By Lee Collier
Earlier in the year, a new promotional company formed in the United Kingdom called Hatton Promotions. With a figurehead like Ricky Hatton surely it would be easier to sign boxers, and it was. Early on in the company’s life, they signed established fighters like Ricky’s younger brother Matthew, alongside talented local prospects such as Scott Quigg and World Amateur bronze medallist Joe Murray.
Since then Hatton Promotions have gone from strength-to-strength signing many local prospects tipped for future glories. The cream of the signings was getting British middleweight champion Matthew Macklin, who went onto win a European title in his first fight under the Hattons.
None of this would have been possible without television backing, and with Setanta folding, plus ITV pulling out of boxing, Sky were left as the only option. Hatton promotions managed to get an eight-card television deal with Sky Sports and at present we are now approaching the half way stage.
Whilst Ricky Hatton may be the figurehead behind Hatton Promotions, the business side of things are run by Hatton Promotions CEO Gareth Williams who is always seen side by side with Ricky Hatton at fights or press days.
Boxingscene.com caught up with Gareth Williams to see how he felt the early days of Hatton Promotions had gone, and what the future held.
Williams explained how the concept came for Hatton Promotions and how he felt the company was doing. “The concept of Hatton Promotions was probably born out when we got more involved in the fights out in America, probably the catalyst was when Ricky fought Mayweather two years ago and from there we got the knowledge and experience.
“It’s going very well so far. We always looked at it as a learning curve and we’ve had to learn very quickly. We don’t for one minute think we are the finished article, we are very fortunate to get a Sky deal and we have surprised people with how far we have come in such a short space of time.”
Whilst Hatton Promotions may not have as many top-level fighters as some other promoters, they are not afraid to put on strong undercards and match their fighters in tough and exciting contests. Williams elaborated on the company’s matchmaking philosophy.
“A common theme that has come to me from boxers is that they are not getting the fights, and all they wanted was the opportunity. I have been very fortunate that in recent years I have worked with two of the biggest boxers to come out of the UK, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, so my experiences have been at the highest level, so when we speak to the young boxers they keep saying they are not getting any fights,” explained Williams.
“All we’ve done is look at how popular UFC is, and one of the reasons it is popular is that their fighters will just fight, they are not obsessed with having the zero on their record, and that’s what fans want.”
Williams is in agreement with Ricky Hatton when it comes to UFC. Hatton, a former world champion, has recently stated that UFC is growing and the way it goes about business is helping in its expansion.
Williams is an intelligent business man who realises that to compete with UFC, boxing must go back to the older days when better matches and cards were put on for fans, before the introduction of the alphabet title days.
“The fight we had in Stoke between Cello Renda and Paul Samuels, we fully expected Cello Renda to win that one, he was our fighter and it was seen as a good fight before Cello got his chance at the British title, but full credit to Paul Samuels he took his chance,” said Gareth.
“What it did produce was probably the most exciting three rounds of boxing that’s been in recent times. It’s been on YouTube, they were talking about it on Radio 1 and if we can put fights on that can re-ignite the public’s interest then we think we are doing well,” beamed Williams.
Hatton Promotions philosophy puts them in a position where they are matching two fighters form their own stable, even in non-title fights. An example of this came last Friday when the returning world titleist Michael Brodie faced a former ABA champion in Anthony Crolla. Williams explained how this fight came about.
“We have Michael Brodie who many people think we shouldn’t have given a contract too. He came in and said, ‘I’m back, I know I can do it’, so we give him a tough fight in Manchester [Mark Alexander] where, I have to be honest with you, in the first minute I thought it was all over but he came back and produced an absolute barnstorming performance.
“Anthony Crolla is a young fighter, very talented, but he has had a couple of losses. He didn’t have a promotional deal; he came to us and asked for a chance. He fought on our last card and beat a kid over four rounds. There was no point Michael Brodie fighting a journeyman so what better way to match him than with Crolla.”
Still the stakes were high, a win for either fighter would put them back in the title mix, whereas a loss for Brodie could mean retirement, and for Crolla would seriously leave him with few options and a tough journey back, which is something that Williams agreed on as he expanded on the future for these fighters.
“If Brodie beats Anthony Crolla he can genuinely say I’m back. And if Anthony Crolla beats Brodie he can say I’ve arrived because he’s beaten somebody like Michael Brodie, so be it. It’s a high-risk fight for both fighters but the rewards are high. We have a lot of super featherweights. Whoever comes through this could be pitched against another of our super featherweights. We put Scott Lawton in with Derry Matthews and it really whet people’s appetites. It’s very easy to keep fighters apart and keep padding up their records but the philosophy of the company is we want our fighters to fight.”
Williams was adamant, and he wanted people to know, that Hatton Promotions would stick by their fighters, win or lose. “One thing I would like to make clear is its all good Hatton Promotions having this philosophy of gladiator battles but, with Cello Renda, I spoke to him on the Saturday after the fight and he was desperately upset but I told him he is still in our plans,” explained Williams.
“I am trying to make the rematch with Paul Samuels. It’s no good me saying to boxers, ‘this is the way it is’, and then abandoning them when it goes wrong. First and foremost, boxing is an entertaining sport and we have to give people entertainment to get bums on seats.”
In a short period the promotional outfit has signed many top local prospects. With so many fighters there is a possible reason for matching two of their fighters with each other, as Williams then talked about some of the company’s most exciting weight divisions.
“We already have Matthew Macklin who is the European middleweight champion, we have Martin Murray, who I honestly believe can become the British middleweight champion, you have Danny Butler who fought a very tough fight with Darren McDermott for the English title, there’s Cello Renda - so we have some very good middleweights.”
“I also think we probably have the best super featherweights in the country,” beamed Williams. “All of whom are able to challenge for titles, especially now it looks like Kevin Mitchell will vacate the British title.
“In super bantamweight we have Joe Murray, who is on a steep learning curve, and Scott Quigg, who could become mandatory for the European title. If it’s Sky’s philosophy next year to show British title fights I feel we have a lot of the kids who will be in the mix.”
One rumour going around is a Mayweather-Hatton fight (Matthew, not a Ricky rematch), which Williams briefly touched on.
“There’s Internet talk about Floyd Mayweather fighting Matthew Hatton, now people may find that fanciful but I think it’s a mark of what we can achieve with the contacts we have.”
The younger Hatton brother fought a controversial draw with Lovemore N’dou a few backs in Stoke. In the post-fight interview on Sky TV, Hatton was clearly angry, and when N’dou said a rematch would have to be in South Africa or Australia the reply from Hatton made it clear he had no intention to fight overseas when he felt he was robbed in his own country. Williams gave his take on the fight and a possible rematch.
“I personally don’t think it matters where Matthew fights if he rematches N’dou. He fought in Stoke in front of a great crowd but the judges come from all over the world and the three judges scored it how they saw it. I can appreciate and fully sympathise with Matthew, my own opinion is it was a very tough fight and Matthew won it which is a view shared by many people,” stated Williams.
“Lovemore’s promoter, who I sat next to, shared my views. But that’s the way it was and if you look at the predictions beforehand no one gave Matthew a chance. Lovemore himself labelled Matthew a donkey and yet Matthew performed well and set a benchmark as to his abilities, and if you look at the reactions of both fighters at the end tells the story. You have Lovemore who is elated to be given a draw and Matthew who was bitterly disappointed. With regards to a rematch, it’s difficult to see how it works in the UK but if the money is right I don’t see why Matthew can’t go to South Africa or even Australia.”
Recent weeks has seen increased media speculation over a Ricky Hatton comeback, with a number of opponents being mentioned, the most likely being Juan Manuel Marquez. With all talk of the fight being in Manchester, Williams told BoxingScene.com the official line from Hatton Promotions.
“The official line is that I consider Richard Schaefer a close friend as well as someone we work with. I speak to him every week. I have spoken to him about Ricky fighting Marquez. Marquez would fight over here and I don’t think anybody would be disappointed to see this fight happen,” Williams said proudly.
“What I would like to say is that the fight can only take place if Ricky decides to fight again. Secondly, and more, importantly and there cannot be any doubt about this, Ricky Hatton can only step into the ring if he is 100% prepared, both mentally and physically and I want to put it on the record and categorically say that if Ricky Hatton steps into the ring and is not 100% then no-one from Hatton Promotions be it myself, his dad, or his girlfriend will encourage him to, or support, a fight.”
