By Terence Dooley
Ricky Hatton has labeled Zab Judah’s team a bunch of ‘amateurs’ after they tried to force his brother Matthew - slated to fight Judah in September - to move down to light-welterweight for the proposed contest, this after having made the fight for the welterweight limit of 147lb.
Hatton told The Manchester Evening News that the fight now hangs in the balance. “They are trying to move the goal posts because they know Matthew is a welterweight. They are being a little amateurish,” blasted Hatton.
“And maybe he isn't as confident as he sounds” he continued. “Judah has even been saying he wants to knock me out when he's not even fought Matthew. The fight was postponed the first time through no fault of their own. But now they have offered the same fight and the same deal but at a different weight.”
Ricky hinted that Matthew, 28, has other options, an IBO title fight against Lovemore N’Dou has been in the offing for months now, and there is also a route opening up within the WBA rankings.
“We are not going to wait around forever. There are plenty of other options for Matthew,” claimed Hatton. “There's a possible IBO fight against Lovemore N'Dou or a WBA welterweight chance. We have accepted the fight with Judah and Matthew is willing to go to Vegas a second time. But not at light welterweight.”
Matthew has bounced back strongly from his 2008 Commonwealth title defeat to Craig Watson, notching up wins over Ben Tackie, Ted Bami, and Ernesto Zepeda, the younger Hatton has waited patiently for the big fights to come along, he may now have to wait a little bit longer.
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