GRAHAM: RICKY SHOULD QUIT AT THE TOP

Hagler2002 · Post by **Hagler2002** » 14 May 2007, 15:26

Don't know if I have picked this interview up wrong but the way I read into it was as if Graham knows Hatton is nowhere near as good as he was and they want that big Mayweather payday.

Ricky Hatton has been warned by trainer Billy Graham he should quit the ring while he is at the top of his game.

Graham is confident Hatton will emerge victorious when he faces Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on June 23.

A win in Vegas could be a stepping stone to a box-office blockbuster with Floyd Mayweather Jnr - although the 'pretty boy' has stated his intent to retire himself.

Graham told the Sunday Mirror: "Ricky's not slipping yet, but his time could be up a lot sooner than some people think.

"I've always told him I'd let him know when I think it's time for him to stop, and I will. I hope he'll listen to my advice - and I think he will.

"I'd like him to have one more big fight after Castillo. The one we've wanted for a long time is Mayweather. That would be massive. After that, he should retire. We all know it's not the way boxers usually finish, but I believe it would be best for Ricky.

"Everybody knows Ricky, how he eats the wrong food, drinks too much and puts on weight between fights. He blows up and then has to take it all off again. Eventually, that's going to catch up with him and he'll pay for it.

"The way Ricky fights, he'd get badly cut up and knocked out. I don't want to see that and no one who cares about Ricky can want to see it.

"I don't want to have to carry him off the floor. That would hurt me as much as him.

"We worked hard to get him to this position. He's been with me since he was 17. He's proved he's the best light-welterweight in the world and got the rewards he deserves.

"There's always the temptation to go for another big pay day. But he doesn't need any more money and neither do I.

"I want to see him retire as the Ricky Hatton we see now. Everybody loves him because he's such a great kid as well as a fantastic fighter. He can still make plenty of money just being Ricky Hatton, working with the media and making appearances.

"He'll be the most popular ex-fighter Britain has ever had."

Graham also shared his thoughts on how the Castillo bout could go, before reaffirming his wish for the Hitman to bow out at the top.

"If Castillo is at his best, Ricky will beat him. If he's not at his best, Ricky will take him out.

"One more big fight after that and it will be the perfect way to finish his career. He can walk away unbeaten with his marbles intact and enjoy the rest of his life."

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 May 2007, 16:10

They've probably left It too long to negotiate with Floyd now.

coneye · Post by **coneye** » 14 May 2007, 16:51

[quote="Tsukiyomi"]They've probably left It too long to negotiate with Floyd now.

[/quote

Its just talk they never ever wanted Mayweather and i doubt if they do now.]

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 15 May 2007, 04:07

CHAMBERS:RICKY SHOULD FIGHT JUNIOR WITTER BEFORE HE RETIRES

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 15 May 2007, 04:37

Its good to see Billy Graham looking out for his boxer, but its also worrying that even he thinks Ricky is standing a chance to fall apart because of his weight gain between fights.

Also he mentions that Ricky is going to be the most popular boxer when he retires, and yes he's a very popular guy, but he could have been huge in this country, but all of his fights have been on satalite TV , so alot of the general public have not seen him fight.
now he's moving to Setana channel, and thats hardly going to boost his popularity over here, casual fans are not going to see that fight.

People like Bruno, Benn and Eubank made there names fighting on BBC and ITV.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 15 May 2007, 04:49

It goes from him being the potential greatest Brit fighter ever - in team ricky words - to the most popular ex boxer.

This sounds like damage limitation time.

Not sure if Billy was supposed to say this after the Setanta deal, which was optimistically made a 6 fight deal.

I don't have sympathy for Ricky. If he's going downhill, it's all his own fault. After all, he was obese before training for the most important fight of his career, Tszyu.

Quick, everyone buy the PPV - or simply subscribe to Setanta! - and aid the Ricky Retirement Fund.

STP · Post by **STP** » 15 May 2007, 04:49

It's interesting because Ricky stated he wanted to fight in Vegas "another four or five times" after the Urango fight.

And no offense to the guy but not even 5% of the people who love Bruno, Benn and Eubank have heard of Ricky.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 15 May 2007, 11:13

Graham's comments make it interesting as I'm sure Ricky recently said he like three more years in boxing. If Billy wants him to have one more big fight after Castillo, then someone's plan has to go ut the window.

What happens if Graham advises Ricky to retire, then Hatton feels he shouldn't hang the glvoes up yet? Could Hatton possibly link up with another trainer? Billy/Ricky have been together for a long time, so it's hard to see him going with someone else.

Then again, Nigel Benn & Jimmy Tibbs parted ways, & Benn went to have success afterwards. Wonder who would have thought that at the time?

I doubt very much Hatton vs Mayweather would happen after Hatton vs Castillo. After receiving a mega-bucks payday against De La Hoya, I reckon Mayweather would want a serious pay-check to fight Hatton.

One more big fight after Castillo then that's it for Ricky? I don't think that warrants a legacy as good as Graham claims it will? IMO, we need to see Ricky in more big fights to at least try to secure his place in history.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 15 May 2007, 12:10

Chambers2 wrote:CHAMBERS:RICKY SHOULD FIGHT JUNIOR WITTER BEFORE HE RETIRES

if witter beats harris.

witter will have deserved his chance if he wins that fight.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 15 May 2007, 12:12

Final Fight wrote:It goes from him being the potential greatest Brit fighter ever - in team ricky words - to the most popular ex boxer.

This sounds like damage limitation time.

Not sure if Billy was supposed to say this after the Setanta deal, which was optimistically made a 6 fight deal.

I don't have sympathy for Ricky. If he's going downhill, it's all his own fault. After all, he was obese before training for the most important fight of his career, Tszyu.

Quick, everyone buy the PPV - or simply subscribe to Setanta! - and aid the Ricky Retirement Fund.

ffs.

if this was coming out of hatton's mouth then i'd take more note of it.

hatton has made his plans quite clear time and again.

4 or 5 more fights and hang em up.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 15 May 2007, 13:19

Looking at his last three performances Ricky is definately on the slide... if Castillo is anything near his best against him then Ricky will be in for a painful night... Graham can see the writing on the wall and wants Ricky to get out before he gets beat or hurt...

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 15 May 2007, 13:33

I expect Castillo to win tbh.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 15 May 2007, 13:49

I expect Hatton to muller him to be honest. Castillo doesn't look good at 140.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 15 May 2007, 13:51

You've seen him more than me, so I'll trust your word.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 15 May 2007, 13:53

Not that much more if any. I just think that at 140 Castillo's going to be shocked at how strong and quick Ricky is. Corralles may punch harder, but Hatton's workrate and strength is something that Castillo won't have experienced from a genuine world class 140 lber.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 15 May 2007, 14:00

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Not that much more if any. I just think that at 140 Castillo's going to be shocked at how strong and quick Ricky is. Corralles may punch harder, but Hatton's workrate and strength is something that Castillo won't have experienced from a genuine world class 140 lber.

If Castillo had gone up to 140 after the 2nd Mayweather fight, he would have been one hell of a light welterweight - in fact he may have been better than he's ever been. He said he was having big troubles getting down to 135 in 2002, for the 2nd Mayweather.

Then again, if he had gone up to 140, he wouldn't have had that brilliant career peak where he fought Lazcano, Julio Diaz, Joel Casamayor and Corrales.

Hard to believe Castillo was a featherweight once.

Ricky looks like a real on-top type of fighter. When things stop going his way he seems to be in real anxiety and his stamina seems to dry out. He had terrific starts with Collazo & Urango yet looked dreadful in the late stages. I reckon he starts well with Castillo but JLC - despite looking frayed himself - knows all about pacing fights.

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 15 May 2007, 14:04

I think Hatton has become a 5 round fighter.

caster · Post by **caster** » 15 May 2007, 16:11

as per previous threads, I definitely believe he's on the slide and if Castillo has anything left I expect him to beat Hatton.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 15 May 2007, 16:25

Agreed, Hatton and Castillo are 2 fighters on the slide and it depends whose got most left. I think Castillo will burst Hattons bubble

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 15 May 2007, 17:48

Hatton needs three fights:

-Castillo
-Witter
-Mayweather

then should retire

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 15 May 2007, 18:00

HomicideHenry wrote:Hatton needs three fights:

-Castillo
-Witter
-Mayweather

then should retire

That'd be the ideal finish to his career IMO, providing Witter beats Harris.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 15 May 2007, 18:45

HomicideHenry wrote:Hatton needs three fights:

-Castillo
-Witter
-Mayweather

then should retire

cotto-judah winner is another one.

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 15 May 2007, 19:15

Hatton-Mayweather was THE FIGHT to make in 2005 after Hatton became the man at 140 by stopping Kostya. I still hope that fight comes off and I'll be very disappointed if it doesn't. I think Hatton still has atleast another 2 good years left in him.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 15 May 2007, 19:39

Can't really see the Cotto or Mayweather fights happening now, Team Hatton have fucked about to much and the boxing landscape has changed. Of course the hype could start up again if Hatton put's in a performance against Castillo, but even then it's doubtful.

Mayweather has bagged the golden ticket and cashed it in and Cotto will probably fight Margarito if they both come through their next fights. The fact that all the big fights are now in a weight division he clearly can't handle makes it more of a problem.

dekker · Post by **dekker** » 16 May 2007, 04:37

pure hype to try and tempt pbf before it's 'too late'......nothing more than that imho.