BoxRec

In sharp contrast to most experts, boxing fans, and posters on this forum, Ray Leonard is tipping Ricky Hatton to give PBF a tough time.
I know hes always been a Hatton fan, he picked Hatton over Tzsyu I recall, and his picks are often accurate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6336815.stm

I suspect he may have been influenced slightly by who he was talking to. He is a fan of Hatton though.

he knows his stuff that sugar ray.

I think Hatton had a chance the way he fought Tszyu too but dunno now the way he's been since.

I have to say I think along exactly the same lines as Leonard. I think Hatton, provided he could get into the kind of physical and mental shape he was for the Tszyu fight, would give Floyd all kinds of problems, and would run him pretty close, people seem to forget what kind of pressure Castillo had him under.

I also think Mayweather's bitten off more than he can chew in Oscar. Initially I thought Mayweather would win hands down, but the more I've thought about it, the more I think Oscar has the tools to beat him. At some point Oscar is going to land a big left hook, and how is Floyd going to react? Oscar is a pretty big hitter and at 154, I just don't know that floyd will have the physicality to win unless he can pick and poke non stop for 12 rounds without getting involved.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I have to say I think along exactly the same lines as Leonard. I think Hatton, provided he could get into the kind of physical and mental shape he was for the Tszyu fight, would give Floyd all kinds of problems, and would run him pretty close, people seem to forget what kind of pressure Castillo had him under.

I also think Mayweather's bitten off more than he can chew in Oscar. Initially I thought Mayweather would win hands down, but the more I've thought about it, the more I think Oscar has the tools to beat him. At some point Oscar is going to land a big left hook, and how is Floyd going to react? Oscar is a pretty big hitter and at 154, I just don't know that floyd will have the physicality to win unless he can pick and poke non stop for 12 rounds without getting involved.

I cant see DLH Finding Floyd's chin and I dont see him as a big hitter at a weight anywhere near to 11st - esp matched against a defensive genius like PBF. He is not gonna be there for the hook like Vargas and the Nicuraguan were..

This is a big match but could turn out to be a stinker of a fight a la Trinidad.

Oscar is very quick, and is also a smart fighter. As for him not being a hitter, Mayorga had a very good chin don't forget, whatever else his drawbacks, and Oscar battered him good and proper.

Yes, Floyd might be able to win it going away, but I think people are forgetting just how good a fighter Oscar was/is, and a smart one too.

Also if DLH can back up Mayweather even once he can unleash a trademark lean forward both hands combo that will be extremely hard for PBF to get away from or block. I like DLH to win this, he is very very good at what he does and likes fighting smaller men.

bugs wrote:Also if DLH can back up Mayweather even once he can unleash a trademark lean forward both hands combo that will be extremely hard for PBF to get away from or block. I like DLH to win this, he is very very good at what he does and likes fighting smaller men.

Not too hard to side step those 2 handed shoe shinners though and if they land they're only shoe shinners.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:At some point Oscar is going to land a big left hook, and how is Floyd going to react? .

He might not land it

Oscar ain't Carlos Baldomir or Gatti, he's an accurate puncher, Floyd will have to be shit hot to avoid getting tagged. Oscar's hands are a lot faster than most of the guys he's faced of late, and he's not going to just accept losing like Judah did.

I can't wait for this fight.

Mayorga and Vargas just don’t have the same defensive awareness and cuteness of Mayweather; nothing like.

Anyone can look a million dollars beating merry hell out of a punch bag, but getting those combos off effectively against a Mayweather on top of his game will be another thing entirely.

De La Hoya’s size and natural weight advantages are going to mean that PBF will have to pick and poke from the outside, triggering quick combinations only when positional dominance has been secured; for that reason this contest could well fizzle rather then sizzle.

I don’t think De La Hoya has either the footwork to close Mayweather down, nor the dig to damage him if he indeed can find his chin. We will see come fight night.

This will undoubtedly be a great EVENT. As for being a great fight, I am not so sure..

The beatdown Oscar gave Gatti was far superior to the one flloyd handed him.

Oscars a tough tough fighter, and when the bar is raised he can usually raise his game. If I were a betting man I'd lean towards Mayweather by UD, pot shot run, pot shot run. However, as my cash aint on the line im going for a close DLH UD.

TerribleTerry wrote:Mayorga and Vargas just don’t have the same defensive awareness and cuteness of Mayweather; nothing like.

Anyone can look a million dollars beating merry hell out of a punch bag, but getting those combos off effectively against a Mayweather on top of his game will be another thing entirely.

De La Hoya’s size and natural weight advantages are going to mean that PBF will have to pick and poke from the outside, triggering quick combinations only when positional dominance has been secured; for that reason this contest could well fizzle rather then sizzle.

I don’t think De La Hoya has either the footwork to close Mayweather down, nor the dig to damage him if he indeed can find his chin. We will see come fight night.

This will undoubtedly be a great EVENT. As for being a great fight, I am not so sure..

Yes. I agree, with so much on the line, Floyd will fight his fight without any thought to the spectacle of the fight. Oscar however, is going to be highly motivated, and is the bigger stronger man, so we could see him stalking Floyd looking to take his head off in the later rounds if Floyd builds up a substantial lead. It's not something we are accustomed to seeing, but Oscar has significant physical advantages against a younger faster fighter this time around, and so I'm hoping that even if Floyd runs, Oscar makes it a fight by chasing him down.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

bugs wrote:Also if DLH can back up Mayweather even once he can unleash a trademark lean forward both hands combo that will be extremely hard for PBF to get away from or block. I like DLH to win this, he is very very good at what he does and likes fighting smaller men.

Not too hard to side step those 2 handed shoe shinners though and if they land they're only shoe shinners.

But they look great for the judges and they allow him to move in behind them and land some harder shots.

Like most it seems the more i've thought about this the more i'm favouring DLH.

At first i was thinking Mayweather will simply outbox him with spend and silky defence but then i realised it's some time since i've seen Mayweather in with a skilful boxer - which Oscar undoubtably is. He's looked untouchable against the likes of Baldomir, Judah (fast but not world class skills), Gatti and the like. The last quality boxer he was in against was Corley which was also the last time we've seen him so much as flustered.

Floyd may end up making Oscar looking clumsy, his age or both but it's not a forgone conclusion.

I have gone back and forth on this, but I'm leaning more and more towards Floyd. Oscar just doesn't do well against slick boxers who can beat him to the punch and outmanuver him - Whitaker, Quartey, Sturm, Mosley. Now some of those were bigger than Floyd but Whitaker is actually physically no bigger than Floyd - compare their dimensions. Lets also not forget Oscar didn't make fights with Forrest or Winky Wright who knows what problems they may have given him.

Oscar looks great against Mayorga, Vargas, Chavez, Gatti - where he can easily land on his opponent. Its when an opponent gives him angles, speed, tight defense that he can come unstuck and just get outhustled.

Either way this is a close fantastic contest where Mayweather will need to be on top of his game to win. Mayweather also is going to need to offensively open up far more than in his last fight.

And would a 100% Hatton cause Mayweather problems? Of course the pressure would win him some rounds and maybe make it a close affair. Mayweather better speed, accuracy, timing and of course defense would win it for him. Either way Hatton has been very unwilling to make the fight thus far to the extent where it hasnt been negotiated despite it been offered

ODH, I think will win in style with a late KO - Dont even think about ODH Ricky but Mayweather, maybe, but its risky

dr_devious wrote:In sharp contrast to most experts, boxing fans, and posters on this forum, Ray Leonard is tipping Ricky Hatton to give PBF a tough time.
I know hes always been a Hatton fan, he picked Hatton over Tzsyu I recall, and his picks are often accurate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6336815.stm

hate to pee on your parade...but anyone could see this one coming!! SRL is in the UK to promote his british version of THE CONTENDER and makes a point of saying hatton will beat mayweather?!?

leonard is a much better BU$INE$$man than he is fight predictor!!

TerribleTerry wrote:Mayorga and Vargas just don’t have the same defensive awareness and cuteness of Mayweather; nothing like.

Anyone can look a million dollars beating merry hell out of a punch bag, but getting those combos off effectively against a Mayweather on top of his game will be another thing entirely.

De La Hoya’s size and natural weight advantages are going to mean that PBF will have to pick and poke from the outside, triggering quick combinations only when positional dominance has been secured; for that reason this contest could well fizzle rather then sizzle.

I don’t think De La Hoya has either the footwork to close Mayweather down, nor the dig to damage him if he indeed can find his chin. We will see come fight night.

This will undoubtedly be a great EVENT. As for being a great fight, I am not so sure..

even if it turns into the expected chess match...it could be a technical classic!!

I too lean towards Oscar in this fight.

Mayweather is a super fighter, but is little more than a lightweight...whilst Oscar is a welterweight.

Most will expect Oscat to go looking for Floyd and get duly outboxed and counterpunched by the faster man.

But the size difference could see Mayweather having to take chances taking it to De La Hoya, who may elect to make Floyd do the leading..and against a clever fighter as Oscar he is going to get tested.

Floyd hasn`t faced the real top guy of the division he fights in for many years...some could argue 4yrs since Castllo.

Oscar isn`t the top guy also...but he is better than anything Floyd has fought since Castillo...and he`s bigger....

Oscar to make it an ugly fight if need be...but he wins by decision...even if the judges don`t give it to him again

As for the Hatton thing...always thought a top form Hatton has what it takes to do things with Mayweather....just never Cotto