BoxRec

Ricky loves his fans so much that he's gonna defend it in the UK against Mr nondescript. How kind!

Never mind though, because none of his fans and serious UK boxing fans would like to see him take on Junior Witter, WOULD THEY!!

...and no, I'm not a Witter fan, just a real boxing fan. I can see Hatton is scared, frightened of taking on somebody with good power and reflexes!

Take a chance Rick, Junior's getting on in age now, bit like most of the big names on your record:-

Vince Philips - nearly 40 when he took on Hatton
Jose Luis Castillo - was approaching 34
Kostya Tzsyzu - was closer to 35 than 34!
Ray Oliveria - was nearly 36
Carlos Maussa - 34 and a bit

Don't forget Ricky, it's the average boxing fan in the street who PAYS your wages! or don't you really care about them?

Some people on here will recognize me as a bloke who from time to time takes a pop at Matthew Hatton for various reasons far too irritating to go into right now.

But I'll say one thing about Ricky, and any other boxer for that matter. And that's this:

Ricky Hatton doesn't OWE the British fight fans any more than anyone else. I personally would love to see a Witter - Hatton dust up. I believe Witter would win, more than likely by KO.
When RH gats in the ring, whatever you make or don't make of his opponent, he is putting his well-being on the line. As is anyone that boxes for that matter.
If you wanna watch, then watch.......and if you don't wanna watch, then don't. That's your decision. Take it or leave it. But at the end of the day it's not your mug getting "check-hooked" or walloped for that matter.

So just cos you didn't think this fight or that opponent was any good it doesn't mean you are OWED anything by any of these guys, in much the same way that you don't OWE them anything.

Honestly, I'm annoyed at supposed "fans" who keep harassing the man to fight a no reward fight in the tail end of his career after everything he has done to raise the profile of British boxing.

rooney wrote:Ricky loves his fans so much that he's gonna defend it in the UK against Mr nondescript. How kind!

B*llocks - Ricky Hatton or Team Hatton love the fans so much - he loves them that much it seems in my opinion they failed to negoitiate a decent ticket allocation for the fans for the last fight - but yet conveniently remembered to negoitiate a very lucrative TV rights part in the contract.

Ricky in my opinion is very keen to have the fight in the UK - because again in my opinion he has that guilty feeling - and the fight in the UK is the right thing to do!!!

In addition some will also argue the fight in the UK - which was going to happen regardless of the result in Vegas - is another money spinning opportunity.

Do not be fooled by this concern for the fans.

Some people, who like this game, seem to be more akin with being a fan for its own sake than admiring and respecting the qualities of that it takes for someone to get into a ring let alone doing it at the highest level.

A fan buys a tickt/PPV to watch a fight/event - thus the contract ends and with it any obligation from the fighter to the fan for anything in the future.

Hatton was the marquee name in this country, people followed and had a good/bad night on many occasions and now some people think he owes them more. Now that to me is bollox.

SticknMove wrote:Some people, who like this game, seem to be more akin with being a fan for its own sake than admiring and respecting the qualities of that it takes for someone to get into a ring let alone doing it at the highest level.

A fan buys a tickt/PPV to watch a fight/event - thus the contract ends and with it any obligation from the fighter to the fan for anything in the future.

Hatton was the marquee name in this country, people followed and had a good/bad night on many occasions and now some people think he owes them more. Now that to me is bollox.

Ricky Hatton owes nothing to the fans in the ring - he is an absolute gem with regards to the way he entertains the fans etc etc ... incidentally I do think he is a genuine world class boxer - let me make that perfectly clear.

In addition whilst I still think Junior Witter would give him alsorts of problems in the first 4 rounds - I still think it is a fight that Ricky Hatton wins - of that I have no doubts.

My comments are concerning what I believe and is my opinion the constant bullsh*t about the concern for the fans - my opinion is plain and simple - if he was again I will say in my opinion that concerned for the fans - that concern would have shown in the negoitiations in the last fight -Not in some warm up fight in the UK - because he lost the big fight in Vegas!!!

I just can't see HBO warming to Witter. He burnt their fingers after his attrocious showing against Judah. His fight with Harris wasn't even shown live in the U.S. on any TV station!

However that's not to say that Hatton will extend his deal straight away with HBO, he may delay it until he after his fight(s) over here and have another crack at the US, allow Malinaggi to build up his marketability a bit more, and then fight him in NY.

It's really quite simple - the Americans don't know Witter. He's been on American TV once - eight years ago as a Zab Judah opponent in an undercard fight.

Hatton spent three fights showing himself to Americans to get to the Mayweather thing. Now he doesn't want to throw that away - he's loved by millions in America. Malignaggi at MSG would be the one, obviously.

Spud wrote:

SticknMove wrote:Some people, who like this game, seem to be more akin with being a fan for its own sake than admiring and respecting the qualities of that it takes for someone to get into a ring let alone doing it at the highest level.

A fan buys a tickt/PPV to watch a fight/event - thus the contract ends and with it any obligation from the fighter to the fan for anything in the future.

Hatton was the marquee name in this country, people followed and had a good/bad night on many occasions and now some people think he owes them more. Now that to me is bollox.

Ricky Hatton owes nothing to the fans in the ring - he is an absolute gem with regards to the way he entertains the fans etc etc ... incidentally I do think he is a genuine world class boxer - let me make that perfectly clear.

In addition whilst I still think Junior Witter would give him alsorts of problems in the first 4 rounds - I still think it is a fight that Ricky Hatton wins - of that I have no doubts.

My comments are concerning what I believe and is my opinion the constant bullsh*t about the concern for the fans - my opinion is plain and simple - if he was again I will say in my opinion that concerned for the fans - that concern would have shown in the negoitiations in the last fight -Not in some warm up fight in the UK - because he lost the big fight in Vegas!!!

I'm not absolutely sure of the point you're making. But if it's about ticket allocation and how many went out to the touts/travel agents etc. then I would agree it was badly organised by THE PEOPLE REMOVED FROM HATTON. There should be people that take care of that. Do you honestly think that Hatton preparing for the biggest fight of his career is going to sit down and say 'I'm not happy because I think the ticket allocation isn't fair and some fans may well have to pay over the odds'. I don't think so mate. He is in thinking of only one thing - how the fook is he going to beat Mayweather.

20 to 30 thousand went out there anyway even though they knew they wouldn't get a ticket. They watched it on the big screen, got drunk, spunked their load in the slots 8) whatever shape or form that took and came away loving the experience or being disappointed. That's life. Hatton and PBF are wealthy and some fans will say 'it's all wrong'.

BTW I think that a Hatton-Witter showdown should happen at some point next year. After the dust settles and Hatton considers his options surely he must realise that Witter is both a challenge and a sanctifying fight for him. But I wouldn't expect it straight away - a warm up fight beforehand will do.

I do not want to hear of DLH or Cotto - these are fights he will not win IMO.

Cannibal wrote:Honestly, I'm annoyed at supposed "fans" who keep harassing the man to fight a no reward fight in the tail end of his career after everything he has done to raise the profile of British boxing.

How is knocking out his supposedly BIG-mouthed arch-rival a 'no reward' fight?

verballistic wrote:

STP wrote:It's really quite simple - the Americans don't know Witter. He's been on American TV once - eight years ago as a Zab Judah opponent in an undercard fight.

Hatton spent three fights showing himself to Americans to get to the Mayweather thing. Now he doesn't want to throw that away - he's loved by millions in America. Malignaggi at MSG would be the one, obviously.

junior twitter is a non-factor in a discussion of ANY big-money fight in america...hatton earned his respect in america the hard way, by GOING there!! junior stunk out the house so bad vs judah that would only bring negative press to the equation!! he failed in doing what ricky just did and wants to do it the easy way...

twitter is envious that hatton "cracked america" in a way he couldnt and is now hoping to ride ricky's coattails onto the international scene, instead of going there himself and doing it the old-fashioned way like ricky did!!

I’m not one of Witter’s internet army of posters – (I think Hatton wins this fight 9 times out of 10) - but to be fair to Witter he did go to America and beat decent contender Lovemore N’Dou in a cracking scrap since the Judah fiasco.
I think he is unfairly maligned as a result of that earlier poor spectacle with Zab Judah, but HBO is the 1000 lb gorilla in the boxing world and if they have decided he is persona non grata then that is the end of it for him in the USA.

That N'Dou fight wasn't on regular HBO, it was only on HBO Latino (whatever that is).

A bit harsh if memory serves. Didn’t he have NDou down twice before the African got into the fight in the middle rounds. Witter then rallied with a big round before boxing carefully in the last two.
Christ, if you thought that was a boring fight for Witter, how would you describe the Kotelnik one?

Wasn’t there some talk after about a Golden Boy link up for Froch & Witter. Never happened though did it?

Sure he won the fight by a point, maybe 2 on my card. He was cruising with the knockdown early doors... did he damage a hand though>?

For once, I feel that Ricky does owe his fans something. He's had rabid support follow him over to America, a lot of people who went will have saved for months to go to Vegas and follow their man, and I think they are due a homecoming fight.

I totally understand that Witter isn't bringing much to the table, and I've always argued that Hatton didn't need witter, and was fighting bigger better names anyhow, but if he is going to fight the likes of Rees then that argument dissapears.

I know he doesn't want Witter to have a payday, but whatever happened to shutting your rivals mouth by battering the shit out of him?

It's time for this fight to finally happen.

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:Some people on here will recognize me as a bloke who from time to time takes a pop at Matthew Hatton for various reasons far too irritating to go into right now.

But I'll say one thing about Ricky, and any other boxer for that matter. And that's this:

Ricky Hatton doesn't OWE the British fight fans any more than anyone else. I personally would love to see a Witter - Hatton dust up. I believe Witter would win, more than likely by KO.
When RH gats in the ring, whatever you make or don't make of his opponent, he is putting his well-being on the line. As is anyone that boxes for that matter.
If you wanna watch, then watch.......and if you don't wanna watch, then don't. That's your decision. Take it or leave it. But at the end of the day it's not your mug getting "check-hooked" or walloped for that matter.

So just cos you didn't think this fight or that opponent was any good it doesn't mean you are OWED anything by any of these guys, in much the same way that you don't OWE them anything.

Well said!

I do think the SPORT owes us much - in that it is the viewing paying public be they ringside or paying for PPV events... it is supposed to be a Sport, and as a Sport we expect to see the Top men compete against each other!

They (All involved, fighters, managers, promoters, networks and Boxing Boards & reporters) owe to the integrity & history of the Sport - WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POLITICS & BULLSHITE... we expect, like other Sport for the Top competitors, teams to meet each other! And when fighters DON'T this is why the desension among fans happen, and of course it is made worse by writers & reporters who likewise have sold their soul.

MOST Fans love & Respect their hero's, but the same know SHITE when it is thrown at them and to all the greats of the Sport (many forgotten) it simply IS NOT RIGHT!!!

jimglen wrote:I do think the SPORT owes us much - in that it is the viewing paying public be they ringside or paying for PPV events... it is supposed to be a Sport, and as a Sport we expect to see the Top men compete against each other!

They (All involved, fighters, managers, promoters, networks and Boxing Boards & reporters) owe to the integrity & history of the Sport - WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POLITICS & BULLSHITE... we expect, like other Sport for the Top competitors, teams to meet each other! And when fighters DON'T this is why the desension among fans happen, and of course it is made worse by writers & reporters who likewise have sold their soul.

MOST Fans love & Respect their hero's, but the same know SHITE when it is thrown at them and to all the greats of the Sport (many forgotten) it simply IS NOT RIGHT!!!

Well said!

verballistic wrote:

STP wrote:It's really quite simple - the Americans don't know Witter. He's been on American TV once - eight years ago as a Zab Judah opponent in an undercard fight.

Hatton spent three fights showing himself to Americans to get to the Mayweather thing. Now he doesn't want to throw that away - he's loved by millions in America. Malignaggi at MSG would be the one, obviously.

junior twitter is a non-factor in a discussion of ANY big-money fight in america...hatton earned his respect in america the hard way, by GOING there!! junior stunk out the house so bad vs judah that would only bring negative press to the equation!! he failed in doing what ricky just did and wants to do it the easy way...

twitter is envious that hatton "cracked america" in a way he couldnt and is now hoping to ride ricky's coattails onto the international scene, instead of going there himself and doing it the old-fashioned way like ricky did!!

bullshit. witter-judah is not the same at all, because he was thrown in too early. hatton would have been on his back vs judah, not only back then but probably this year as well.

witter has gone to america and beat the tough ndou on a golden boy card. he's fought n'dou, kotelnik, corley, morua and harris - whoever will fight him - many times coming off layoffs. h also beat jan bergman - an early indicator of his promise. he's not doing anything the easy way and you're a pudendum for saying so!

hatton would never have "cracked america" or got any big opportuities if he hadn't performed - at long last after urango and collazo - vs castillo.

Junior Witter will knock Ricky Hatton out. In other words he will do what Eammon Magee and Luis Collazo couldn't quite do.

rooney wrote:Ricky loves his fans so much that he's gonna defend it in the UK against Mr nondescript. How kind!

Never mind though, because none of his fans and serious UK boxing fans would like to see him take on Junior Witter, WOULD THEY!!

...and no, I'm not a Witter fan, just a real boxing fan. I can see Hatton is scared, frightened of taking on somebody with good power and reflexes!

Take a chance Rick, Junior's getting on in age now, bit like most of the big names on your record:-

Vince Philips - nearly 40 when he took on Hatton
Jose Luis Castillo - was approaching 34
Kostya Tzsyzu - was closer to 35 than 34!
Ray Oliveria - was nearly 36
Carlos Maussa - 34 and a bit

Don't forget Ricky, it's the average boxing fan in the street who PAYS your wages! or don't you really care about them?

What a daft post? He'll fight Mayweather but not Witter? Some people on here want to pull their heads out of the sand. Witter is not that great, his biggest win is a faded Corley. Get real guys...

STP wrote:It's really quite simple - the Americans don't know Witter.

As opposed to Juan Urango, who was known throughout the land.

Terry D wrote:

Autobarn wrote:

verballistic wrote: junior twitter is a non-factor in a discussion of ANY big-money fight in america...hatton earned his respect in america the hard way, by GOING there!! junior stunk out the house so bad vs judah that would only bring negative press to the equation!! he failed in doing what ricky just did and wants to do it the easy way...

twitter is envious that hatton "cracked america" in a way he couldnt and is now hoping to ride ricky's coattails onto the international scene, instead of going there himself and doing it the old-fashioned way like ricky did!!

bullshit. witter-judah is not the same at all, because he was thrown in too early. hatton would have been on his back vs judah, not only back then but probably this year as well.

witter has gone to america and beat the tough ndou on a golden boy card. he's fought n'dou, corley, morua and harris - whoever will fight him - many times coming off layoffs. he's not doing anything the easy way and you're a pudendum for saying so!

hatton would never have "cracked america" or got any big opportuities if he hadn't performed - at long last after urango and collazo - vs castillo.

Junior Witter will knock Ricky Hatton out. In other words he will do what Eammon Magee and Luis Collazo couldn't quite do.

Yeah, all Hatton did was beat Tszyu and make him quit! KOing Castillo with a single shot also trumps those fights.

Judah is a mental midget. Once you understand that you are half-way to victory.

I rate Hatton for the Tszyu and Castillo wins. Think he could have grown into a lot better fighter with clever matchmaking post Castillo. Not so sure now though after seeing him rush Mayweather with his chin up in the air & get KO'd.

Witter didn't believe he could beat Judah in that fight which came way too early for him.

Think the match of styles favors Witter if they ever square off. I'd like to see it. If Hatton wil fight in the UK next, it should be vs Witter.

Captain Hook wrote:

rooney wrote:Ricky loves his fans so much that he's gonna defend it in the UK against Mr nondescript. How kind!

Never mind though, because none of his fans and serious UK boxing fans would like to see him take on Junior Witter, WOULD THEY!!

...and no, I'm not a Witter fan, just a real boxing fan. I can see Hatton is scared, frightened of taking on somebody with good power and reflexes!

Take a chance Rick, Junior's getting on in age now, bit like most of the big names on your record:-

Vince Philips - nearly 40 when he took on Hatton
Jose Luis Castillo - was approaching 34
Kostya Tzsyzu - was closer to 35 than 34!
Ray Oliveria - was nearly 36
Carlos Maussa - 34 and a bit

Don't forget Ricky, it's the average boxing fan in the street who PAYS your wages! or don't you really care about them?

What a daft post? He'll fight Mayweather but not Witter? Some people on here want to pull their heads out of the sand. Witter is not that great, his biggest win is a faded Corley. Get real guys...

Harris was a bigger and better win than Corley.

I thought Hatton was going to show some of that class that we saw over the 1st 5 rds v Urango and with the superb body shot that did away with Castillo.

I know Cortez ruined his game but Hatton was wanging his punches in. It's probably because Mayweather covers up and slips very well. Just thought we would have got to see some of the pedigree that he's picked up.

But evidently, Hatton's not strong enough above 140 and experience was a massive factor: while Hatton was wasting time with the WBU belt, Mayweather was beating world class lightweights for a proper title.

That said, for a UK promotion, it should be Hatton and Witter. I'm sure HBO wouldn't back off...They even allowed the abominable fights involving Calzaghe-Bika/Manfredo.

All the light welters are unfashionable; Witter is more qualified than the others. If Hatton is THE CHAMP - as Yanks like to put it - then Witter is the #1 challenger beyond doubt.