BoxRec

Who witnessed Ross interviewing Ricky last night? Hatton said he weighed 12st. I don't want to have a go at Ricky or anything, but it seems he may not have cut out the eating, drinking habits etc.

In his interview with Larry Merchant after the Urango fight, Ricky stated he needed to be more disciplined in that area. It's been 9wks since the Urango fight.

It seems to me that a defeat is the only thing that would make Ricky address the situation and try to be more controlled in his eating, drinking habits. I hope it doesn't come to that.

I wonder when Ricky will start training for Castillo? If his training camp is not soon, maybe his weight will go up even more. Ricky started training camp for Urango weighing 178lbs. Castillo does not make weight easy either, but I don't think it would be wise for Ricky to be weighing near 178lbs at the start of training for June 23rd.

Ricky is a great guy, a person who you can easily like bacause of they way he is; down to earth, a people's person etc. I'm a big Hatton fan, but at some point, whether it be in his next fight, or in the future, the weight issue needs to be addressed. Billy Graham, Kerry Kayes have said they wish Ricky would not put on so much weight.

This post is not intended so much to criticise Hatton, just to express concern. I'm sure his camp, as well as other people have the same concern. It may indeed take a defeat to make Ricky finally stand up and address his lifestyle outside he ring.

In his interview with Larry Merchant after the Urango fight, Ricky stated he needed to be more disciplined in that area. It's been 9wks since the Urango fight.

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw Hatton on the Ross show last night.

I agree with your post 100%

If he's upset that he looked "shit", why doesn't he do something about it? When you lok at the weight drainers who have got hurt -chiefly Paul Ingle and McClellan - then there should be some caution.

Also, who's interested in his 'cheeky chappie' routine if his boxing is becoming comparitively poor?

I stopped worrying about Hatton's weight gain some time ago. He is who he is, he isn't going to change, and I think after 42 successful outings he pretty much knows what he's doing by now. His ring sharpness and demonstration of skill early on last time was as good as I've ever seen in his career, I'm hoping his apparent lack of stamina really was due to the chest infection. Ricky certainly doesn't give the impression he is concerned about any slip in form.

I thought he gave a great interview with Ross, he really seems to relish these things now and his responses sound a lot more natural.

I just wish Ricky would talk more seriously at times about his own ability level. People tuning in who have never seen him fight might just think he is some glorified pub brawler, not the world class athlete that he is. Some flashy clips of Ricky shellacking the punchbag would really have got peoples attention too.

To play devils advocat, wouldnt he have weighed 11st come fight night v urango ?

I dont think he looks as bad as he has in his past few between fight sesions. Also nice to hear he's locking himself away for this one, rather thasn staying in the same hotel as his fans etc...

Rocky Balboa wrote:Who witnessed Ross interviewing Ricky last night? Hatton said he weighed 12st. I don't want to have a go at Ricky or anything, but it seems he may not have cut out the eating, drinking habits etc.

In his interview with Larry Merchant after the Urango fight, Ricky stated he needed to be more disciplined in that area. It's been 9wks since the Urango fight.

It seems to me that a defeat is the only thing that would make Ricky address the situation and try to be more controlled in his eating, drinking habits. I hope it doesn't come to that.

I wonder when Ricky will start training for Castillo? If his training camp is not soon, maybe his weight will go up even more. Ricky started training camp for Urango weighing 178lbs. Castillo does not make weight easy either, but I don't think it would be wise for Ricky to be weighing near 178lbs at the start of training for June 23rd.

Ricky is a great guy, a person who you can easily like bacause of they way he is; down to earth, a people's person etc. I'm a big Hatton fan, but at some point, whether it be in his next fight, or in the future, the weight issue needs to be addressed. Billy Graham, Kerry Kayes have said they wish Ricky would not put on so much weight.

This post is not intended so much to criticise Hatton, just to express concern. I'm sure his camp, as well as other people have the same concern. It may indeed take a defeat to make Ricky finally stand up and address his lifestyle outside he ring.

You are making too much of his weight. He weighed 158 in the ring against Collazo so 168 is not too bad at all.

You wont remember a guy called Matthew Hilton. He was champ at 154 in 1987/88. He was in the ring at 157 (they weighed in the lunchtime of the fight then) Apart from the main event Tyson who weighed in the day before so the papers could cover it).

So in the ring he was about the same weight as Hatton. Hilton stood 5'7"

At the age of 22 between fights Hilton would baloon to 200 plus regularly.

It was partly due to his inactivity caused by King devoting so much time to Tyson. Lots of top fighters were neglected.

I just want someone to ask the witter question... if he would just say his style is difficult for a brawler who has forgotten like to jab like me, maybe the self deprecating jack the lad act would work!

a lot of good points made here - I am in two minds 1. I dont like to see any boxers have to lose too much weight before a fight - its simply dangerous 2. I also have stopped worrying about RIcky's ability to lose the weight as he does it comfortably everytime and he really does have focused and lengthened training camp to help with this.

But as he gets older its harder to shift the weight (as I can atest to!) and maybe one day this will catch him out.

This fight with Castillo is very reliant on styles and been technically good aswell as conditioned. Ricky should be fitter, quicker and stronger than Castillo regardless. But can he be good defensively, avoid Castillos counters and beat him to the punch, while pushing Castillo back and working him over?

Rickys conditioning is far more than just weight, Ricky needs to get his mile times down to where they were at the time of the Tyszu fight. I'm sure hes roadwork will be much slower in his last 3 fights and thats where the difference in perfomance really lies.

Would should Hatton be with a week to go realistically to come in strong at the weight? I'd say around 150-154, so 14lbs of fat isn't very much to shed at all in 3months. Ricky is fortunate he has a good nutritionist to help him shred down though.

sligobhoy67 wrote:a lot of good points made here - I am in two minds 1. I dont like to see any boxers have to lose too much weight before a fight - its simply dangerous 2. I also have stopped worrying about RIcky's ability to lose the weight as he does it comfortably everytime and he really does have focused and lengthened training camp to help with this.

But as he gets older its harder to shift the weight (as I can atest to!) and maybe one day this will catch him out.

gaunt and covered in cold sores would not suggest ricky makes the weight easily !!