hatton interview on all things warren
Posted: 21 Mar 2006, 15:01
good read this. 
Warren will not ruin me, says dogged Hatton
By James Ducker, timesonline.co.uk
IT MAY sound like a contradiction for a man who pulverises people in a ring for a living, but Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton does not like confrontations.
They make him very uneasy, distressed even, but there is one particular confrontation that he is having to negotiate as he does opponents: head on and with no sense of remorse.
It is nearly ten months since Hatton’s acrimonious split from allegedly, his promoter of eight years, after “The Hitman’s” memorable IBF light-welterweight win over Kostya Tszyu, but they are no nearer to settling their differences.
In fact, their relationship has deteriorated to such an extent that Hatton believes that Warren is trying systematically to “ruin” him. A text message that the Sports Networks supremo had his secretary send to his former protégé granting him two tickets for Joe Calzaghe’s bout with Jeff Lacy in Manchester this month provided only a smokescreen to their troubles.
Hatton had the class and decency to thank Warren for the “fantastic job” he did promoting him in his acceptance speech for the British Boxer of the Year award last October, but their dispute has the hallmarks of a classic grudge match that, were he not directly involved, Warren might jump at the chance to sell.
Warren claims that he has a contract showing that Hatton broke a three-bout agreement; Hatton, who says that he parted company with Warren because he was offered a better deal from Dennis Hobson, a fellow promoter, denies this and has vowed to fight the case, which is likely to be heard this summer. It does not stop there, however.
The promoter is also suing Hatton’s father and business manager, Ray, for libel, while Hatton recently gave evidence in court in New York after Souleymane M’baye, who is promoted by Warren, brought a case against the WBA arguing that, as their No 1 contender, Hatton should be ordered to box him next.
As he was before he defeated Carlos Maussa, of Colombia, for the WBA light-welterweight title in Sheffield last November, Hatton was freed of any obligation to face M’baye.
Adding to Hatton’s frustration is the fact that he still does not have an opponent for his scheduled bout at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut on May 13. Juan Lazcano, the former WBC lightweight champion from Mexico, pulled out last week because of a broken finger.
“It was a nice gesture of Frank to leave me two passes for Joe’s fight, it was something he didn’t have to do, but I can’t see us rebuilding our bridges,” Hatton said.
“If Frank had come up to me on the night, I’d probably have said thanks for the tickets, but I couldn’t have shook his hand after everything that has been said.
“I remember in articles not too long back Frank saying that Ricky and his father were the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and deal with, but now we’re scum of the earth and he’s suing me and my father. For whatever reason we didn’t dance to his tune, now he’s just trying to ruin me.
“If he can mess my head up and it helps towards me eventually getting beat, I think that’s what his goal is now. I’m just wondering when Frank is going to let it drop because he’s still trying to say he’s got an agreement.
“It’s nearly nine months now since he said he had this contract and we still haven’t seen it. He tried to stop the Maussa fight by getting an injuction and that didn’t happen. He tried to get an injunction for this next fight in America and that hasn’t happened.
“I think because he’s failed to get at me he’s now trying to get at my father. I know I have done nothing wrong and I wouldn’t be doing my son (Campbell) justice if I just caved in. When I didn’t accept what Frank offered, instead of coming back with a better deal, he just threatened to sue me. What sort of a man would I have been if I said, ‘OK Frank, whatever you say goes.’ ”
Of more immediate concern to Hatton, however, is finding his next opponent. Lazcano’s withdrawal comes weeks after Juan Diaz, the WBA lightweight champion, ducked out — “his people have looked at the tapes, the fight, the purse, everything and think they can come again in 12 months’ time,” Hatton said — leaving Naoufel Ben Rabah, the IBF’s mandatory challenger from Australia, Lovemore N’Dou, who was beaten by Junior Witter last year, or Vivian Harris as the most likely opponents.
Harris, who lost the WBA title that Hatton now owns to Maussa, has already dodged one bout with Hyde’s finest and Hatton is convinced that other fighters are doing the same. “I think some are running a little scared of me,” he said. “Floyd Mayweather Jr said he’d come to Manchester, fight me in my backyard, but when I beat Tszyu he turned around and said he wasn’t coming to Manchester and that I’d have to go to America to fight him. “It doesn’t really bother me what weight I fight at now. I’m not desperate to clean up the light-welterweight division. I have achieved my goals in becoming the No 1. Now I want the fights that are going to set my name in stone.”
Warren will not ruin me, says dogged Hatton
By James Ducker, timesonline.co.uk
IT MAY sound like a contradiction for a man who pulverises people in a ring for a living, but Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton does not like confrontations.
They make him very uneasy, distressed even, but there is one particular confrontation that he is having to negotiate as he does opponents: head on and with no sense of remorse.
It is nearly ten months since Hatton’s acrimonious split from allegedly, his promoter of eight years, after “The Hitman’s” memorable IBF light-welterweight win over Kostya Tszyu, but they are no nearer to settling their differences.
In fact, their relationship has deteriorated to such an extent that Hatton believes that Warren is trying systematically to “ruin” him. A text message that the Sports Networks supremo had his secretary send to his former protégé granting him two tickets for Joe Calzaghe’s bout with Jeff Lacy in Manchester this month provided only a smokescreen to their troubles.
Hatton had the class and decency to thank Warren for the “fantastic job” he did promoting him in his acceptance speech for the British Boxer of the Year award last October, but their dispute has the hallmarks of a classic grudge match that, were he not directly involved, Warren might jump at the chance to sell.
Warren claims that he has a contract showing that Hatton broke a three-bout agreement; Hatton, who says that he parted company with Warren because he was offered a better deal from Dennis Hobson, a fellow promoter, denies this and has vowed to fight the case, which is likely to be heard this summer. It does not stop there, however.
The promoter is also suing Hatton’s father and business manager, Ray, for libel, while Hatton recently gave evidence in court in New York after Souleymane M’baye, who is promoted by Warren, brought a case against the WBA arguing that, as their No 1 contender, Hatton should be ordered to box him next.
As he was before he defeated Carlos Maussa, of Colombia, for the WBA light-welterweight title in Sheffield last November, Hatton was freed of any obligation to face M’baye.
Adding to Hatton’s frustration is the fact that he still does not have an opponent for his scheduled bout at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut on May 13. Juan Lazcano, the former WBC lightweight champion from Mexico, pulled out last week because of a broken finger.
“It was a nice gesture of Frank to leave me two passes for Joe’s fight, it was something he didn’t have to do, but I can’t see us rebuilding our bridges,” Hatton said.
“If Frank had come up to me on the night, I’d probably have said thanks for the tickets, but I couldn’t have shook his hand after everything that has been said.
“I remember in articles not too long back Frank saying that Ricky and his father were the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and deal with, but now we’re scum of the earth and he’s suing me and my father. For whatever reason we didn’t dance to his tune, now he’s just trying to ruin me.
“If he can mess my head up and it helps towards me eventually getting beat, I think that’s what his goal is now. I’m just wondering when Frank is going to let it drop because he’s still trying to say he’s got an agreement.
“It’s nearly nine months now since he said he had this contract and we still haven’t seen it. He tried to stop the Maussa fight by getting an injuction and that didn’t happen. He tried to get an injunction for this next fight in America and that hasn’t happened.
“I think because he’s failed to get at me he’s now trying to get at my father. I know I have done nothing wrong and I wouldn’t be doing my son (Campbell) justice if I just caved in. When I didn’t accept what Frank offered, instead of coming back with a better deal, he just threatened to sue me. What sort of a man would I have been if I said, ‘OK Frank, whatever you say goes.’ ”
Of more immediate concern to Hatton, however, is finding his next opponent. Lazcano’s withdrawal comes weeks after Juan Diaz, the WBA lightweight champion, ducked out — “his people have looked at the tapes, the fight, the purse, everything and think they can come again in 12 months’ time,” Hatton said — leaving Naoufel Ben Rabah, the IBF’s mandatory challenger from Australia, Lovemore N’Dou, who was beaten by Junior Witter last year, or Vivian Harris as the most likely opponents.
Harris, who lost the WBA title that Hatton now owns to Maussa, has already dodged one bout with Hyde’s finest and Hatton is convinced that other fighters are doing the same. “I think some are running a little scared of me,” he said. “Floyd Mayweather Jr said he’d come to Manchester, fight me in my backyard, but when I beat Tszyu he turned around and said he wasn’t coming to Manchester and that I’d have to go to America to fight him. “It doesn’t really bother me what weight I fight at now. I’m not desperate to clean up the light-welterweight division. I have achieved my goals in becoming the No 1. Now I want the fights that are going to set my name in stone.”
The whole last paragraph is hilarious. 
I think he’s trying to outdo the “Calzaghe wants Toney” interview.