BoxRec

For Hattons old IBF 140lb belt

http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article9227.html

What you think? I havent seen Urango but heard he got a gift against Rabah. Ukral would most likely be a better challenge.

If I told you before Hatton fought Tyszu his next fights would be Maussa, Collazo, Urango would you think he wound win or lose?

Hatton should win easily if this comes off. Looks like Hatton is heading towards a Castillo fight at 140 which will be a great matchup.

Look at the wording, that article is a bit of shit. Hatton does not necessarily want to move back down to his "more natural weight", ALL of that talk is purely what fans think he should do and so far NOTHING more. Graham has only said that Urkal is the mandatory, and that fight may be what they pursue (so even graham who was extremely apprehensive about the weight move is now happy for ricky to fight at welter) and of course Hatton has said nothing about wanting to move back down. I dont really think this is an accurate report of anything, as Hatton ditched the belt to face big names in the WELTERWEIGHT league, why would he move back down to fight for his own old belt, from someone without one millionth of the talent of him or the person he won it from in the first place??? I fhe moved back to fight Cotto, that could be understood because Ricky will actually GAIN from this bout.

I think a move to 140 is good for Hatton, not sure 147 suits him and he doesn't have the same strength advantage up there seemingly. And he probably needs a belt at 140 to make the Castillo fight more attractive for next year. Is Urango at 140 any worse than Urkal at 147? Urkal is a nothing fight and leads nowhere, Urango leads to a Castillo fight...

Disagree Nick, yes the Urkal fight isn't great - but it's his mandatory at 147. People say that Hatton doesn't need a bargining tool no more, but then why fight Urango for his old belt for a fight with Castillo.

I just feel a bit let down as a fan if he does this. Again, more sign that he is looking for an easy option. Since Tszyu he has looked for easy title fight after easy title fight.

If we wants to go for Urango then fair enough, but why fight Urkal at all if he is not to stay at 147.

Yes, Urango got an absolute gift vs Rabah and both looked pretty bad.

Well as long as it leads to a Castillo fight next I would be more than happy for him to move to 140 and fight Urango. If he beats Urkal is there a big fight next for him at 147? Mayweather looks tied up next year with possible Mosley and DLH fights and may well get Baldomir in November. That doesn't leave Hatton a lot at 147.

nickd wrote:I think a move to 140 is good for Hatton, not sure 147 suits him

well its Mayweather he wants ultimately, who judging by his knockdown at Judah's hands, and not being able to shake him at any time, is also suffering from the move up. Its completely natural and NO ONE is exempt, hatton will be the first to tell you he is not going after the big welterweights to become two division champion because it is not what his body is all about if you know what i mean. He wants to chase the fights that havent happened earlier in his career, which is why he moved to 147. I honestly dont think he needs to worry about giving up strength if he faces Floyd.

nickd wrote:And he probably needs a belt at 140 to make the Castillo fight more attractive for next year.

I think in Castillo's position this huge chance is enough! Because of the money and publicity etc after his stupid mistake, if he gets the call from Hatton he will count his lucky starts! I think said match is attractive enough without a belt because of how great it will DEFINITELY be, and the fact that hatton isnt facing urkal will be quite nice

nickd wrote: Is Urango at 140 any worse than Urkal at 147?

YES!!!! fighting for the belt you gave up is PITIFUL! Urango shouldnt even have it! Everyone knows that belt belongs to Ben Rabah! I dont think ricky has the time or the need to wait til december to waste an idiot like Urango, he is so much better than that. Castillo would take the fight lets be honest, he will not get a better one.

By the way i am in total agreeance that Urkal is a stupid fight and nullifies ALL the fuss the poor man has been through, chucking belts to avoid mandatories, just to fight harder ones for a less prestigious belt is a load of crap. It should be Cotto, Castillo, and them types of people they are looking for, i cannot think why they would take the Urkal fight with better names lying around. Cotto is free and looking to fight around that time of year... WHY THE HELL NOT!

mattym wrote:well its Mayweather he wants ultimately, who judging by his knockdown at Judah's hands, and not being able to shake him at any time, is also suffering from the move up. Its completely natural and NO ONE is exempt, hatton will be the first to tell you he is not going after the big welterweights to become two division champion because it is not what his body is all about if you know what i mean. He wants to chase the fights that havent happened earlier in his career, which is why he moved to 147. I honestly dont think he needs to worry about giving up strength if he faces Floyd.

Mayweather is fighting Spinks or Baldomir in November, then Mosley & DLH look likely for next year. So a Hatton v Mayweather fight is still a long way off. I'd say end of 2007 if they both stay unbeaten. As my post above says what is there for Hatton at 147 if Mayweather fights Baldomir next?

Shane Mosley will need to fight before his possible fight with Mayweather.

Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto (I doubt he'll be a 140 lbs fighter again, next fight isn't for the title), even still Arturo Gatti would still sell well in the states.

stujones wrote:Shane Mosley will need to fight before his possible fight with Mayweather.

Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto (I doubt he'll be a 140 lbs fighter again, next fight isn't for the title), even still Arturo Gatti would still sell well in the states.

Would Arum put Cotto in with Hatton for his first fight at 147? I am not so sure he would. Gatti is finished that wont happen. Margarito is a possibility but he is a huge Welter I don't see the Hatton camp going in that direction.

I think he should bin the belt and fight Castillo (in which this horrible business about weight can be thrown out the window) or Cotto (this could be at welter, catch, or light welter weight). So in either fight weight is hardly an issue which would be good because it would not hamper Ricky by labelling him at a weight (light welter would be good because its where he fights best, catch would be fine because it could help him ease up to welter properly, and the same goes for welterweight, it would help him get accustomed to the weight).

I agree there is little or nothing for him at welter, but he needs to show Floyd he is still keen and interested and not backing down or being weak, which is why a non title fight with Castillo OR facing a possible future opponent and mover up to welter in Miguel Cotto would be great. By moving down to fight for his old title against a complete scrubber he is effectively giving the impression that he was in too deep, that he was wrong, weak, is placing himself back down a division to stay, moving up to welter was a big mistake because he cant take it etc etc which lets face it is the opposite of what Ricky is about. He wants Floyd

Castillo is facing a ban for the weight shenanigans which they say will put him out until next year.

nickd wrote:

stujones wrote:Shane Mosley will need to fight before his possible fight with Mayweather.

Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto (I doubt he'll be a 140 lbs fighter again, next fight isn't for the title), even still Arturo Gatti would still sell well in the states.

Would Arum put Cotto in with Hatton for his first fight at 147? I am not so sure he would. Gatti is finished that wont happen. Margarito is a possibility but he is a huge Welter I don't see the Hatton camp going in that direction.

Well, Cotto IS fighting later on this year vs TBA on a Catchweight so it won't be his first fight at the weight. They (Cotto Camp) seem to be heading towards a fight with Margarito. He is defending his title on the same bill - rumoured to be fighting Cosme Rivera.

Other options at 147 are a title defence against Zab Judah, the Paul Williams vs Sharmba Mitchell winner.

Hatton has three meainingful options at Light Welter - Castillo, Corrales and Witter. Thats it.

I believe they will make an announcement later this week so all will be revealed then. Lets hope we dont have the same farce we had last time with announcing Hatton's opponents, practically everyone from 135 to 147 was in the frame at one time or another!

nickd wrote:Castillo is facing a ban for the weight shenanigans which they say will put him out until next year.

Yes he is but only in the states, that does not stop the fight going ahead in the UK and the City Of Manchester Stadium seen as FW has the the MEN tied up untill 2008 or 09

Hagler2k6 wrote:

nickd wrote:Castillo is facing a ban for the weight shenanigans which they say will put him out until next year.

Yes he is but only in the states, that does not stop the fight going ahead in the UK and the City Of Manchester Stadium seen as FW has the the MEN tied up untill 2008 or 09

True but Hatton's next fight is in December, the stadium is not a viable venue for then. So Castillo will have to wait until next year it seems. Hatton has a HBO date for December in the USA, I think I read Atlanta is the venue.

Urango > Castillo is surely better than Urkal > ????

I don't see that many options for Hatton at 147 with Mayweather looking as good as tied up for the next 12 months. Mayweather v Baldomir looks set to be announced later this week. I don't see Arum being anywhere near ready to put Cotto in with the big boys just yet.

Hang on someone on the current scene is saying Mayweather v Spinks is on for November so Baldomir could be available for December. Perhaps the Hatton camp were waiting for Mayweather's announcement? Fingers crossed!

Hatton v Baldomir could be a good fight, wonder whether Hatton would be able to withstand the late rounds against a big tough bastard like Baldomir.

Incidentally, wasn't there a character called Baldomir in lord of the rings?

Boromir played by Sean Bean in the film.