McGirt says Gatti could fight Hatton in Manchester

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4615105.stm Cotto & Gatti up for Hatton fight By Ben Dirs Superb Hatton shocks Tszyu Our man in Manchester's verdict What now for Hatton? The trainers of WBC champion Arturo Gatti and WBO title-holder Miguel Cotto say their men would love a unification bout with new IBF king Ricky Hatton. "Hatton-Gatti would be a good fight for boxing," Gatti's trainer Buddy McGirt told BBC Sport. Cotto's father Evangelista said: "It has to happen. We don't know when, but think it's going to happen next year." WBA champion Vivian Harris has also challenged Hatton, who claimed the IBF belt by beating Kostya Tszyu. Neither Gatti nor Cotto's trainer ruled out the possibility of fighting Hatton in his home town. "I would go wherever Arturo wants to go. If Arturo wants to go to Manchester, I don't see a problem," said McGirt. He proved to be one of the best fighters in the world and our division is definitely the strongest in boxing WBA champion Vivian Harris: "It's not a problem that Hatton stays in Manchester. He works hard and he's fought everyone that they've put in front of him." Cotto snr added: "Anything is possible. It all depends on the situation." Guyana's Harris told Fightnews.com: "I definitely would love to fight Hatton in a unification bout. "He proved to be one of the best fighters in the world and our division is definitely the strongest in boxing." Meanwhile, McGirt and Cotto snr have baulked at Ring magazine's assertion that Hatton is now the division's undisputed champion. "I always thought a lot of Ricky Hatton," said McGirt. "But Hatton's got to beat Harris and Arturo before he can claim to be the undisputed light welterweight champion." The ideal fight for the fans would be Hatton v Mayweather Cotto snr said: "Miguel was surprised that Hatton beat Tszyu. He expected Tszyu to dominate the fight. "But the Ring's decision to call Hatton the undisputed champion doesn't mean anything. "The real truth will come out in the ring, that's why all these matches are being organised - to have a real champion at the end of the road." Gatti must beat former lightweight king Floyd Mayweather on 25 June before he can start preparing for a unification bout with Hatton. And the 33-year-old Canadian is a big underdog against the unbeaten Mayweather, who is considered to be one of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters. Undefeated Puerto Rican Cotto meets Uzbekistan's Mohamad Abdulaev, who beat him to the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics, on Saturday. Harris defends his belt against Colombia's Carlos Maussa on the undercard of Gatti-Mayweather.

Comments (15)

Gatti will soon be in a wheelchair. Will McGirt be there to change his diapers?

20y ago

the_truth_1984

Out of Harris, Cotto, and Gatti the easiet of the three to beat is Gatti who is no doubt at the downside of his career.I don't care about the Maussa lost I understand he tired himself out trying to get the ko against the hard chinned Maussa.Harris is still a tough fight for anyone at 140.The two fighters I want Hatton to face are Cotto and Castillo.IMO they would both be barn burners and lots of body punching which I love.

20y ago

joker8937

Who does Mcgirt think he is???? He's a trainer and like freddie roach has no say in where the fights will be held. Team Gatti is to smart to have a fight outside the states.

20y ago

Gio

I would love to see this fight. Gatti wins though, because he can brawl and box.

20y ago

adrsan84

Gatti wont beat Mayweather so there will probally be no Hatton/Gatti fight. yup, if Gatti doesn't get past Mayweather, Hatton would look bad taking a fight versus him with all the other viable opponents who are available. Although it would probably make for one hell of a fight.

20y ago

Bad_Intentions

Gatti would cream Hatton, that's my word.. :confused: I doubt it

20y ago

sonofisis

Gatti would cream Hatton, that's my word..

20y ago

Bad_Intentions

Gatti wont beat Mayweather so there will probally be no Hatton/Gatti fight.

20y ago

neils7147933

I think that there's a new champ, and all the contenders within one or two weight classes are wanting to say they'll fight him while he's hot. Likely, he'll fight Juan Urango or another IBF contender before he fights someone big. I think he wants a Manchester defense before he risks his belt against tougher competition... Mayweather, Gatti, Cotto - all HBO fighters. Don't know about all those guys getting togehter. Corrales makes more sense from a network standpoint; Harris would be a good unification opponent.

20y ago

elveiel

Castillo, Corrales, Mayweather, Mayweather, Tszyu, Gatti and Cotto are all bigger fights than Harris. I'm really gald that chumps gonna get shut out like he shut Hatton out. The WBA's a good belt but why would anyone deal with Harris when there are 3 other champions who bring big money to the table. On the Gatti subject, i'd like to see Hatton vs Gatti in Manchester but i'd be happy with NJ, anywhere as long as they fight. It would be the most entertaining fight at 140.

20y ago

TheBrownBomber22

I think Cotto is a more dangerous opponent than Floyd. Floyd is small at 140lbs and he can't hit very hard. If Ricky was able to walk through Kostya Tszyu's shots then he'll be able to walk through ANYTHING that Mayweather can throw at him. And then Ricky will hammer the body. Cotto hits very hard, you can see that from the way that the other fighters react when hit by him. I'd be a lot more nervous if Ricky was matched up with Cotto. Cotto would definetley be a tough fight 50-50 I think but would love to see it and he could win it.With Floyd you're right he's not a hard hitter but he won't be flat footed like Kosta, Floyd wouldn't be there to be hit,he'd use Rickys aggresiveness against him and probaly school him for 12 rounds,it's just a fight I can't see Hatton winning imo.

20y ago

TheBrownBomber22

I'd still like to see Hatton v Harris after Hatton v Gatti.Actually my order would be Hatton v Corrales,Gatti,Harris,Cotto. And Hatton should stay away from Floyd.Am I getting to ahead of myself :dunno: yeah :D

20y ago

you can say that again , again again, oh you just did :D :D :D just joshin bro!

20y ago

sisforshaq

Yeah but the 22,000 fans that are making Harris's purse of $1.25 million are 100% Hatton fans. Agreed but I guess Harris thought he still is the champ and should get more

20y ago

sisforshaq

Vivian Harris is such a di*khead... He had the chance to fight Hatton in Manchester last summer and was offered $1.25 million U.S dollers but turned the fight down because he found out that Hatton was gonna be earning $2.5 million from the fight, and he said "I'm the champion, I should get paid more!" If I was Hatton I'd tell him to piss off! Incedently, a few months later he offered to fight Miguel Cotto for $50,000 U.S dollers... Where's the business sense in that? Champions usually recieve more for Championship fights, I guesss Harris knew that and didnt want to get what he though was ripped off.

20y ago