Who will it be, Harris or Spadafora?

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:06

It's all about risk.

Either fight (Hatton-Spaddy/Harris) will sellout the MEN (that's if it's not in america) and get US exposure. I dont think either fight will generate much (if any) more than the other.

But Harris is clearly the more dangerous opponent. He is a big 140 pounder and has some good wins on his record, Urkal and Hurtado most notably. Hatton-Harris would be a genuine 50-50 match.

Spadafora on the otherhand, is unbeaten but is not seen as being as dangerous. Hatton is bigger and stronger and will walk through everything Spaddy has to offer. Hatton would be a firm favourite not only to win, but probably stop Spadafora.

Spadafora is the easier fight to win, but there is more to gain by defeating Harris. More respect, he'll be beating a higher ranked opponent (top 5) as apposed to beating a frindge top 10er...and of course win the non-'super' WBA title.

The style of the 2 possible opponents has to be considered. Hatton-Harris would be a war between 2 heavy handed operators. Thrilling for the fans, but could result in long term damage for Ricky, win or lose. Hatton-Spadafora would be fought at a slower pace (unless Paul decides to apply tactics like he did against Dorin, highly unlikely), and Ricky even if he was to lose, wouldn't suffer much physical punishment.

what does he do? what will Frank do? He could 'get away with' pitting Hatton against Spaddy...and still make a fortune. Or will he silence the critics altogether and put Ricky in a fight that could genuinely go either way?

My money is on Hatton-Spadafora being announced in the near future. 8)

Sprint · Post by **Sprint** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:33

Spadafora is more likely than Harris, as he could, as you say 'get away with it', just.
i.e. with the usual 'we nearly had A.N.Other (in this case Harris).

Harris would be the preferred option of the fans and Ricky (i hope), yet i'll believe it when i see it with either of them.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:37

Probably neither

In all seriousness I'd say Spadafora, the heat is up on warren to deliver and spad really is low risk in the sense he is a soft punching lightweight. Haton should beat him with workrate alone.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:41

isn`t harris being muted as cotto`s next opponent after pinto?
and spadafora may have difficulties getting in the country, but i suppose ricky could go stateside to fight him.
whats the odds these fights cant be made for the said reasons and ricky has `one last tune up` in manchester in october?

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:44

that's the other thing, where will it be hold.

Jay Larkin the showtime boss wants it to be live in the US at 9pmish ET. That would mean if it took place in this country it would be 2am!!! That practically can't happen. Larkin will have to change his mind, or the fight take place in the US. It would make a lot of sense, have Calzaghe on there.....it could be a sports network showcase.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:46

2am in this country... that smells like PPV

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:47

Ricky said theres no way he would fight at that time.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:50

what ricky says and what happens have proved to be two very different things.

"2004 is going to be a ab big year for ricky hatton" springs to mind

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 14 Jun 2004, 18:58

it would never happen at 2am. The only people that would turn up would be drunken bums who have been drinking all night,...not a good idea.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 14 Jun 2004, 19:07

I think the Harris fight is 60-40 in Harris's favour. He's pretty big and was manhandling Urkal. Hatton has been hurt by far lesser punchers than Harris and im convinced he will land. Warren keeps mentioning an October PPV. He must be joking if he's gonna put Spadafora on PPV. The hype before that fight would be hilarious. It would be a nightmare to promote. McGuigans already mentioned about Spadafora not really being good enough so thats a positive. If they choose Harris then they can promote it as a genuine world title fight against a dangerous unbeaten champ. The fight promotes itself.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 14 Jun 2004, 19:55

It will be Sparaforda, if its more likely to Harries then I don't think Sparaforda would be mentioned at all.

One side issue that got me thinking about the Warren issue. This is a question and not an opinion. Frank told Adam that without US TV money he cannot get the big names, this I'm sure is true. However, he then says when asked "Will Hatton be shown on US TV in October"?, "Providing they are interested in the fight, yes".

Isn't this a Chicken and Egg situation? Does Warren tell the US TV whoose Hatton fighting before, or do the US TV come up with a wishlist? What I cannot understand is why couldn't Warren get a fight which would satify US TV last Saturday. Perhaps I'm not making myself clear, but it sounded like he contradicted himself a little in the interview.

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 14 Jun 2004, 19:59

stujones wrote:It will be Sparaforda, if its more likely to Harries then I don't think Sparaforda would be mentioned at all.

One side issue that got me thinking about the Warren issue. This is a question and not an opinion. Frank told Adam that without US TV money he cannot get the big names, this I'm sure is true. However, he then says when asked "Will Hatton be shown on US TV in October"?, "Providing they are interested in the fight, yes".

Isn't this a Chicken and Egg situation? Does Warren tell the US TV whoose Hatton fighting before, or do the US TV come up with a wishlist? What I cannot understand is why couldn't Warren get a fight which would satify US TV last Saturday. Perhaps I'm not making myself clear, but it sounded like he contradicted himself a little in the interview.

the fight that Hatton just had is a complex issue in regards to TV. The only way Hatton was ever going to be on showtime before August was if he fought Sharmba Mitchell on Gary Shaw's June 5th showtime slot. Once that fight fell through, it was obvious Warren wasn't going to risk Hatton because showtime were unable to show the fight, whoever the opponent.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 14 Jun 2004, 20:02

Why only Mitchell? Surely Harries, Sparaforda and a host of other names would be shown on Showtime?

What about future dates? Does any promoter have to have the opponent arranged before securing the financial backing (TV) that is needed to pay the fighters, or do they need the TV backing arranged before negotiating the fighter. That was the aspect that seemed so contradictory. Warren said will be Harries or Sparaforda in October, but then said that then couldn't give a definate yes or no if it would be on Showtime. Surely, he would know if Showtime have said yes to these before even starting negotiations. Otherwise, if showtime fall through, how will he pay the fighters?

I haven't got a clue how these deals work, but they seem off.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 15 Jun 2004, 03:05

Spadafora is more than acceptable with showtime, or he was a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure they show his fights.

I think it will be Spadafora, but I think we all know what the result will be in that one. I've said it before, and I will say it again. I think Spaddy is made for Hatton. I can only hope that Spaddy and his problems keep him from leaving his country, and stop him from entering ours.

As for needing US TV money, well that arguement only washes for so long. After all, Harris has already come over to Europe to fight Urkal, and Urkal doesn't fill out arena's like Hatton does.

I hope it is Harris.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 15 Jun 2004, 04:17

it would never happen at 2am. The only people that would turn up would be drunken bums who have been drinking all night,...not a good idea.

Ah, I read that wrong, i thought 2am in this country indicated a fight over in the US.

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 15 Jun 2004, 04:28

I, too hope it's Harris. Although a lot of people are writing off Spadafora almost before it gets in the ring. But it's clear from SKY's hyping of Spadafora that they may have an inside word from Funtime Frankie.

Fighting at 2am would be illegal wouldn't it? I thought shows had to be done, or the last bout started, by midnight?

Reasons for Spadafora over Harris are multiple. Spadafora's winning but against who? A 12 rounder against Pedersen? A scraped win over Angel Manfredy? Points win over Chucky T? And a bunch of mid-west glorified club fighters. OK, maybe a bit harsh, but he's not tearing a swathe down the division. On top of which he's not stopped anyone in an age. He's had one fight at light welter. He's hardly ever fought outside his locality (oooh). He's also the older side of Hatton.

Harris by contrast is 25 as well, with a bit more pop, is a genuine light welter and has faced quality opposition since winning the title from Hurtado, who's no mug.

I know which one I'd rather see, but all signs point to Spadafora. If I was Hatton, I wouldn't be over the moon with that.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 15 Jun 2004, 05:02

Given the choice it's a 100% fearless Frank will go for Spadafora. He meets the usual criteria: a lightweight who can't punch.
From his statements so far, you can tell he'd much prefer the lightweight over the dangerous genuine 1401b Harris.
Viv is mentioned as an afterthought.

Trouble for Warren is he HAS to deliver for Hatton now. And with Spaddy looking at a possible 10-15, he might have to opt for Harris.

Let's hope so.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 15 Jun 2004, 05:42

I can see it now: Warren announces WBA champ Vivian Harris as the opponent for Hatton in October. "I've delivered as I said I would," Frank says at the press conference - "even though Sky still didn't pay the money and Adam Smith still talks out of his backside."
Eight days before the fight Harris pulls out with management problems and in comes...

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015692

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 15 Jun 2004, 05:46

45-0

buzz · Post by **buzz** » 15 Jun 2004, 06:00

bennie wrote:I can see it now: Warren announces WBA champ Vivian Harris as the opponent for Hatton in October. "I've delivered as I said I would," Frank says at the press conference - "even though Sky still didn't pay the money and Adam Smith still talks out of his backside."
Eight days before the fight Harris pulls out with management problems and in comes...

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015692

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 15 Jun 2004, 07:11

Nah, say's he's southpaw. Waaaaaay too tricky for Frank

That is one heck of a record. He must love his management. He's had more debutants than a high school quarterback.

Actually, is this a wind-up, cos isn't that Pele's real name?

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 15 Jun 2004, 07:42

No, its no windup!!

It makes sense for him to be named after pele when you look at his DOB.

How can you warrant a shot at the brazilian lightweight title when you are 0-1-0

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 15 Jun 2004, 07:43

this guy could break marcianos record!

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 15 Jun 2004, 07:48

Wales wrote:this guy could break marcianos record!

nah hes not a heavyweight, chavez and Campas went a longer runs

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 15 Jun 2004, 08:13

Spadafora

Who will it be, Harris or Spadafora?

Who will it be, Harris or Spadafora?

hhmmm

hhmmm