....

Herman Ngoudjio is alright. Raw and no one knows the quite his level yes. But wins over the likes a Bailey, Augustus, Camarena and Rojas show he's not to be scoffed at.

Indeed, when he was scheduled to fight Colin Lynes - I stated that he would be a tough fight for Junior.

Even Rolando Reyes was considered a decent fighter.

[WildWaylon]

The suns coverage of the Hatton fight and the over exposure again of
our semi talented overpaid footballers who were at ringside got on my tits.

As boxing fans we are on the constant defensive about our sport, now Hatton has achieved some kind of worldwide acceptance as a present great. All kinds of tossers who couldn't name you the british light welterweigt champion are now crawling out of the woodwork to get in on the act as boxng fans. Rio Ferdinand? Robbie Williams? When do you think you saw Robbie 'me me me the world is about me' Williams last time at a show?

Rio, if now as a boxing fan you are reading this. Hopefully you and your England football mates can take a leaf out of Ricky Hattons book
and provide value for money for the thousands of fans who spend their hard earned money followng you to tournaments all round the globe then it would have been worth seeing yuor ugly mug in the papers!

I don't know about anyone here but are we all sick of seeing Wayne Rooney and him and his familiy's tenunous link with the boxing world. My old man, me and my brother boxed as amateur well as having a cousin who was a former spanish middleweight champion and a distant relative
of Arturo Godoy but I wouldn't have the audacity of saying we were a 'boxing family' were not. And neither are the Rooney's, no more than any other family in Merseyside, so it should stop being reported as such they are hardly the Forans of Liverpool or the Spinks of St Louis are they?

I remember Sven saying about Wayne Rooney and his aggresion 'he comes from a family of boxers, he could have been a boxer' Well stick to talking about something you know about Sven and keep your opinions and Wayne Rooney out of my sport.

Rant over! Feel free to agree/disagree!

Thing is footballers, film stars and pop singers not only like to see the big events, they like to be seen, and be photographed, on such big occasions - Yep I am sick of all the Rooney hype and it wont be long before people are fed up with hearing about Lewis Hamilton regardless of what the lad has achieved - Why is Rooney a mate of Ricky and not Matt for example and why is Ferdinand right up front ? - Could it be because Ricky is a star and that gets them seen and mentioned by the press and television as well - Ricky is stepping beyond boxing and becoming a celeb as well but with his huge talent and great personality good luck to him - He has so many doors open to him when he decides to quit and potentially 50+ plus years to enjoy doing whatever he decides - Yes, I too dont like to see footballers paid what they are, its rediculous - Most pro fighters risking brain damage get a pittance compared with pro footballers - They get all this money then often with an open goal they put the ball straight over the top as an example - As for that particular tabloid that has shit on me with misquotes in the past, I avoid it and would advise others to do the same - We want our sport reported on but in a proper manner.

[silkov]

Is this the "knock Ricky Hatton thread" ??

He's just beaten Jose Luis Castillo and you're going on about Witter like he's the second coming!! Who's he beaten?

Hatton would walk through him.

Exactumundo..... I don't want to knock Witter but more his fans. What has Witter done, people are laughing at my suggestion that Gatti vs Hatton would be a decent(ish) fight.... Well it will be a cracking fight, but laughing at my suggestion that it could be competitive.

The same people are saying that Witter is a strong 140 and better than Gatti.... based on what? Close fights with Ndou and Kotelnik - neither of whom have proven where they lie in the top ten? A struggle with Colin Lynes?

Lets see Witter fight someone as proven as a Gatti before making judgements.... at least he is proven. Witter is proven to a degree, but struggles with Kotelnik and Ndou doesn't prove he is better than even this faded Gatti. Kotelnik and Ndou are as bout as proven as Thomas Dammgaard.

Oh yeah, Kotlenik has ran Mbaye close twice (draw and split decision loss)... but then what as Mbaye trully done himself. I would favour Colin Lynes over Carlos Maussa, does that mean that Lynes is proven as world class - nope.

What has Witter done? what has Witter done???....look at his record and see for yourself!... are you saying that Witter as WBC champ is a poorer fight than Collazo or Urango??.... thats laughable!... people have been asking for Witter vs Hatton for years now and the truth is if Hatton had a real fighters balls he wouldnt be acting like a frigid bride and he'd be asking to fight Witter to show that he;s the best... as for Gatti, the guy already has a slur in his speech, how many times do you need to see him get battered before you twig that he's had enough??

[rhino222]

Oh no, of course there a better fights for Ricky- but its a decent "test the waters" at 147 fight... as would Judah still be. What Gatti could still is a decent(ish) guage for Team Hatton to see if they really should pursue a fight with DLH.

Whilst Gatti is a very poor man's version of DLH. He is possibly out of the all of the contenders most similar to DLH in terms of style. Fast hands (thats Cotto out of it), likes to throw combinations (thats Mayweather, Judah and Witter out of it), comfortable on both front and back foot (thats Margarito out of it), decent dig (thats Malignaggi out of it).

Malignaggi would be another good fight for Hatton, but I doubt that he'll go anywhere near him. Interesting that Hatton seems to have forgotten all about the existence of Cotto and Margarito...

i think the malignaggi fight will be next up for hatton and it will be in the states where malignaggi has a fanatical americo-italian following. and ill tell you something, i think malignaggi beats hatton on points !!

[stujones]

Is this the "knock Ricky Hatton thread" ??

He's just beaten Jose Luis Castillo and you're going on about Witter like he's the second coming!! Who's he beaten?

Hatton would walk through him.

Exactumundo..... I don't want to knock Witter but more his fans. What has Witter done, people are laughing at my suggestion that Gatti vs Hatton would be a decent(ish) fight.... Well it will be a cracking fight, but laughing at my suggestion that it could be competitive.

The same people are saying that Witter is a strong 140 and better than Gatti.... based on what? Close fights with Ndou and Kotelnik - neither of whom have proven where they lie in the top ten? A struggle with Colin Lynes?

Lets see Witter fight someone as proven as a Gatti before making judgements.... at least he is proven. Witter is proven to a degree, but struggles with Kotelnik and Ndou doesn't prove he is better than even this faded Gatti. Kotelnik and Ndou are as bout as proven as Thomas Dammgaard.

Oh yeah, Kotlenik has ran Mbaye close twice (draw and split decision loss)... but then what as Mbaye trully done himself. I would favour Colin Lynes over Carlos Maussa, does that mean that Lynes is proven as world class - nope.

What has Witter done? what has Witter done???....look at his record and see for yourself!... are you saying that Witter as WBC champ is a poorer fight than Collazo or Urango??.... thats laughable!... people have been asking for Witter vs Hatton for years now and the truth is if Hatton had a real fighters balls he wouldnt be acting like a frigid bride and he'd be asking to fight Witter to show that he;s the best... as for Gatti, the guy already has a slur in his speech, how many times do you need to see him get battered before you twig that he's had enough??

Looked at his record... your point is?

I aint mentioned Collazo or Urango. I was fecking disgusted at the Urango fight. Collazo was a testing waters fight that nearly went horribly wrong - that was fair enough. Maussa was a fight that he needed to secure before the other champions relieved Maussa from the title - that was fair enough. Urango was a backward step and I was cheesed off with it.

However, Castillo was MUCH more deserving a shot than Witter and from there we should be moving onward and upward. Thats Cotto/Mosley/Mayweather etc. Whats Witter done to even suggest he is in that category? Nowt, just moan about Hatton... Focus on your career mate - Ricky is getting on with his nicely, just fought one of the finest fighters of this millenium. If you think a shot Corley (more shot than Gatti IMO) and always limited Ndou, scraping past a decent but unheralded Kotelnik, beating Morua and Colin Lynes is proof that Witter is among the elite - then I think your mistaken.

Give me someone whose career best win is too shut out Lovemore Ndou (not struggle) any day.

Do I think Gatti is more proven than Witter, yes..., do I think Gatti would beat Witter..... on current form... YES.

[silkov]

Exactumundo..... I don't want to knock Witter but more his fans. What has Witter done, people are laughing at my suggestion that Gatti vs Hatton would be a decent(ish) fight.... Well it will be a cracking fight, but laughing at my suggestion that it could be competitive.

The same people are saying that Witter is a strong 140 and better than Gatti.... based on what? Close fights with Ndou and Kotelnik - neither of whom have proven where they lie in the top ten? A struggle with Colin Lynes?

Lets see Witter fight someone as proven as a Gatti before making judgements.... at least he is proven. Witter is proven to a degree, but struggles with Kotelnik and Ndou doesn't prove he is better than even this faded Gatti. Kotelnik and Ndou are as bout as proven as Thomas Dammgaard.

Oh yeah, Kotlenik has ran Mbaye close twice (draw and split decision loss)... but then what as Mbaye trully done himself. I would favour Colin Lynes over Carlos Maussa, does that mean that Lynes is proven as world class - nope.

What has Witter done? what has Witter done???....look at his record and see for yourself!... are you saying that Witter as WBC champ is a poorer fight than Collazo or Urango??.... thats laughable!... people have been asking for Witter vs Hatton for years now and the truth is if Hatton had a real fighters balls he wouldnt be acting like a frigid bride and he'd be asking to fight Witter to show that he;s the best... as for Gatti, the guy already has a slur in his speech, how many times do you need to see him get battered before you twig that he's had enough??

Looked at his record... your point is?

I aint mentioned Collazo or Urango. I was fecking disgusted at the Urango fight. Collazo was a testing waters fight that nearly went horribly wrong - that was fair enough. Maussa was a fight that he needed to secure before the other champions relieved Maussa from the title - that was fair enough. Urango was a backward step and I was cheesed off with it.

However, Castillo was MUCH more deserving a shot than Witter and from there we should be moving onward and upward. Thats Cotto/Mosley/Mayweather etc. Whats Witter done to even suggest he is in that category? Nowt, just moan about Hatton... Focus on your career mate - Ricky is getting on with his nicely, just fought one of the finest fighters of this millenium. If you think a shot Corley (more shot than Gatti IMO) and always limited Ndou, scraping past a decent but unheralded Kotelnik, beating Morua and Colin Lynes is proof that Witter is among the elite - then I think your mistaken.

Give me someone whose career best win is too shut out Lovemore Ndou (not struggle) any day.

Do I think Gatti is more proven than Witter, yes..., do I think Gatti would beat Witter..... on current form... YES.

Gatti beat Witter??... well each to his own... but if even Baldomir can outbox Gatti than I cant see him doing better against Witter, whose style would have given Gatti fits even when he was in his prime...
Witters acheivements at 140 speak for themselves... if you think he doesnt deserve a shot at Hatton then your deluded I'm afraid...
remember the reason so many of the top boxers have avoided Witter is because they dont think they can beat him... Hatton included, its that simple... Hatton vs Witter would be a far bigger fight than about 41 of Hattons other fights... he just hasnt fought him because he knows Witter can beat him... probably he's waiting for Witter to hit 35 like he did with Tszyu and now Gatti....

[Twinkle Toes]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Witter fans are a lot like Witter fights i.e boring

[states]

remember the reason so many of the top boxers have avoided Witter is because they dont think they can beat him...

That's only part of it though. Yes, Witter could beat some top names, but there's also the fact that even if you beat Junior, chances are you'll look dreadful, you'll get no money and no credit, outside of a small number of British fans.

[stujones]

Witter is a 5 round fighter though, if Witter could sustain the 5 rounds he did over Ndou then I would favour him over Gatti/Witter/Castillo and a host of others. The fact is he doesn't.

Witter might make Hatton look very bad for 5 rounds - but he won't sustain it and Hatton will crush him.

Your going on about Witter being avoided, perhaps your right - perhaps your not. Its unproven. What he has got though is the WBC title as a bargining tool and a big US backer in Golden Boy and he still cannot get the fights. Surely some half decent, even if its Juan Lazcano's level will take him on.

I'm NOT denying that Witter is worthy of a "shot" - yes he is... above many of the other champions (Mbaye, Torres, Cintron, the Lightweights). However, none of these fighters have really been mentioned in a positive light as his next fight by forum members. All the fighters that have been mentioned positively (e.g. "I would like to see") as Hatton's next fight are MORE worthy, more proven. Only 4 non champions - these are DLH, Mosley, Gatti (only by me) and Judah (only by me). 3 of these are Hall of fame bound and the other beat Junior. The rest Margarito, Cotto, Mayweather are champions with greater pedigree than Junior and IMO even though Malignaggi is a new champion I think his manner of his win over Ndou makes him more worthy than Junior.

Now, there are 4 fighters I think that could give Hatton more problems at 140 than Witter (Malignaggi, Juan Diaz, Torres, Ngoudgio)... However, I would rather see Witter have a chance than three of these.... He is more worthy than three of these.

[silkov]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Witter fans are a lot like Witter fights i.e boring

Yeah, well the truth must be boring after all these years, but the truth is Witter is Hattons main domestic rival and Hatton has spent the best part of 5+ years ducking him. As for boring I didnt exactly get chills of excitement watching Hatton vs Maussa, Collazo or Urango... and even the Castillo fight is hardly fight of the years material...

[WildWaylon]

Well Mr Silkov I am going to ask someone who knows Ricky and see if he will do a cartwheel before and after his next fight, will that help to impress you? - Witter isnt as good as he has been and wouldnt handle Hatton for reasons I have already given - Personally I would love to see Hatton fight Witter and shut him up but I think that would be a disaster and end Witters career - Hatton would beat him so emphatically Witter would find a way back far too difficult - Witter needs to shut up, leave Hatton alone and see if he can get some decent paydays - Olusegun said he would love the chance to fight Hatton win or lose which is fair enough but Witter thinks he can actually beat him, dream on Witter, Ricky is in another class - If Gatti was really a shot fighter showing signs of brain damage he would lose his license - Yes he has been in wars especially with Mickey Ward and maybe he like Witter is past his best but you cant write the guy off, he is still hard to beat - Gatti would fight Witter toe to toe and rough house him - Gatti on points.

[Shirow]

Hatton is looking for big money & glory now (and in that order).

Witter brings neither. If he had built up a fanbase in the last 5+ years his management might be in a position to make him an offer he couldn't refuse. As it is...

[Max Molyneux]

As far as 140lbs, if Hatton stays there he should look at who the top contenders are, and they should be rated as

Champ Hatton
1. Witter
2. Harris
3. M'baiye
4. Magillagi
5. Kotelnik
6. Torres
7. Holt
8. Urango
9. Castillo
10. Lazcano

Pretty thin and Magillagi can't break an egg. Witters the number 1 contender, it should happen.

They should hire you to do the rings ratings.

Strangely when Urango was IBF champ, the ring never rated him In their top 10.

[oliverfennell]

Getting back to the press coverage, I was happy with it. Most of the nationals gave the fight a double page spread and a couple even had it on the back page. As for the Rooney connection, well so what? If it gets people to stay on the page when they wouldn't normally read about boxing, then it's a good thing.

[Captain Hook]

I can't believe Witter gets as much talk as he does on boxing websites, the same people never go and see him box I'll bet.

With regards coverage, it's the way it is. Go to a newsagent and there's even about 15 mags on mountain biking and only a select few will have Boxing Monthly or Boxing News, rarely both...