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M'baye to fight for WBA 140 belt

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 06:23
by Freiheit
From http://www.boxingtalk.com
"The WBA has called for its top two contenders, Souleymane M'baye and Raul Balbi, to face each other for the vacant WBA junior welterweight title, which became vacant when Ricky Hatton defeated Carlos Maussa in November. Because Hatton already held the IBF title, he became a super champion under WBA rules. Mbaye has sued the WBA after it held a hearing that granted Maussa permission to fight the unfication bout against Hatton. The boxers were asked to notify the WBA by Wednesday whether they intend to participate in the world title fight. If either Mbaye or Balbi declines, Andreas Kotelnik is next in line to fight for the title."

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 06:29
by Old bones Ian
So where does that leave Hatton as regards mandatory defenses?
i'm not sure how this Super-champ bollocks works

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 06:33
by Freiheit
I think he has 18 months to make a WBA mandatory, dont know if its from the date he won the title or from when the WBA regular champ is crowned.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 09:15
by MaxPow
It's 18 months from the date he won the title from Maussa.

I don't think it actually happens though.

If you're thinking Hopkins-Joppy, from what I know (I'm not sure) the WBA didn't make them fight. I think they just fought.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 09:44
by s9s
Ha ha to Warren, I wonder how much of an interest he will take in M'baye's career after this now that Hatton won't have to fight him.

Still agree, though, this Super Champ biz is bollox.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 10:13
by Freiheit
Hatton will still have to fight the WBA regular champ in a year or so, so its not impossible that Hatton will have to fight on a Warren card or vacant the belt.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 12:22
by steve689
I expect Hatton will just vacate rather than fight on a Warren card, of course the satisfaction of sparking a Warren fighter could be an incentive for him but i expect him to just drop the belt.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 12:24
by Freiheit
Hattons promotor at that time could just win the pursebid. And who says that it will M'Baye that will be champ at the time.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 13:52
by stujones
Yes, 18 months is a long time. To be honest, I cannot see Hatton being Light Welter world champion going into 2007. Either he will move up, or he and Floyd will get it on and Floyd win.

I am impressed with his US shortlist, 4 good names, but really only Castillo vs Hatton really captures the imagination - the devision hasn't got much depth. Outside of Cotto and Castillo I cannot see a true super fight at 140. Corrales isn't a huge Lightweight (despite his frame) and I think the Castillo loss is very damaging..... Despite his heroics in the past, there is a band of fans accross the pond who don't like him - see him as very lucky with some of his most critical fights.

Freitas seems to be a part timer these days, and a Lightweight at best.

Gatti will need to look good vs Daamgaard to be considered a threat. I still think the Gatti who fought Leija and was WBC champion gives Hatton a real scare - and I think the Mayweather fight was more to do with Floyd than Gatti being shot, but we will see.

Cotto is undoubtely a super fight, and I would say Castillo is aswell - but who else.... Tszyu II (yes, I Kostya hasn't retired), Harris (nope), Witter (meaningful in the UK).... The rest are not much really above the criticised opposition he faced before beating Tszyu.

He will be a Welterweight before his mandatory is due.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 13:58
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
stujones wrote: Corrales isn't a huge Lightweight (despite his frame) and I think the Castillo loss is very damaging..... Despite his heroics in the past, there is a band of fans accross the pond who don't like him - see him as very lucky with some of his most critical fights.
Called bitter MExicans and Ricans, Corrales-Hatton would be a great fight, Corrales is a monster and should be at 140 anyway.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 14:00
by stujones
Corrales is a Thomas Hearns, he had the frame to look a good cruiserweight, but was a natural Welterweight.

Corrales made Super Featherweight easily enough when he came back from Jail.

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 15:53
by Raff The Frenchman
M'baye is a very underrated fighter...his only defeat was to a very good Vivian Harris, M'baye gave Harris trouble and lost a UD...M'baye was too much unexperienced for this 1st title bout...now i think he is ready...i saw Balbi, he is a gritty short fighter with fast hands and rather soft punch...
M'baye should have no problem keeping him at distance with his much longer reach and very good jab...

Posted: 21 Jan 2006, 17:18
by Zhuge
So what's the status of the lawsuit that was trying to lock Hatton into defending against M'Baye before fighting anyone else?

Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 07:32
by jamesmcdonnell
stujones wrote:Corrales is a Thomas Hearns, he had the frame to look a good cruiserweight, but was a natural Welterweight.

Corrales made Super Featherweight easily enough when he came back from Jail.
Yes, very similar frame, but hearns had much better punching technique and was a better athlete, far more flexible which is where his power came from, great extension on his punches. He also had way better boxing skills.

Can you imagine Corralles fighting Hagler at middleweight?

Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 07:46
by stujones
Completely agree, James.

I was just disagreeing with the view of PN that Corrales is a huge Lightweight and he should be a Light Welter.

Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 21:10
by Max Molyneux
stujones wrote:Corrales is a Thomas Hearns, he had the frame to look a good cruiserweight, but was a natural Welterweight.

Corrales made Super Featherweight easily enough when he came back from Jail.
No way, Hearns was a beanpole and too big for Welterweight. Looked better at Middleweight at least.

Really they ain't those natural weights since they don't go into the ring with them and only weigh that much at the weigh ins due to dehydration.

Corrales goes in with about 147 I think or a little more.

Posted: 23 Jan 2006, 09:23
by jamesmcdonnell
Looked better at middleweight, but his best wins were at welterweight. He never emulated that success consistently at any other weight.

He would probably have been better at 154, but didn't stay there long enough for us to find out.

It's amazing that Hearns was able to carry that power up to light heavyweight and knock the shit out of Dennies Andries, who was hardly known for being a patsy.

Posted: 25 Jan 2006, 22:22
by Zhuge
Boxingtalk.com wrote:
JUDGE PUTS M'BAYE-BALBI ON HOLD!
By G. Leon

The WBA's plan to have Souleymane M'Baye and Raul Balbi fight for its vacant light welterweight title has been put on hold. A federal judge in New York City ordered the WBA to wait until a trial next month before sanctioning a regular world title bout in the 140 pound class. The title became vacant when Ricky Hatton, who already had the IBF strap, defeated Carlos Maussa to become the super champion. M'Baye is the top rated contender after beating Andreas Kotelnik in an eliminator.

Posted: 26 Jan 2006, 06:58
by Max Molyneux
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Looked better at middleweight, but his best wins were at welterweight. He never emulated that success consistently at any other weight.

He would probably have been better at 154, but didn't stay there long enough for us to find out.

It's amazing that Hearns was able to carry that power up to light heavyweight and knock the shit out of Dennies Andries, who was hardly known for being a patsy.
Yeah but he wasn't naturally a welterweight anyway. Looked like he did the dehydration at the weigh ins to make it.

147 is a freak weight for someone Hearns size!

Posted: 27 Jan 2006, 15:24
by Zhuge
Zhuge wrote:
Boxingtalk.com wrote:
JUDGE PUTS M'BAYE-BALBI ON HOLD!
By G. Leon

The WBA's plan to have Souleymane M'Baye and Raul Balbi fight for its vacant light welterweight title has been put on hold. A federal judge in New York City ordered the WBA to wait until a trial next month before sanctioning a regular world title bout in the 140 pound class. The title became vacant when Ricky Hatton, who already had the IBF strap, defeated Carlos Maussa to become the super champion. M'Baye is the top rated contender after beating Andreas Kotelnik in an eliminator.
So, will this potentially force Hatton into a defense against M'Baye prior to the whole 18 month thing? Why wouldn't FW and M'Baye go for the regular title first to make the future matchup more attractive?