BoxRec

Look at some of the comments from different general forums, it seems that the American fight fans are lapping up the prospect of Hatton vs Pinto. Some calling it 50:50 etc. Now, most of these have seen Pinto in action - they probably have a better knowledge on this fight than us, and they are very positive.

Will who think Pinto will end up being a Freitas or a Veit? Remember both came here in WBO title fights with undefeated, but untested records. One turned into a 3 belt holder (in two weights) the other has gone back to fighting Journeymen.

So which one will Pinto follow?

yeah even at boxingtime where i have constant arguments about Hatton, they are giving him alot of credit taking this fight. To the extent, that i'm worried if Warren realises how good the brazlian is. But we been asking for Hatton to step up for a ling time now so we cant complain! If he's going to reach the top, he will have to deal with guys like this.

That's a very good point Stu, a Veit or a Freitas? Time will tell.

Pinto's undefeated, but not ranked in most people's top 20. I thought the idea was for Hatton to show he's world class, not just top-20 material.

A poster on another site a post, whose opinion I have respected for years, said way before this fight was arrange that a fight he would have looked forward to have seen in 2004 was Pinto vs Kermit Crinton - he said that he couldn't pick a winner and it would be a cracking contest. Crinton has had a lot of exposure, and many people see him as the main contendor for Cotto's crown as "world's best prospect".

This sort of shows how much confidence people (who have seen him) have in Pinto's ability. I agree with the points of Eric the Viking, but sometimes even when a fighter is let of the leash - he can still destroy his opponents. I only hope FW and RH know more about him than we do, but what does he gain with such a win. As far as I can see, he's already a hit with the Americans. As you said Viking, Pinto isn't ranked highly in the independent rankings, making it a strange contest.

What he gains is more confidence and the experience that comes with tough fights against opponents who come to make a name for themselves.

This is a good choice of opponent, and if Hatton wins big against Pinto he enhances his reputation to a large extent.

Good point James, whilst this devision is an excellent one, excluding Cotto and Witter, I can't see many non-world title holders who are still "on the way up" - most are just on the downward slope (i.e. Leijla, Sparaforda) or have peaked just short of championship class (Weiss, Coreley, Branco).

Urkal is probably the only other fighter who still is "on the up".

Thats a good point there, perhaps because Tackie and Phillips have been to the well so often, it was felt that maybe their true desire and self-belief might have been lacking. Hatton needs to find a fighter where that is not the case, and I can only think of 3 others - and Pinto is a bigger name stateside than Witter and Urkal (and more exciting).

http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/fighters/pinto.htm

Boxing since the age of seven, the Aracajo-born Pinto built an outstanding amateur slate of 94-4 with 60 KOs. Along the way he competed in 20 international tournaments, where he won one silver medal and 18 gold medals. In the 1999 pre-Olympics, Pinto won a gold medal against Cotto, the unbeaten Puerto Rican prospect who the Brazilian plans on meeting in a pro ring someday soon.

great posts here fellas, agree also, someone whom I know, who has forgotten more bout boxing than I will ever know told me to wish for pinto as am gonna be there. (and emailed him like the excited child I am) hahaha. Anyway he reckons Pinto will give Ricky a good fight and by no means is it a foregone conclusion

I have followed Pinto for a while and seen a few of his fights and he can win this fight without a doubt and if Hatton wins its a good win against a very powerful young fighter.

Pinto is rangy and has pure KO power.

This is the hardest of the three fights that were being mooted around.

HH

adamiw wrote:http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/fighters/pinto.htm

Boxing since the age of seven, the Aracajo-born Pinto built an outstanding amateur slate of 94-4 with 60 KOs. Along the way he competed in 20 international tournaments, where he won one silver medal and 18 gold medals. In the 1999 pre-Olympics, Pinto won a gold medal against Cotto, the unbeaten Puerto Rican prospect who the Brazilian plans on meeting in a pro ring someday soon.

'kin 'ell

I think although Spadafora was a more proven fighter, his light punching style wouldn't have been suited to Hatton, Hatton has shown before that when he doesn't have to fear his opponent's power, he can wade right through them.

I think it could have been similar to the Rios fight. After all, Spaddy is a natural lightweight....

ricky should have been fighting in this class ten fights ago.
warren has just squeezed what he can out of the lad before there`s a chance he will get beat.
personally, i think ricky`s got too much for kostas, judah, the lot of them.
his angles, workrate and bodyshots are first class, and he is not as one dimensional as some think.

allegedly wanted Pinto, I can only think he has seen something that none of us know about. Pinto, on paper at least seems like a real threat to Hatton.

Still, it's a good match up, cant wait for this one.

Well being a u.s. fight fan I will give you my honest opinion.
I really dont like hatton but I am starting to respect him more and more after everyfight.
Pinto is coming in as a huge banger and a huge threat to ricky.
Warren did see something in pinto that made him a perfect match for hatton.
1:Pinto is very lanky and dont like it to the body.
2:Pinto like most huge bangers has it all in the hand but not in the chin.
3:pinto is straight forward,much to hattons delight.
4:He must have seen Abduliev crush him in the olymics.

Hatton will have a little trouble in the first couple rds but the bodyshots will take there toll and hatton will stop pinto by 9rds