BoxRec

Couldn't agree more with all that you said.

No doubt his ballooning between fights is a major problem; how he thinks this will simply minimise his shelf life without affecting his performances god knows.
I'm stuck in two minds really - I'm quite new to boxrec, and see that the majority of posters on here don't understand that we're not a true cross section of the boxing public. We understand all the nuances of the game and that's why we're interested enough to post on here, but we must represent about 5% at best of the ticket buying boxing public (and less of the tv audiences). For this reason it grates with me that people on here get so worked up about the fight not happening; for all Hatton's deficiencies (and there are many) I still don't feel Witter has done enough to convince the layperson that he's a really credible fight. Being arrogant won't do it, because that's the trait of all up and coming boxers since Naseem Hamed, it's not fresh and when compared to the down to earth humour than Hatton displays (which annoys many on here) alienates many of the lay people.
I'm in a job where I meet a lot of the general public, and in the nicest possible way if you can string a few sentences on a boxing forum you're probably in the upper echelon of intellectual society.

I do feel that at one stage Hatton had a very exciting style, and was highly regarded for his stamina and workrate. He's lost a lot of that, and I feel the Hatton who fought Eamonn Magee was probably his best work, boxing in and out, applying very intelligent pressure. Against PBF he would have done better to have a flash knockdown early a la the Magee fight, maybe he'd have been a bit cleverer then.
The longer it goes the more I think Witter has a good chance, that is, until Witter (and Hatton) are past it. It will be a shame but while Hatton seems to get on with other things it's disappointing that Witter's on hold waiting for this match.

It's a sad indictment of his position that we're asking what he could say to entice Hatton into the fight, rather than considering him on his own merits when there are a lot of fights out there.

The Witter has doesn't enough argument is fine and dandy, until you place it alongside the selection of Urango, Collazo and now Laszcano, when plainly it becomes moot.

Witter has done more than all of the above.

They picked Maussa because he had a belt, they picked Urango because he had a belt, they picked Collazo because he had a belt.

Never Witter. Mmmm.

Despite the fact, as proven by Haye v Maccarinelli, a domestic match-up between the top two in the division largely makes nationality a secondary issue.

Would Hatton v Witter really have been less well attended than a Urango fight who largely, nobody had really seen and was given a gift against Ben Rabah in his preceding bout, if memory serves, an opponent Hatton rejected?

It doesn't stack up, and ultimatley, Hatton's career irrespective of another defeat to Mayweather or DLH will alway shave an asterix. It's inescapable.

Imagine if Benn hadn't fought Eubank and been beaten by McClellan.

Would he beat anywhere near the same icon he is now.

Imagine if Lewis had fought and lost to Holyfield and never fought Bruno.

Would we be suggesting Bruno would have knocked him out? Plausibly.

Hatton cannot retire without fighting him and expect British fans to just gloss over it. It's asking too much.

Again I agree completely, if Hatton retires without having made the matchup he's lost his status in my book too; it's obviously diminishing rapidly.

We question the quality of opposition because Hatton is regarded as the no.1 - I was going to compare Witter's record, then though that it's not really the issue; he should be compared to Urango et al in order to establish his status as a genuine challenger. Then I think, it'sall unfair to Witter as he's actually the Champ, so why has he found himself in a position where Hatton can dictate? There's a million and one threads on that, it's just a shame. While I like Hatton, I'll be as gutted as anyone if he never makes the Witter fight.

How much is politics do you think? Have they never made any kind of negotiation? I don't read a lot into 'I'll take less money' when said to the media, as I presume (perhaps wrongly) that it's a completely different story when they come to genuine negotiations.

I think it was timing and circumstances early on, Hatton after all asked for a Witter stipulation in his last contract with Warren but Witter looked poor versus Haeck on a Showtime card and the wind went out of it.

Then Hatton got the Stewart eliminator, Witter left Warren and took a different path - I think that chronology is a bout right.

Obviously you then add the Hennessy angle, while Hatton was with Warren, and subsequent to that Hatton has been eager to please American broadcasters not British fans.

And as such the fight died on the vine, I dont agree that the fight couldn't have been made post Witter v N'Dou, but other paths were chosen for Hatton and he began his long list of lame excuses.

Money and risk, as always are at the bottom of the story.

Hatton wants money for risk and Witter is too much of the wrong side of that equation.

BENN WAS AN ICON FOR ABOUT A YEAR ND A HALF, AFTER QUITTIN ON HIS STOOL HE LOST IT

Yeah, but it can't wash any more can it with his bank balance.

Think he set out to be the best, retired unbeaten etc, then saw that there are some 5 and 6 weight world champs, and just thought 'this'll never happen' - maybe if he hadn't ballooned wildly he'd have performed better in the Collazo fight and we'd be thinking differently as he'd have got more etstablished at LWW.

Anyway, no amount of talking from Witter will mke me want the fight more, the ball is firmly in Hatton's court so Witter needs to refocus on himself and forget Hatton for the time being.

Crew2 wrote:BENN WAS AN ICON FOR ABOUT A YEAR ND A HALF, AFTER QUITTIN ON HIS STOOL HE LOST IT

http://www.mind.org.uk/

I think Hatton will want the easy paydays and then the high risk mega-event such as DLH/Mayweather, because of his ambitions in promoting fights. If he wants any practise hyping up a grudge match then how about Witter?