Mayweather Jr, ready to fight "overrated" Hatton...

[Wetzelbill]

Hmmm.... calling Hatton the most overrated fighter of the last 25 years, may be a bit much, but Floyd isn't exactly shy about stirring trouble up, so it is what it is. :) I'd love to see them fight though.



Mayweather says he's ready to hurt Hatton

Ricky Hatton wants a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr., considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. It looks like he might get his wish.

Mayweather said Tuesday he will come out of retirement to put Hatton in his place.

"I was retired but I'll sign to fight Hatton right now. I've tried to let the things he said about me slide by, but now he's 'dissing' me on national TV and I want to shut him up. I've never wanted to hurt an opponent like I do Hatton.

"Ricky Hatton cannot fight. He throws one punch at a time and then holds. Hatton is the most overrated fighter of the last 25 years."


http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2918039

[H2O Man]

1. Heck of a fight.

Mayweather said that after he retires Hatton, he'll hire him as one of his butlers.

[Wetzelbill]

2. ha, that's funny

Yeah, I'd love to see it. I just replied to your other thread too.

[H2O Man]

3. I agree

that at this time, Ricky Hatton has the best chance of defeating Floyd Mayweather.

My son just said that it will be a modern version of the first Ali-Frazier "Fight of the Century," without the political aspects. Two undefeated champions with very different styles and personalities entering the ring. Of course, it isn't on the same scale of significance, but it will be good for boxing.

[Wetzelbill]

4. It will be good for boxing

And actually should be a good fight too. Those contrasts are something I find interesting about combat sports. Personality clashes make compelling stories for the run up to a fight, then sometimes the styles can make the fight itself. It should be interesting. I'd be hard pressed to bet against Floyd, but Hatton is capable of beating him. Whether or not he does remains to be seen. I just hope it happens, and ASAP.

[H2O Man]

5. It will be

interesting to see how quickly the details can be worked out. What weight? Would it be better for Floyd to wait until '08 for tax purposes? What officials? Hatton certainly can't rely on Mickey Vance, but what would the best options be?

It's one of those fights that makes me wish that the real championship bouts were still 15 rounds.

[Wetzelbill]

6. yes 15 rounds, and that the loser would have to cut a finger off..

wait... I think I went too far in my excitement. :)

Yeah weight is an issue. I was assuming 145, but you never know. I doubt Floyd is interested in going any lower. I'd be curious to see where it would be held. If it's in England, Floyd better be pretty careful about who the officials are.

[H2O Man]

7. I believe

that Floyd has said he will be going to England to fight Hatton.

[MessiahRp]

8. I didn't think fights in England were all that tainted...

I've always seen Germany as the one place every non-German fighter should boycott.

Rp

[H2O Man]

10. I've also read

it may be on November 10 in Vegas. That would be interesting.

I am in complete agreement about Germany. It reminds me of what Italy was like, back when Luis Rodriguez fought Nino Benvenuti for the middleweight crown in November of 1969. Nino had been having a tough year -- Dick Tiger beat him easily in May in NYC, and so he had insisted on fighting in Italy. When Fraser Scott was giving him a good fight in October, Scott was DQed. Go figure.

Rodriguez, the former welterweight champion, had victories over Rubin Carter, Emile Griffith, Curtis Cokes, Georgie Benton, and Bennie Briscoe. He was one of Angelo Dundee's best fighters. And he was taking the title from Nino easily. The ref began "warning" Luis, clearly upset that the great Cuban-American was going to beat Nino, probably by TKO, and take the title. The ref began to say he would DQ Luis for butting, though there were no butts -- and Luis had to come forward with his head held in an unnatural position, chin exposed. In the 11th, Nino landed that hook of his, and Luis was counted out.

I do not think England is in that class of crooks. However, Mickey Gance clearly has a fondness for Hatton that has removed any ability for him to be objective when he refereed Hatton's earlier fights. And against Mayweather, the pushing will be an issue. Also, the idea of what is of more value -- aggression or ring generalship, lots of punches or accurate punches -- may be at issue if the fight goes to a decision.

[MessiahRp]

9. I have concerns...

Hatton's mauling move forward style will either tie up Mayweather and have him take hits he's never had to deal with before or get him running more than usual (see: Cory Spinks).

On paper that sounds awful. I really dislike Mayweather a lot so I hope for the best for Hatton but I'm not sure he's going to be able to cut off the ring when Mayweather puts his jogging shoes on.

Also the weight could be a big time issue. Hatton looked weak against Collazo and I'm not sure he's really meant to fight above 140. He doesn't seem to have welterweight power.

I personally would be way more interested in Mosely-Mayweather because I think Mosely's speed would give Mayweather fits. But I suppose as long as Hatton trains hard (and lays off the beer) and prepares to cut the ring off all throughout training, he could give Mayweather stylistic problems.

Let's just hope they get a ref that's a little lenient to Hatton's holding because it was ugly last Saturday.

Rp

[H2O Man]

11. Interesting.

I think Mayweather has a greater range in weight than Hatton .... while Ricky gains lots of extra pounds between fights, Floyd is always in shape .... but he could actually drop down to make it a two-title fight.

I don't think of Mayweather as running. Spinks is an extreme example of a track star -- perhaps cross-country in the Taylor fight. But there are lots of guys who run for parts of rounds/fights, and still provide plenty of excitement. I view Floyd as someone who moves a lot, in order to be where his opponent can't land two consecutive punches, and to allow him to land his shots at will.

Running against Hatton would be a serious error. Floyd will need to maintain a correct distance between them for large segments of each round, and make Hatton pay for violating his space. Easier said than done! However, based on the Collazo fight, it seems likely that Mayweather would be able to do that -- if Collazo could do that well at Hatton when Ricky was at about 75%, Floyd should beat him when Ricky is 110%.

[TSIAS]

12. I call bullshit on Mayweather

He was never "retired". I'll admit that I'm not fond of PBF, and that I'll root for any fighter against him. However, it's absurd for him to say that he's retired. He's on break until someone offers him a good payday to come back.

I wonder where the fight will happen. I don't think Mayweather is a big enough attraction to carry an American PPV on his own. The big bucks would be over in Britain for a Hatton homecoming.

I know where you are coming from in regards to Hatton referee Mickey Vann. It's incredible that any boxing commission let him referee so many of Hatton's fights. Mayweather will definitely call for a referee from a neutral country.

[H2O Man]

13. In his defense,

even before fighting Oscar, Mayweather said he was going to retire. He said that being retired would include kicking Hatton's behind in England, because he did not consider doing that to be engaging in an actual fight.

I suspect that will not be viewed in a positive manner by those who are not fond of Pretty Boy Floyd.