BoxRec

From BBC Website.

Ricky Hatton is set to fight Germany's Oktay Urkal next after a mooted clash with Jose Luis Castillo fell through.

Castillo's bout with WBC lightweight champion Diego Corrales was called off after Castillo came in overweight, and the Mexican may now face legal action.

"We have an agreement to fight Oktay Urkal, who is the mandatory contender for Ricky's WBA welterweight belt," promoter Dennis Hobson told BBC Sport.

"We're not waiting about for court cases and suspensions."

Castillo also failed to make the weight before his second fight with Corrales last October, when Corrales agreed to a non-title bout and was knocked out.

The Mexican could receive a ban, a fine and probably faces lawsuits - and his clash with WBO light welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in November could be in jeopardy.


"We spoke to (promoter) Bob Arum and he's trying to resolve the issues with Castillo but we want a quick solution," said Hobson.

"Maybe they'll suspend him or they may just let him fight at light welterweight.

"But Urkal's on the table and Ricky wants to get along with his career."

Hatton had been expected to move back down to light welterweight after winning the WBA welterweight crown in unconvincing fashion from Luis Collazo last month.

Urkal, 36, holds the European welterweight title but is not a big name in America.

However, he has fought former WBA light welterweight champion Vivian Harris twice, as well as Kostya Tszyu, the former undisputed champion at 140lbs.

Hobson and Hatton were supposed to be ringside in Las Vegas to watch Castillo fight Corrales, but the Sheffield promoter did not consider it a wasted trip.

"We laid foundations and had talks, and the hotels and casinos are hot to trot with regards future fights," said Hobson.

"And a big plus was to see how popular Ricky is - people were clamouring for him."

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Quite shocked at this, I really did excpect Ricky to move back down after the Collazo performance.

Does anyone give Urkal more of a chance now on the back of the Collazo performance, also isn't there a specific deadline for this to be made? Will Ricky have sufficiently recovered from the Collazo fight. He likes big gaps between fights, so he might not be 100% vs Urkal.... Does he need to be though?

I think this is a dissapointing move if it will happen, its a dissapointing fight - one which will not stop the critics since he has left Sports Network. I also think its the wrong decision about where his future lies.

Why not a highish profile Light Welterweight title fight as a preparation for the Witter vs Corley winner. Two of the guys who were scheduled to be US title defences for Ricky would have brought him high in the WBC rankings.... Juan Lazcano or Lovemore N'dou.

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Edit: On a side note, I was looking at the Welterweight rankings, and Luis Collazo doesn't feature on any of them. Its as if he retired after the Hatton fight.

Looking at the scores from Urkal's fight saturday I dont give him any chance. Urkal is really way past his prime (Sauerland wanted him to retire after the Harris fights)

Freiheit wrote:Looking at the scores from Urkal's fight saturday I dont give him any chance. Urkal is really way past his prime (Sauerland wanted him to retire after the Harris fights)

Seen a fair few Urkal fights as a Welter also, he's not the same fighter... Pity, never got the global respect he deserved.

He is a fighter who aged rapidly.... clearly wasn't the same fighter after the 1st Harris fight (I thought he beat Vivien comfortably).

I actually though Ricky would stay at 147... I don't think he can really make 140... or doesnt want to make it anymore. Could be a mistake but then it would be foolish to give up yet another title, he's probably hoping that this will be an easier fight and that he'll look better winning it and that will set up a big money fight with maybe Gatti... all in all I think its the right move for him now...

silkov wrote:I actually though Ricky would stay at 147... I don't think he can really make 140... or doesnt want to make it anymore. Could be a mistake but then it would be foolish to give up yet another title, he's probably hoping that this will be an easier fight and that he'll look better winning it and that will set up a big money fight with maybe Gatti... all in all I think its the right move for him now...

Well, if Cotto and Castillo both head to 147 which is a possibility after this past weekend, there will be too many top-notch fighters at 147 to bother going anywhere else.

Freiheit wrote:Looking at the scores from Urkal's fight saturday I dont give him any chance. Urkal is really way past his prime (Sauerland wanted him to retire after the Harris fights)

If Sauerland wanted him to retire howcome he got him a mandatory shot without fighting an eliminator?

Mattyp151 wrote:
Well, if Cotto and Castillo both head to 147 which is a possibility after this past weekend, there will be too many top-notch fighters at 147 to bother going anywhere else.

I so hope your right, but thus far it looks like Hatton has been on a mission (since Tszyu) to pick up geniune belts via the path of least resistance route. As good as Collazo was, he was still weakest 147 champion by far.

I would be really frustrated if Hatton fights Urkal, then moves back down again.

stujones wrote:
thus far it looks like Hatton has been on a mission (since Tszyu) to pick up geniune belts via the path of least resistance route. As good as Collazo was, he was still weakest 147 champion by far.

You can take the boy out of Sports Network, but you cannot take the Sports Network out of the boy,

A shot Urkal? Then hopefully a well past it Gatti? I hear Vince Philips is available

I personally think he should get his arse back to 140, and fight Cotto in November as it looks like Castillo won't be able to.

I think Collazo looked good, and would pick him to beat Baldomir or Gatti, just a shame that his name isn't as good as his game.

I think Urkal would be a good fight for Hatton (although not as easy as some are suggesting) and allow him to get used to the LW division a little more and build his body right for the new size. He is always going to struggle with his height at this weight, but if he can get back to closing the distance quickly (And working when he is there) there is noone who could beat him at this weight, including Mayweather (who should probably go back down to 140 more than Hatton needs to)

Hatton wont have many problems with Urkal - He said he wanted an easy fight next, looks like he got one.

This is a pretty boring fight.

Even though the talent depth at Welter appears to be bigger, still some good Light Welters out there for him. Cotto, Castillo, Witter and a few other decent non champions (like Lazcano).

stujones wrote:

Mattyp151 wrote:
Well, if Cotto and Castillo both head to 147 which is a possibility after this past weekend, there will be too many top-notch fighters at 147 to bother going anywhere else.

I so hope your right, but thus far it looks like Hatton has been on a mission (since Tszyu) to pick up geniune belts via the path of least resistance route. As good as Collazo was, he was still weakest 147 champion by far.

I would be really frustrated if Hatton fights Urkal, then moves back down again.

Well certainly if Ricky were to move back down after Urkal then that wouldn't make sense really as the longer he is at 147 the harder it'd be for him to go down... lets face it Ricky is not the 'world champion' at 147 and Urkal won't take him closer to being that but I think he wants a easy fight at 147 to look good and perhaps get more used to the higher weight before going for a big matchup. His problem will be that he has to look good in this one otherwise there will be real questions raised, and Ricky now hasnt looked good for two fights in a row....
But all in all this is hardly the 'superfight' which Ricky seemed to be heading for a little while back...

Urkal showed how tough he was against Tszyu but he also showed his 'flighty' style when beating Mage - hardly the sort of edge o your seat stuff.

Even though Hatton will make a fight of it, its not a match up that interests me.

Urkal fought a very uncharacteristic fight against Tszyu, he was really pressuring him, and I remember being shocked at the sight of Tszyu covering up on the ropes with Urkal laying into him. Came close to losing his title that night.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Urkal fought a very uncharacteristic fight against Tszyu, he was really pressuring him, and I remember being shocked at the sight of Tszyu covering up on the ropes with Urkal laying into him. Came close to losing his title that night.

i had tszyu winning that fight 8 rds to 4.

a couple of the judges had it 7-5 though.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Urkal fought a very uncharacteristic fight against Tszyu, he was really pressuring him, and I remember being shocked at the sight of Tszyu covering up on the ropes with Urkal laying into him. Came close to losing his title that night.

Do you reckon he will press Hatton as he did against Tsyzu or will we see a more in and out type of fight from him against Hatton? My guess would be the later.

Hatton's 'conquest of America' is taking a long time to gain momentum.

Is it owing to his relatively inexperienced negotaition team that he was surrounded himself with?

After beating Tyszu, did anyone envisage Maussa, Collazo, Urkal and possibly Gatti as being his 'path to greatness'? I know I didnt, especially when light welter and welter and divions so deeply packed with talent.

As we have said time and again, Hattons buzzsaw style is not condusive to a long career - he needs the biggest match ups now, not sometime in early 2008!

Urkal is washed up, he wouldn't have the strength to press Hatton like he did Tszyu, I see a mid rounds spanking in Otkay's future.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Urkal fought a very uncharacteristic fight against Tszyu, he was really pressuring him, and I remember being shocked at the sight of Tszyu covering up on the ropes with Urkal laying into him. Came close to losing his title that night.

He did press the action in large portions of the first Harris fight aswell.

Terence wrote:I'm glad he is staying at welterweight, if he drops down it involves working out his weight again and making sure the muscle mass is correct and the rest, this way he can grow into welterweight.

If he dropped down and looked lethargic at LW there would be at least 5 strands on here with variations of the title: "Ricky Hatton - Should he have stayed at Welterweight" and accusations that he dropped into a, rapidly emptying, LW division to avoid the welterweights.

10st or 10st 7 it shouldnt make too much difference - he should fight at which ever weight he can secure the best fights at. Hatton is confident he can still do 10st and from his stature, so am I.

I really wish a better opponent than Urkal could be found though.

stujones wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Urkal fought a very uncharacteristic fight against Tszyu, he was really pressuring him, and I remember being shocked at the sight of Tszyu covering up on the ropes with Urkal laying into him. Came close to losing his title that night.

He did press the action in large portions of the first Harris fight aswell.

Ah right, the fights I've seen of him, he seemed to employ more of a pondskating philosophy.

Terence wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:

Terence wrote:I'm glad he is staying at welterweight, if he drops down it involves working out his weight again and making sure the muscle mass is correct and the rest, this way he can grow into welterweight.

If he dropped down and looked lethargic at LW there would be at least 5 strands on here with variations of the title: "Ricky Hatton - Should he have stayed at Welterweight" and accusations that he dropped into a, rapidly emptying, LW division to avoid the welterweights.

10st or 10st 7 it shouldnt make too much difference - he should fight at which ever weight he can secure the best fights at. Hatton is confident he can still do 10st and from his stature, so am I.

I really wish a better opponent than Urkal could be found though.

Weight wise there is little difference yet a lot of work went into getting Hatton strong at welterweight. A drop to 140 would be a one-fight deal at best so why adjust your body at this late stage? Jumping up and down in weight is a disaster waiting to happen. Once you are up stay there and work yourself into the weight. This fight will do that and keep him in the running for the bigger fights. It all depends on who was available for a quickly put together fight. Nopoin tlosing the title becuase you can't be bothered with the mandatory, might as well beat Urkal and move onwards.

I have to disagree Terence: Hatton was a monster at 10st and that strength advantage he had over his foes meant alot. HE could bully people and wear them down..

7lbs higher the majority of fighters will be that little bit taller, that little bit stronger. If Hatton could get a mega fight with a Corrales, Cotto, Castillo etc at 10st he should jump at the chance.

Hatton himself said he was still able to make 10st and conceeded there was a difference in strength when he faced Collazo. He should fight to his trengths, not his opponents. Its not like he was drying out at 10st ala Castillo -Ricky is remarkably short in the flesh.

This will be one shitty Sky Box Office PPV.

If Hatton KO"s him quick then Sky will have a ton of complaints!

lets hope he can.

I think 10st 7 is the division where the best fights are, almost unquestionably, I just feel 10st is Ricky's best weight - he doesnt have the height/frame to move thru the weight divisions, but if he can nail a PBF fight (I am sure PBF Is goingto fight De La Hoya next however) then of course he should do it.

Showtime only take fights on a fight by fight basis, so my ideal fight for Ricky would be Corrales at 10st. A good showing in that one could draw a Cotto, PBF or the like out of the wood work.

Gatti is too old and worn to take Hattons pressure at any weight these days IMO.

Come his frame can move up to Welterweight, he was one as an amatuer. Plus he weighs 11 stone 4 once he gets into the ring and walks around with much heavier than that when he ain't fighting.

Just needs to stop doing that all out brawling and go back to his skills.