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Hatton still wants Mayweather.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:02
by Rocky Balboa
SUNDAY 17/06/2007 15:32:32
Ricky Hatton insists he is still holding out of hope of a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather despite the self-styled 'Pretty Boy' announcing his retirement after last month's win over Oscar De La Hoya.
Hatton will cement his status among his generation`s pound-for-pound greats if he turns in an explosive performance to defeat Jose Luis Castillo for the IBO light-welterweight title at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas next Saturday night.
But for Hatton a win over Castillo would simply provide a springboard the fight he really wants - a showdown with the unbeaten and hugely talented man from Grand Rapids.
Hatton is confident Mayweather will be unable to resist such an invitation because he is missing at least a couple of classic, era-defining contests from his otherwise impeccable repertoire.
Hatton said: "I don`t think Mayweather will retire because he wants to be remembered as an all-time great but to do that he has still got to do something a little bit more.
"As far as talent and boxing ability goes he is second to none but in terms of excitement I haven`t seen Mayweather in one good fight yet. He has got very negative as he has got older.
"In 10 to 15 years` time when you`re a fight historian and you look on that shelf where all the great fights are, are you going to reach for a Floyd Mayweather video?
"I think Floyd is a far better fighter than Arturo Gatti but I think people will be watching Arturo Gatti`s fights for long after they will be watching Mayweather`s. He just never gets me on the edge of my seat."
Hatton`s clash against former lightweight champion Castillo is virtually guaranteed to provide more excitement than Mayweather`s cagey points verdict over the `Golden Boy`.
The Manchester `Hit Man` - who expects to roared on by up to 10,000 travelling supporters in the scorching desert city - says he is leaving nothing for granted despite Castillo`s poor performance last time out.
Hatton added: "I would be a fool if I thought the same Castillo was going to turn up next Saturday night. He is going to be in the shape of his life because it might be his last chance.
"These are the sort of fights I live for. I`m not bothered about being remembered as the greatest of all time but I want people to watch my fights in years to come and say, there was a guy who could really fight."
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:17
by Autobarn
all he has to do is start looking really good and there would be a clamour for it. though more realistic is Cotto for a superfight.
If Hatton get can his form back, he does have tools to trouble Floyd. Ricky does have some of the fastest feet in the business, which is GREAT for cutting the ring off. It's just a Q of can he sustain things at this level.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:18
by DG.
Shut up Wrickay!
You had the fight offered to you several times and you did not want it.
STFU.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:23
by Max Molyneux
DG. wrote:Shut up Wrickay!
You had the fight offered to you several times and you did not want it.
STFU.
Exactly.
What I don't get Is why people let Ricky off with all the talk but not other fighters like Calzaghe.
It's double standards how some people are believing he still wants to fight Floyd but don't believe Joe will fight Kessler and say crap like I'll believe It when I see It atitude.
Floyd Is troubled by pressure but he still doesn't lose yet they'll bring up the right hand excuse for Joe.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:36
by leforge
Hatton not fought too many good fighters. Joe opponents have been better imo.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 13:08
by ArtOfWar
Got to agree with the posters above. Floyd gets a lot of stick for taking easier fights (and rightly so), but Hatton is one opponent who has been offered the fight more than once and has declined it. Yet the hole time he's been talking about fighting Floyd. Why didn't you take the fight before then?
Hatton comes across as a nice level headed guy and that's what allows him to get away with taking easier fights, unlike Calzaghe who comes across as more arrogant. Fact is though Hatton uses his images to take the piss and talks out of his arse just as much as Calzaghe.
He was quoted in the paper today as saying he's pissed off that people feel his career has stalled since he beat Tszyu. He doesn't obviously doesn't realize that nobody cares about his HBO deal or how many paper titles he's won, all that atters is the quality of his opposition.
At this point I think it's very unlikely he'll fight Cotto and very very unlikely that he'll fight Floyd.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 13:12
by Max Molyneux
How does Joe come across as arrogant?
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 13:14
by leforge
If Hatton loses who will he fight next?
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 13:29
by Autobarn
I think you're all putting Floyd on a pedestal he doesn't deserve. God knows why Calzaghe-defenders are commenting here.
If you were going to defend Hatton, then at least he'll have taken on Tszyu (modern great) and Castillo (near great) within two years.
Calzaghe...never mind.
I just hope we see a better Hatton. If he gives a terrific performance, that attractrive fights will happen. He's not given us much to rave about over the past two fights, so let's see him start making up & see what that gets him.
Ricky does have a lot going for him. Castillo, Malignaggi, then Cotto. Provided Hatton starts looking really good, fighting a fierce pace for 12 rds, why would he not be on Cotto's radar?
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 14:02
by Max Molyneux
Calzaghe has Lacy and hopefully Kessler under two years though and they wouldn't be past their prime wins.
Just boxrecs double standards defend Hatton over one opponent, otherwise he has had a similar career to Calzaghe.
The Castillo fight would be more than two years since Tszyu since that fight with June 4th.
One opponent doesn't justify to defend Hatton and believe he'll fight other fighters just because he says so.
With Joe It's I don't believe It until It's signed.
I remember you being just as fed up with Hatton too Autobarn.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 14:06
by Autobarn
Katon! wrote:Calzaghe has Lacy and hopefully Kessler under two years though and they wouldn't be past their prime wins.
Just boxrecs double standards defend Hatton over one opponent, otherwise he has had a similar career to Calzaghe.
The Castillo fight would be more than two years since Tszyu since that fight with June 4th.
One opponent doesn't justify to defend Hatton and believe he'll fight other fighters just because he says so.
With Joe It's I don't believe It until It's signed.
I remember you being just as fed up with Hatton too Autobarn.
sure, that's true. i'm getting cynical about ricky's image, i.e. "It can't be anythng but a GREAT FIGHT." however coming into a big fight, I normally try to see the upside of things. Ricky was disappointing last 2 times out; hopefully he isn't this X. He says they've come over in good time, got used to the place, etc etc.
Castillo's been one of my fave fighters, hence I'm starting to get excited. hopefully this fight isn't 2 years too late (for Castillo). nothing would make me more pleased, if Ricky and Calzaghe were taking on the likes of Cotto & Kessler.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 14:14
by ArtOfWar
Katon! wrote:How does Joe come across as arrogant?
By the way that he dismisses opponents and talks himself up like he's a star.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 14:29
by Max Molyneux
ArtOfWar wrote:Katon! wrote:How does Joe come across as arrogant?
By the way that he dismisses opponents and talks himself up like he's a star.
Don't all fighters dimiss there opponent before a fight though and say how they'll beat them. I fail to see how that makes Calzaghe different.
Well he Is popular and well known so doesn't that make him a star?
If Hatton was as humble as he makes out he wouldn't take the fans money by doing PPV when they already pay subscription fees or dismiss good fights because the offer Isn't a big enough amount of money.
Wonder If he turned down Sky because It wasn't a PPV offer.
Calzaghe Is using the humble Image as much as Hatton like they both do In their books.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 16:06
by Goz
Presuming Hatton gets past Castillo I think the obvious fight for me would be Hatton-Cotto with the winner to fight Mayweather.
Hatton-Cotto would be like a semi-final for a shot at the very top prize.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 17:09
by ArtOfWar
Katon! wrote:ArtOfWar wrote:Katon! wrote:How does Joe come across as arrogant?
By the way that he dismisses opponents and talks himself up like he's a star.
Don't all fighters dimiss there opponent before a fight though and say how they'll beat them. I fail to see how that makes Calzaghe different.
Well he Is popular and well known so doesn't that make him a star?
If Hatton was as humble as he makes out he wouldn't take the fans money by doing PPV when they already pay subscription fees or dismiss good fights because the offer Isn't a big enough amount of money.
Wonder If he turned down Sky because It wasn't a PPV offer.
Calzaghe Is using the humble Image as much as Hatton like they both do In their books.
I'm not defending Hatton though. I think both of them have milked it and in a way manipulated their fans. I just think Hatton does a better job of it, up until recently anyway. With the crowd at the Calzaghe/Manfredo fight it seems as though Calzaghe might have caught up with Hatton.