BoxRec

hey guys, do you think hatton should e worried of tszyu? or will it be pretty even? to me it seems like this is abit of a jump for hatton as none of his recent fights have been that crucial and now suddenly hes fifghting some1 better than him. i am a HUGE hatton fan but dont know too much about tszyu.

without being biased, should hatton be worried or does he have a good chance?

It is a great fight and I must admit a fight I thought Hatton would miss out on. He does have a chance but should definitely be worried.

Tszyu was the one to watch out for when our fighter Ross Hale was British & Commonwealth Champion (1994/95) and that seems like an eternity ago! I think it all depends on what Tszyu has left. We all know what Hatton is capable of and I think he's really at the peak of his prime now.

I read an interesting piece in BN with Vince Phillips stating that Hatton only pocessed 25% (I think it said) of Tszyu's power. Tszyu is a phenomenal puncher and I think this will be the deciding factor, I can't help but remember the way Magee rocked Hatton to his boots. I think the fight may only go 3-4 rounds with some great toe to toe action with Ricky having his fair share of moments but the power and precision of Tszyu's shots maybe something Ricky has not faced before. Hatton is world class but it’s another step up when you face someone of the calabire of Tszyu. In a similar vein to Eastman v Hopkins last weekend.

Even though my head says Tszyu I will be cheering on Hatton, he deserves all his success. A great ambassador for the game.

Not sure about 'worried' but cautious definitely. Tszyu has a hammer right hand and Hatton has been clocked by these before on his way into his opponents range. One of those off Tszyu and it could be goodnight. Still I'm sure Hatton realises this and will do his best to avoid that happening. Hatton has a good chance IMO but it'll need a career best performance and a little luck.

How is the Rooster doing now?, haven`t hears anything about him.

The Rooster is well. Saved his money out of boxing and now lives with his partner and 2 young children in Bristol. He works as a labourer. Still pops in to the gym now and again and to some of our shows. He still keeps in shape.

Glad to hear it, very good fighter to watch.

I think Hatton's going to be competitive in this fight, definately not ko'd early, if at all.
The way I see it, although Tszyu can be described as a young 35, he's still 35 and like against Phillips or Oliveira Hatton will, imo, have better timing. Hatton's always changing the distance, stepping in and out and that's a big part of why the older guy's he's fought could be so completely dominated, they couln't time him and couldn't get punches off, I think that's also the principal reason for him not fighting Witter or Corley for instance on his way up, because they could and I think SN have worried about this and that's why they've cotton wrapped him.
Tszyu's 35 and a slow starter, I think by the time he finds his feet, say round 3 or 4 Hatton will be well in the fight.

ANY fighter has to worry getting in the ring with a fighter like Tszyu - there's not a lot of weaknesses to give you much encouragement: he seems to pretty much have it all.

And Hatton must be wondering, deep down, what'll happen when Tszyu lands that inevitable right hand...

But saying that, I doubt Hatton will let any nervousness affect him too much. He'll be standing on the other side of the ring impassive as ever, ready to give it his best shot. Should be a hell of a fight that's for sure.

Of all people Hatton knows about Zoo strengths and weakness' (yes he does have them)

Hatton will have studied and will study countless tapes of Zoo and will be cautious but not alarmed. Zoo's style is pretty easy too work out but Ricky must not forget how effective it is and how much power Kostya has in that right hand.

My guess is that Ricky will stick and move, with controlled bursts of pressure, mainly to the body as Zoo holds his hands quite high most of the time. This will be Ricky's opportunity to pound at the mid section....but...he hangs around on the inside for too long the fight is over.

I honestly beleive this fight will go into the later rounds but because of Ricky's previous opposition I'm finding it hard to call how he'll react under serious pressure.

Lat time he was on the canvass from a silly right hand he changed his style and outworked Magee. Maybe a similar fight plan for this one.

Zoo Ko1 or 2 Ricky will be too easy to find. If Ricky goes to the body Zoo can hit harder to the body. If Ricky iniates anything Zoos counter will be waiting and I think it'll take Ricky out the same as it did to Mitchell but quicker

I think Hatton is smart enough to know he can't just go barrelling into Tszyu, after all, he didn't just charge at Tackie, he boxed behind the jab.

The problem as I see it, is that I would be amazed if Hatton could outbox Tszyu, and at some point I think Tszyu will draw him into a punching match.

Hatton will probably start well and maybe win the first 2-3 rounds with his greater workrate, but Tszyu will make adjustments. If Hatton gets forced on the back foot early, then I think it is over soon after, if Hatton survives the middle rounds he has a chance, IF and it's a big IF he has more in the tank than Tszyu down the stretch.

Despite Tszyu's age, he is in excellent physical shape, and trains very scientifically.

Why are people thinkign Hatton will outbox Tszyu. Zoos the far greater skilled boxer so if anything Zoo can outbox Hatton. If Hatton goes to the body Zoo will throw his own left hook to the body which is heavier than Hattons and throw the uppercut. And MrBassie Kostya is said to have the best timing in the game. I also don't think Ricky has good head movement or a good technical defense

The laughable thing I read on Hattons website was that they planned to 'smoother' Zoo by not giving him space to work and 'defense is overated' They must think Zoos going to allow ricky to stand toe2toe and work the body the way he works the body padding in training. Unfortunately Zoo punches back (very hard) body padding does not.

I would be putting 100 quid on Tszyu KO1. The fight won't happen of course.

Of course Hatton should be worried, he's going from fighting journeymen to fighting one of the top P4P fighters in the world. Tszyu is also one of the hardest hitting fighters in Light Welterweight history. I am going to the fight but will be very surprised it Hatton makes it through to round six. I don't understand why he went straight for Tszyu, Gatti would have been an easier opponent and that match up has Fight of the Year written all over it.

boxingdvduk wrote:Of course Hatton should be worried, he's going from fighting journeymen to fighting one of the top P4P fighters in the world. Tszyu is also one of the hardest hitting fighters in Light Welterweight history. I am going to the fight but will be very surprised it Hatton makes it through to round six. I don't understand why he went straight for Tszyu, Gatti would have been an easier opponent and that match up has Fight of the Year written all over it.

I would say Tszyu is the hardest hitter in 140 pound history not one of.

lirva33 wrote:I would be putting 100 quid on Tszyu KO1. The fight won't happen of course.

I'll take that bet....

I think Kostya will ko Hatton in the first 5 rounds.
Hattons best chance is to jump on Kostya from the start and try to get himout early before he's warmed up... if he tries to box K he will just get broken up by him.

I dont see Hatton outboxing Tszyu at all, granted Hatton has better boxing skills than he has shown in his most recent fights but technically Tszyu is a far better boxer. Hatton's strengths are his workrate and pressure but to exact that sort of tactic he has to be in punching range and in full view of the Tszyu right hand which is laser precise at times.

My money will be on Tszyu rounds 2-4.

I think it all boils down to what sort of "Plan B" Hatton has, because 2 nanoseconds after he tastes a Tszyu right hand, The Hitman is going to realize Plan A ain't gonna work.

I see Tszyu-Hatton playing out a lot like Tszyu-Leija. Hatton will look good in the early rounds, but Tszyu's power (and precision) will ultimately take its toll in the mid-late rounds.

Is zoo a harder hitter than hatton??
Is he a better boxer????
can he take a good or even better punch???
can he go to the body better than ricky???

i keep on getting yes to these what chance has ricky got really>>.

my bro was talking to barry hearn last night and his prediction is zoo ko 3.
too open to the right hand when throwing the left to the body was bazza quote, but surely team hatton arent just gonna go ok ricky do what you normally do..they must allow for the big right.

How come he was talking to Bazza J?

at a poker night believe it or not got a pissed fone call from him at midnite. i like those.

I think Tszyu should be worried, after all the negative posts about Hatton i wouldnt want to be knocked out by a so called Bum.

I think Ricky can do it, more so than i thought Eastman could and Williams could.

See i know what im talking about!

But serious i give Hatton a chance he throws a good punch!

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think Hatton is smart enough to know he can't just go barrelling into Tszyu, after all, he didn't just charge at Tackie, he boxed behind the jab.

The problem as I see it, is that I would be amazed if Hatton could outbox Tszyu, and at some point I think Tszyu will draw him into a punching match.

Hatton will probably start well and maybe win the first 2-3 rounds with his greater workrate, but Tszyu will make adjustments. If Hatton gets forced on the back foot early, then I think it is over soon after, if Hatton survives the middle rounds he has a chance, IF and it's a big IF he has more in the tank than Tszyu down the stretch.

Despite Tszyu's age, he is in excellent physical shape, and trains very scientifically.

That's pretty much how I see it, I think stuff I read posted by Doodles on various sites about Hatton being ko'd in 1 or 2 is bordering on defamatory. If RH wins I'll be surprised but I don't think he's an easy nights work for Tszyu or anybody else no matter how you cut it.