BoxRec

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS SIGNS “THE HITMAN”

BRITISH SUPERSTAR RICKY HATTON INKS WITH

LEADING BOXING PROMOTIONS COMPANY

(LOS ANGELES – March 7, 2008) – Over the course of his storied 10-year career, two division world champion Ricky Hatton has achieved the rarest of feats – becoming a legitimate star on both sides of the Atlantic. Now, as he continues on his quest to be boxing’s best pound for pound fighter, “The Hitman” has aligned himself with Golden Boy Promotions, the premier promotional company in boxing, which he hopes will lead him on the road to the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.

“I’m pleased to be working with Golden Boy Promotions and I know that each one of my fights will be bigger than the last, not only for me, but for all of my loyal fans,” said Hatton. “I got a taste of working with Oscar and his team with my fight with Floyd Mayweather and they’re a world-class company. They're the kind of team I need to keep me in big fights against the best in the world.”

President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya continued, “I’ve always been a fan of Ricky Hatton and it’s an honor to partner with Ricky and Punch Promotions to add him to the Golden Boy Promotions roster. He’s a fighter universally loved by fight fans because of his heart and aggressive style. We’re all expecting even bigger and better things from him in the coming months.”

Hatton’s first fight under this new promotional contract will be announced at a later date.

One of boxing’s true superstars, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (43-1, 31 KO’s) has grown from a local attraction into a member of boxing’s pound for pound elite. A proud native and resident of Manchester, England, Hatton won his first world title, the WBU crown, in 2001 and defended that belt an amazing 15 times. But it wasn’t until he stopped Kostya Tszyu for the IBF and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles in June of 2005 that he truly broke out onto the world scene. Later in 2005 he added the WBA title to his collection by knocking out Carlos Maussa and by 2006 he won the WBA welterweight title by defeating Luis Collazo in his first fight in the United States since 2000. Hatton has since made the US his second home, defeating Juan Urango and Jose Luis Castillo here. In his most recent fight, Hatton fell short of victory against the world’s best pound for pound fighter, Floyd Mayweather in one of the year’s biggest events. After a short vacation, Hatton is chomping at the bit to get back in the ring and reaffirming that he is the best 140-pound fighter in the world.

I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Or Witter?

Big Pussy wrote:

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Or Witter?

I thought that too; "Please Boss, can I have a fight!". "No, now go clean the floor".

Blue wrote:

They're the kind of team I need to keep me in big fights against the best in the world.”


After a short vacation, Hatton is chomping at the bit to get back in the ring and reaffirming that he is the best 140-pound fighter in the world.

A) Lazcano!


B) by fighting lightweights and Super Flys.

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Emerson, you make a fair old leap there fella, considering the content of the press release, which says nothing about Hatton taking on the role you suggest, merely that GBP has signed him to a promotional contract. Were he being given a Hopkins/Golden Boy East type role, I'm fairly certain the press release would have publicised the fact - why wouldn't it, it would have been a major coup for GBP?

What this looks like to me is the further Americanisation of a British star's career - more fights in America and less chance for the British fans who followed Hatton on the way up to see him in the flesh. I hope I'm wrong but if I'm right, that's no cause for celebration.

Glyn Leach wrote:

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Emerson, you make a fair old leap there fella, considering the content of the press release, which says nothing about Hatton taking on the role you suggest, merely that GBP has signed him to a promotional contract. Were he being given a Hopkins/Golden Boy East type role, I'm fairly certain the press release would have publicised the fact - why wouldn't it, it would have been a major coup for GBP?

What this looks like to me is the further Americanisation of a British star's career - more fights in America and less chance for the British fans who followed Hatton on the way up to see him in the flesh. I hope I'm wrong but if I'm right, that's no cause for celebration.

Exactly. If GBP have signed Hatton, you will get a token fight in the UK once if you are lucky, and then Manny Paq etc all in the US

Hatton will never fight for the title at 140, unless Witter loses it first.

Glyn Leach wrote:

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I said all along GBP would sign him to be another subsidiary of GBP to indentify British talent. This is great for British boxing in the sense that up and coming talent will hopefully get more exposure earlier on in their career.

Does this mean Macklin comes under his company now?

Emerson, you make a fair old leap there fella, considering the content of the press release, which says nothing about Hatton taking on the role you suggest, merely that GBP has signed him to a promotional contract. Were he being given a Hopkins/Golden Boy East type role, I'm fairly certain the press release would have publicised the fact - why wouldn't it, it would have been a major coup for GBP?

What this looks like to me is the further Americanisation of a British star's career - more fights in America and less chance for the British fans who followed Hatton on the way up to see him in the flesh. I hope I'm wrong but if I'm right, that's no cause for celebration.

As a loyal subscriber and buyer of Boxing Monthly from the 1ST issue to now.

CAN YOU DO A FRONT COVER WITH THE HEADLINE.

HATTON - GROW A PAIR AND FIGHT JUNIOR WITTER.

Could be snappier DG ...

Thanks for the support by the way, 20th anniversary this month

Glyn Leach wrote:Could be snappier DG ...

Thanks for the support by the way, 20th anniversary this month

I will work on it!

Has it really been 20 years? my god!

GBP should be able to quench Hattons thurst for $$$$$'s, will they try and get him in with Witter for linear 140 title - will they fcuk.

I expect a long line of below par LWW's or blown-up SF's.

Glyn - any interviews with Witter in this months edition? I reckon Hattons blatant avoidance of Witter is something that needs highlighting to the masses, it's a terrible blow for British Boxing in a boom period

Once again, respect to Haye and Enzo, who are both true fans fighters

Glyn Leach wrote:Could be snappier DG ...

Thanks for the support by the way, 20th anniversary this month

How about a full page pic of Hatton and Witter, with the words "Why Not Ricky??" as his excuses are feeble

Chambers2 wrote:

Glyn Leach wrote:Could be snappier DG ...

Thanks for the support by the way, 20th anniversary this month

How about a full page pic of Hatton and Witter, with the words "Why Not Ricky??" as his excuses are feeble

Haven't we seen that already?

OR maybe.

Hatton Vs Witter.

1) Take care of business at home.

2) Home is where the heart is.

3) The Marquis of Queensbury would demand it!

4) Man of the People - its time.

Chambers2 wrote:GBP should be able to quench Hattons thurst for $$$$$'s, will they try and get him in with Witter for linear 140 title - will they fcuk.

I expect a long line of below par LWW's or blown-up SF's.

Glyn - any interviews with Witter in this months edition? I reckon Hattons blatant avoidance of Witter is something that needs highlighting to the masses, it's a terrible blow for British Boxing in a boom period

Once again, respect to Haye and Enzo, who are both true fans fighters

Exactly,

And now that GBP own the ring magazine what manner of shiit will they print?

BOXING MONTHLY should take the bull by the horns in a way BOXING NEWS won't! (despite the open letter to RH).

The way Hatton gets away with the EXCUSES are shameful.

He needs a real PAXMAN type interviewer and not the weak wrist SKY questions to brush aside.

I think most are catching onto the crap from Hatton but there are people who do not follow the Sport who actually think he is the 2nd best fighter in the world.

Shameful.

BOXING MONTHLY can you help????

British Fans were responsible for PBF fighting Hatton, PBF and GBP saw $$$$$$$ with very little risk,

Hatton - step up!

Certainly a point that will be raised over the coming months but in all honesty it appears that GBP will push for fights of American interest and Witter, as we know, just doesn't blip their radar. Hatton has no interest in Alphabet belts anymore, just in the biggest fights (and paydays) he can get, as he says in the GBP press release. All the finger pointing in the world won't change that because he'll just point at his bank balance as justification of his actions. It's hard to tell a wealthy man he's wrong.

It really doesn't look good for Hatton-Witter and this is exactly the sort of situation that made me go WHOAH! when Emerson described the Hatton/GBP deal as a good thing for British boxing. American interests and British interests are rarely the same - Calzaghe vs Manfredo being a classic example of the way the two nations differ in what constitutes a fight of interest. The markets are completely different and sometimes, as in the case of Hatton-Witter, totally at odds with each other.

i may be mistaken but i'm sure Henessey is GBP's UK partner

banjo wrote:i may be mistaken but i'm sure Henessey is GBP's UK partner

You are correct.

It would not surprise me for GBP to put on WITTER vs HATTON in the UK.

I really doubt they see more than $$$ with Ricky Hatton, they must know he is not exactly a great fighter, he is just well supported.


GBP deal is - like most things - good for Hatton and that all he cares about.

It would be nice to think that GBP remember that Hennessy is their British partner, too, but they've done very little to help Witter so far and that deal's been alive for a couple of years.

Have GBP even put Witter's photo on their website yet? If so that's the most progress in the Hennessy/GBP situation sadly.

Signing with GBP will get Hatton more high profile fights. It could open up a fight with Juan Diaz and another attractive one vs an undersized Pacquiao maybe. In that way it will help British boxing. It probably won't help any other British boxers than Hatton though!

However, what I find most interesting for bringing Brits to a bigger audience is Showtime. They are committed to 50-50 type fights, are showing Haye-Mac in America on the World Championship Boxing series AND Hennessy's excellent Froch-Inkin, Murray-Fewkes card on ShoBox The New Generation.

Autobarn wrote:Have GBP even put Witter's photo on their website yet? If so that's the most progress in the Hennessy/GBP situation sadly.Signing with GBP will get Hatton more high profile fights. It could open up a fight with Juan Diaz and another attractive one vs an undersized Pacquiao maybe. In that way it will help British boxing. It probably won't help any other British boxers than Hatton though!

However, what I find most interesting for bringing Brits to a bigger audience is Showtime. They are committed to 50-50 type fights, are showing Haye-Mac in America on the World Championship Boxing series AND Hennessy's excellent Froch-Inkin, Murray-Fewkes card on ShoBox The New Generation.

not strictly true, even if it feels that way. Murray's fights on the Mayweather-DLH undercard and the eve before Hatton-Floyd proving that a falsity.

Glyn Leach wrote:Certainly a point that will be raised over the coming months but in all honesty it appears that GBP will push for fights of American interest and Witter, as we know, just doesn't blip their radar. Hatton has no interest in Alphabet belts anymore, just in the biggest fights (and paydays) he can get, as he says in the GBP press release. All the finger pointing in the world won't change that because he'll just point at his bank balance as justification of his actions. It's hard to tell a wealthy man he's wrong.
.

That would be fine if he wasn't coming out with comments like "I'm in it for the glory and not the money" or trying to make out he's doing the British fans a favour by having a homecoming fight against and handpicked subpar opponent, when in reality he is robbing the British fans of what is probably the biggest all British fight ever.

There's no doubt that if the best legacies were given out to the boxers with the BIGGEST bank balances then Hatton would be an All Time Great. He leads what looks like a (comparitively) simple down to earth life, so why is money always the overriding factor.

IMO he claims one thing, but his actions do not back up his words (as he also proved when it came to negotiating extra tickets for the PBF clash, did they attempt to deduct $$$$$'s from Rickys purse for them?)

You're certainly not alone in being a little disillusioned with our Richard, Mr Chambers, this site seems littered with similar sentiments

Glyn Leach wrote:You're certainly not alone in being a little disillusioned with our Richard, Mr Chambers, this site seems littered with similar sentiments

With good cause??