Hatton-Witter getting closer?

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 16 May 2006, 03:39

I was unfortunate enough to be reading the Metro this morning on the way to work and saw a piece with quotes from Billy Graham saying that he didn't want Ricky at Welterweight and said they only done it to satisfy the US market and HBO. He said he wants Ricky to come down to Light Welter again and then start talking up a fight with Witter should he beat Corley for the WBC title.

I can't imagine he'll fight Urkal so it looks to me his next bout will be one of De La Hoya (if DLH wants it, the money on offer will be too much for Hatton to resist, despite it being a potential career ending move), Gatti (if he beats Baldomir - what a cracking Welterweight fight this would be) or Witter (but would HBO want this considering Witter is an unknown in the US, plus the fact that it would be a much bigger ticket seller over here).

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 May 2006, 06:41

Why Hatton signed with HBO I don't know.

They'll refuse to show him Vs Witter so he won't fight him. :x

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 May 2006, 06:49

Max Molyneux wrote:Why Hatton signed with HBO I don't know.

They'll refuse to show him Vs Witter so he won't fight him. :x

Because Mayweather is with HBO and HBO are offering him the most money.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 May 2006, 06:51

This is why they need one fight deals so the fights can happen.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 May 2006, 06:55

Only showtime were doing that, and that may have changed since Jay Larkin left.

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 16 May 2006, 06:56

Max Molyneux wrote:Why Hatton signed with HBO I don't know.

They'll refuse to show him Vs Witter so he won't fight him. :x

Then again, Collazo was hardly a big name in the US. I'd say more people would know of Witter from the Ndou fight and his name has been lingering around much longer. Surely if he beats Corley he'll be a much more marketable name than Collazo was.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 16 May 2006, 06:58

The best fight for Hatton at 147 is probably Gatti but Gatti may well be too strong for Hatton...

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 16 May 2006, 07:08

Cant see why they would want Witter?
They didnt want him before & now Hatton is a 2 time weight World Champion. What would Witter bring to the table?
Some people think Witter would beat Hatton. So i say no need to have this fight. Lets concentrate on the Big USA figters, we dont want a domestic fight that will bust up two of our best fighters for no real gain!

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 16 May 2006, 07:09

silkov wrote:The best fight for Hatton at 147 is probably Gatti but Gatti may well be too strong for Hatton...

I don't think he's too strong for Hatton - he hasn't proved anything at 147 lbs and I don't think he will. I think this would be a great fight but Ricky would have to be favourite.

liamlion · Post by **liamlion** » 16 May 2006, 07:12

ABA Boxing wrote:Cant see why they would want Witter?

If Ricky is gonna stay at light-welter, with no big fights apart from Cotto at the weight (and prospect of Corrales and Castillo stepping up) HBO are surley gonna demand that Ricky gets all the belts. If Witter beats Corley he has one of the big three.

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 16 May 2006, 07:38

I would be really suprised if Hatton & Witter was made, i think Hatton has made his mind up on the guys he wants to fight & Witter aint included in that bunch.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 16 May 2006, 07:54

johnswan1 wrote:
silkov wrote:The best fight for Hatton at 147 is probably Gatti but Gatti may well be too strong for Hatton...
I don't think he's too strong for Hatton - he hasn't proved anything at 147 lbs and I don't think he will. I think this would be a great fight but Ricky would have to be favourite.

Well Ricky was hurt by Collazo and Gatti is a bigger puncher than Collazo... also Gatti is more used to coming through wars to win than Ricky...

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 May 2006, 09:04

Cant see why they would want Witter?

Big domestic fight against two world class fighters.

From what I read on most forums before Callazo people would of rather saw him fight Witter.

There was some interview on Hatton's site on his forum where the members gave questions for someone to ask Ricky and they asked if he ever got to fight in Manchester city stadium that would it be and he said Witter since the fans would sell out the stadium.

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 16 May 2006, 10:13

I see a long waiting period between Hatton and his next fight as he waits to see how other things pan out. He'll want to see who picks up titles at Light Welter, the Baldomir/Gatti result and to see if he can get around the Urkal fight in any way.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 16 May 2006, 10:28

Hatton is in a bit of a corner now... if he goes back down to 140 it'll be seen as a bit of a retreat by many and he will lose a lot of big fights that could be made at 147... but if he stays at 147 its very possible that he will be beaten by the first top welterweight that he faces... even Collazo would seem to have a good chance in a rematch... if that happened...

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 16 May 2006, 11:46

It must be one of the easiest matches out there to make, but I don't think it is going to happen unless Witter picks up the WBC title - I think then, American TV would buy into it.

I canna see it hapening any other way.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 16 May 2006, 15:11

I think the likely next fight may be a rematch. In that fight Hatton should be stronger at the weight and it will do him good to be seen to have improved. Alternatively he could go for gatti who he would look better against.

He doesn't want to fight witter cos witter can beat him and he knows that simple as.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 May 2006, 15:17

He needs to get his skills back more than the weight though.

Lacked defence and head movement.

Is all were going to see of Hatton is reckless brawling?

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 16 May 2006, 15:20

Max Molyneux wrote:He needs to get his skills back more than the weight though.

Lacked defence and head movement.

Is all were going to see of Hatton is reckless brawling?

Yeh the whole jab thing, makes you wonder where they focoused there training on weights or on skill this time.

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 16 May 2006, 17:14

Hatton will never fight Witter unless there are CLEAR signs that Witter is past it. Hatton is waiting until Witter loses some of his skills, which should happen within the next 2-3 years.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 May 2006, 18:12

lirva33 wrote:Hatton will never fight Witter unless there are CLEAR signs that Witter is past it. Hatton is waiting until Witter loses some of his skills, which should happen within the next 2-3 years.

Its already happens. Hatton v Witter is still a close fight but there is no denying Witter's star is dwindling.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 May 2006, 18:39

liamlion wrote:
ABA Boxing wrote:Cant see why they would want Witter?
If Ricky is gonna stay at light-welter, with no big fights apart from Cotto at the weight (and prospect of Corrales and Castillo stepping up) HBO are surley gonna demand that Ricky gets all the belts. If Witter beats Corley he has one of the big three.

Yep that's the reason Graham is suddenly mentioning Witter after all these years: both him and Hatton realise that the real advantages for Hatton are at 140: that's the weight where he made his big break thru, and also the weight where he holds BIG advantages.
He's much better off there, and HBO dollars will draw the big names for him into whatever division he chooses.

And now they are left beltless at 140, the prospect of Witter winning the WBC belt makes him a very real option.

Not sure Witter gets past Corley though. Maybe with a Hatton fight as reward, he will.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 17 May 2006, 00:30

Max Molyneux wrote:Why Hatton signed with HBO I don't know.

They'll refuse to show him Vs Witter so he won't fight him. :x

it was HBO's fornicating fault he went up to welter. they wouldn't approve rabbah or mbaye title defenses, in a nutshell the twits made him give up his titles

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 17 May 2006, 00:32

silkov wrote:
johnswan1 wrote:
silkov wrote:The best fight for Hatton at 147 is probably Gatti but Gatti may well be too strong for Hatton...
I don't think he's too strong for Hatton - he hasn't proved anything at 147 lbs and I don't think he will. I think this would be a great fight but Ricky would have to be favourite.
Well Ricky was hurt by Collazo and Gatti is a bigger puncher than Collazo... also Gatti is more used to coming through wars to win than Ricky...

gatti is nothing like collazo, that's reaching a bit. don't forget gatti was a super feather

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 17 May 2006, 05:49

viciousmaussa wrote:
Max Molyneux wrote:Why Hatton signed with HBO I don't know.

They'll refuse to show him Vs Witter so he won't fight him. :x
it was HBO's fornicating fault he went up to welter. they wouldn't approve rabbah or mbaye title defenses, in a nutshell the twits made him give up his titles

Yeah, I read some article on ESB that Graham is blaming HBO thinking he should be a two weight champ.

Because of American tv were not going to get good fights now! :x

Maybe except for Mayweather, but no Witter. :x