BoxRec

The WBO have just announced that, due to light-welter Zab Judah moving up to challenge Cory Spinks, Ricky Hatton will face Brazilian banger Kelson Pinto for the WBO interim light-welterweight title in Manchester in April.
It's probably the safest 'risky' fight out there for the streaking Hatton right now. Pinto is unbeaten, but relatively untested. Showtime televise.

If it's true I think it's an interesting fight. The first unbeaten fighter Hatton has faced?

However at the moment Bennie is the source so I wo't get too excited...

That's great news if it happens, but how the hell did Ricky get such a high ranking after not even being in the WBO top 20?!
Or shouldn't I ask that question.....

Good fight, and a leap into the dark for Hatton.

Goz wrote:If it's true I think it's an interesting fight. The first unbeaten fighter Hatton has faced?

However at the moment Bennie is the source so I wo't get too excited...

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Hatton-Micky Ward came off didn't it! Great win for "Irish" that night.

WBO is the source!!!!!

Matchfixer wrote:WBO is the source!!!!!

Yes, that I can understand as being unreliable.

KELSON PINTO WINS KO7 RICKY HATTON

You Brits haven't seen Pinto, the guy is awesome, much more so than what I've seen of Hatton

Therefore I think allegedly wouldn't dare risk his prize pet infront of a Killer like pinto

Hatton is a small Light welter whereas Pinto is a big light welter and I can only see one winner and it isn't Hatton


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Hatton may be overrated...or underrated, depending on your view point, but he'll be favorite in this fight.
Pinto might be a big puncher, but he's still unproven and has a lot of questions hanging over him.
Hatton is a big lightwelter himself, and defintely wont be a walk in the park for The Golden Boy's favorite son. He'll be looking to break that body in half.
So the bookmakers will have Ricky as favorite here I think - Get your cash down nasty!

Hatton a big light welter?

NO WAY!

the guy is no more than 5ft 7inches tall whereas Pinto is 6ft tall and by the time he'll get into the ring with Hatton, he'll be more like 154 lbs (11st)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 WILL BE THE YEAR OF MIKE TYSON
http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Parodies/Mike_Tyson.html
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VOTE FOR THE GREATEST PRESIDENT AMERICA WILL EVER HAVE!
VOTE DOCTOR HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
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Strange post Nasty.
I think you're mistaken.
Warren was prepared to bring him over for Witter, so why not Hatton.
I think you'll find it is you who is over rating Pinto.
Hatton to prevail.

Pinto looks a good fighter, but we all know Hatton IS a good fighter and that's the difference prior to this match on April 3. Warren is taking a risk here though (or should I say Showtime have forced him to take a risk). Pinto's unbeaten record means it's impossible to judge how good - or not so good - he is at this moment in time. But he's still a safer opponent (on paper) than Oktay Urkal, Eamonn Magee or even Junior Witter. At this heady stage in Hatton's career, it's all about risk management.

nasty wrote:Hatton a big light welter?

NO WAY!

the guy is no more than 5ft 7inches tall whereas Pinto is 6ft tall and by the time he'll get into the ring with Hatton, he'll be more like 154 lbs (11st)

he said big not tall, and he's right Hatton is huge

Too many peoples overhyped dislike of Hatton for whatever reason disguises the fact he is a good fighter and that's the truth. Hatton should deal with this guy but it will not be easy, i would guess not many people have seen Pinto fight and i for one cannot really comment on his strengths or weaknesses. It's easy to look at his KO recod and then blindly predict Hatton will get KO'd because when you watch guys in action you can pick out the best strategy to beat them and where there waknesses lie. Hatton has an excellent trainer in Billy Graham remember who will mastermind the victory.

There is no dispute that Hatton is a very good fighter indeed, he took Tackie on head to head, and what is more changed his tactics, eschewing his body hunting attack in favour of disorienting head shots.

And hatton is a very big light welter, he stated himself that he weighs in at 11st 2 on fight night, that's 16 lbs above the actual weight limit, and making him light middle come fight night.

Hatton is massive for 10st and I wouldn't mind taking even money or better (from Nasty or anyone else) that Hatton wins this one.

Hatton will win this.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:eschewing

Gazoontite.

You know, these 'unknowns' are as easily overrated as underrated. But ODH speaks highly of him and I was sure he'd hand Witter a good spanking (i.e. I was favouring the 'underrated' tag).
I for one would be very nervous for the Ghost faced one. I imagine Frankie would be too.

When a sanctioning body "announce" a fight like this, has it already been agreed (or even mentioned) to the respective camps and managers?

Seeing as it was a press release, i presume it has been arranged.

WBO Feb 2004 ratings:

1. Miguel Cotto
2. Kelson Pinto
3. Junior Witter
4. Ricky Hatton
5. David Diaz
6. Michael Stewart
7. Alex Trujillo
8. Paul Spadafora
9. DeMarcus Corley
10. Nick Tetoris

I would be more than pleased if this match came off.

Pinto is clearly a decent puncher, he's young, hungry, he's been the distance, he's big AND Oscar De La Hoya thinks he's got something.

Bring it on and good luck to Hatton.

Match is excellent, although I would have prefered for Hatton to stick around for Gatti, Tszyu, Harris or Mitchell.

I have seen a bit of Pinto and he is a good fighter with a bloody good punch!

This is a very risky fight for Hatton to have taken and I can only commend him for that.

Kelson is approx 6ft and rangy,he is undefeated and ambitious.

This is a fight I am really looking forward to as I was fully expecting Hatton to take an easy fight whilst waiting for a big fight towards the end of the year.

HH

The worry I have though, HH. Will Hatton take a Risky fight now for easy nights for the rest of his career.

Just for everyone's information, the fight hasn't been made yet, it's been 'announced' by the WBO, which means Hatton is being offered the opportunity, however it does get a mention on Warren's website, which does seem to indicate that they are at least considering it.