Hatton- Judah Loss Doesn't Affect My Plans,

http://secondsout.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/Icon/Item/Hatton_Ricky_belts2005.jpg http://secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=18347 By Ant Evans: World Welterweight Champion Zab Judah's shock loss to Carlos Baldomir in New York on Saturday and the resulting cancellation of Judah's April super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior will not affect Ricky Hatton's plans for a 2006 American invasion. After Judah v Mayweather turned to dust, the feeling in the industry was that American cable giant HBO would immediately shift their focus on making Mayweather v Hatton sooner rather than later. However, the Manchester Hitman's manager and father, Ray Hatton, told SecondsOut Monday (January 9) that his WBA/IBF junior welterweight champion son will not be rushed into a fight with the 'Pretty Boy'. Hatton said: "There'll be more pressure to fight Mayweather now from the Americans because, obviously, there's one less big fight out there for Floyd Mayweather now Zab Judah has lost. But a fight with Mayweather has always been very high up the agenda for us; but we still want one or two fights in America before we get to Mayweather. If anything, Judah's loss has make us even more attractive in the marketplace." But Hatton believes his son needs the experience of fighting abroad before he takes on the super-talented three-division champion Mayweather. He said: "Richard needs the experience of training aboard for a fight for the very first time, getting used to that, he needs to have the experience of doing everything the American television and media will expect him to do, getting used to the different time zones, fighting in front of an American crowd - all that. "And I don't want him to have to deal with all that for the very first time and fight someone like Mayweather as well. Richard isn't a big head, he's got no ego on him, and he will tell you himself that Mayweather is the biggest danger out there for him. That's why he wants to fight Mayweather most of all now he's already beaten Kostya Tszyu, who was the No.1 before Ricky beat him. So, when Richard does fight Mayweather I want Richard comfortable with where he's training and everything else that goes with having a big fight in America." "Let's be honest," Hatton continued. "There's no way Mayweather would come to England to fight Ricky. No chance. I don't think the elite fighters will ever come to England and fight Ricky now. Maybe they would have before the Kostya Tszyu fight but certainly not now. Mayweather has already point blank said he won't come over to Manchester or anywhere in England for the fight so - if we have to go to America for him - then we will be happy to do so but we'll do it when we are ready and not before." Although Mayweather's ruined fight with Judah was for the undisputed welterweight championship, Hatton believes the Hitman v the Pretty Boy is a fight which has to happen. "I'm not sure whether Mayweather will be interested in fighting Baldomir," he said. "I don't think the Americans will be too interested in that, either. Mayweather could pick up a vacant title (the WBA and IBF titles were declared vacant with Baldomir's win, as he didn't pay the sanctioning fee for the Judah fight) and, to be honest, I've got a sneaking feeling that Miguel Cotto will move up to welterweight to pick one of those up as he's dead at the weight in Ricky's division. "But I think Richard will fight Mayweather or Cotto within the year. Richard has always been about fighting the best opponents and now we are calling the shots to a larger degree, promotion wise, that's what will be happening ." Hatton confirmed he has a meeting with Fight Academy Promotions, who put on Ricky's last fight v Carlos Maussa two months ago, later today about extending their relationship. He said: "Up until now Golden Boy Promotions have been the favourites to work with us for the next fight but as I've said I want to keep the association with Dennis (Hobson) and Robert (Waterman) so I'll be very interesting to hear what they've got to say."

Comments (20)

if hatton fights cotto.. hatton is done.. he only fought 2 people that are known for goodness sake... hatton is a dirty fighter...that shyt is'nt going to rock over.... hatton vs mayweather.....easy UD for mayweather...even if hatton puts pressure on him... hatton vs cotto.. stoppage due to cuts all over rickys face.. within 7th round hatton vs anyone in USA= he loses all his belts that he has earned or gets DQ ill take a 5 mil bet with you on hatton vs cotto. Cant you see hes chinny and making 140 is killing him :D im a huge fan of cotto by the way but feel hes been shown up in his last few fights hes getting less and less impressive

20y ago

TheEvilSaint

i was never looking forward to a hatton/judah fight. but im still looking forward to a hatton/mayweather fight. hatton by TKO.

20y ago

biglynch

^you already have an no if you read my posts i said mayweather hatton would make a great fight not sure of the winner though

20y ago

Undefeated

damn cuz jump off mayweathers nuts itz disgusting :eek: Im not going to even respond to your stupid comment :bottle: are your trying to say hatton would beat floyd???

20y ago

biglynch

il take points!!! to all who think hatton and beat cotto.... hatton hatton hatton.. thats all i hear from all of ya..saying he has a chance to beat floyd.......HA!!! no one is going to beat floyd in that division...NO ONE!! he is the best fighters in the worlddamn cuz jump off mayweathers nuts itz disgusting :eek:

20y ago

Undefeated

20y ago

biglynch

hatton would beat cotto not sure bout floyd it would make a great fight huge box office !!!!

20y ago

guru

i'd take hatton over cotto, but not floyd... castillo would be a coin flip, but i like hatton's chances...

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm If they fightm you and I will have to bet. It would be a close fight I think, which makes the bet more interesting.

20y ago

theironone

id pick hatton over cotto by late stoppage, un dec over castillo and to lose by points to PBF. Cas has stated he wants to beat chico again then fight cotto for the 140 wbo belt so hatton could fight the winner out of that

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm Roy was a brawler in the ams as well, that doesn't tell what you naturally are though. People change when they go pro. Ams require a higher pace of fighting. Either way, no one has really been clearly successful at slowing down the pace and moving in and out vs Castillo aside from Floyd. Hatton's skills on those terms do not match up with Floyd's. If you watch Castillo vs Corrales II, you will see it is Castillo that was moving in and out vs Chico.

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm Ricky would outbox Castillo just like Corrales did...in his mind. There are two impediments for Ricky if he would try to outbox Castillo. 1) Hatton is a natural brawler, and eventually he will scrap with Castillo just like Corrales did. 2) Even if Hatton somehow manages to stay on the outside, he will not outbox Castillo. As far as pure outside boxing skills are concerned, Castillo has already shown that stuff does not work against him vs guys with equal or higher boxing skills than Hatton.

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm Its clear from the statement that Hatton's father talks alot of sense. Ricky has a good, intelligent man guiding him. LOL..if it was Roy Jones you'd say they were ducking... But anyway...Hatton has a good chance to beat Cotto, Floyd, and Castillo. I'd only pick him with confidence over Cotto though. Cotto is just the type that could be overwhelmed by Hatton's style. Castillo is just too fuckin tough to get blown away by anyone. Floyd has all the skills to pay the bills, and when you look at hus clear win vs Castillo in their rematch, it makes you think Floyd has the answers to beat Hatton. I'm the first to admit Floyd lost the first fight vs Castillo, but you can't judge him on that alone. He proved he can deal with a guy like that in the rematch. Floyd close UD Hatton Hatton TKO5 Cotto in a war Castillo TKO9 Hatton on cuts

20y ago

MickyHatton

Hatton's camp are doing the right thing, Ricky doesn't have to go after Mayweather or Cotto from the get go becuase he is the No 1. I think he will fight Gatti then probably a mandatory defence or two before moving on to the huge fight towards the back end of next year. As for him being dirty LMAO he is no more dirty than the opponent he faces, Tzsyu hit him low on several occasions before Hatton returned the compliment, Maussa did evey trick in the book including sticking his thumb in Ricky's cut. I have seen 95% of all Ricky's fights and believe me when I say he is NOT DIRTY. Ricky is a rough in your face type fighter who fights to his strengh's, I truly believe that he will beat Gatti, Cotto, Castillo, Corrales (should these fights ever happen) but Mayweather may be a different proposition, although I also believe that Ricky would Mayweather prove his skills and his heart and if either were lacking then Ricky would beat him!

20y ago

S0UTHPAW

I dont mind waiting alittle while longer for a Mayweather-Hatton megga fight aslong as they both stay busy. I do not blame Hatton for taking a few fights in the U.S. first, the exposure will even out some of the home country advantage for Mayweather. As far as Cotto goes. I have really earned respect for Cotto and his heart and will to win, but for his sake, he needs another good fight or two against good comp before he steps in with Hatton. You can call Hatton dirty all you want, it does not matter unless the ref in question thinks its dirty, and I have seen alot worse in the states. I think Cotto should up his game for the next year or so but not reach for the top yet. He should try and fight the winner of Mayweather-Hatton in a year or so.

20y ago

deuce_drop

I think that Hattons camp has the right idea about taking it one step at a time to get adjusted. it might not be what people want but then again no one really looks into the best interest of the fighter. I say it a good move, that way there will be no excuses if he does have a bad outing. I want every fighter at their best when they step into the ring, not only for me, but for them too. it makes no sense to rush into things and not be a 100%. confidence is one thing, i think Hatton has tons of that, but being prepared is another and i think he should be prepared to the fullest before fighting on the big stage. that way nobody can have excuses fans on either side or fighters on either side...win or lose....it's the right approach to take.....

20y ago

magus1234

what happened in the Tzu fight that would prevent fighters from going to EU?

20y ago

eazy_mas

Hatton is not ready for Mayweather. Nobody is ready for Mayweather he is still too good for the competition. The only way Mayweather losses if he had problems that is admistrative or with the coach.

20y ago

Undefeated

Neither of you are giving any of these guys the respect they've earned. Do I think Hatton can beat Mayweather? no. I do think it would be an entertaining fight, but Mayweather's just too quick for him. Hatton-Cotto on the other hand could be a definite fight of the year candidate. Hatton is very aggressive, and that leads people to believe that he is a dirty fighter. He can be considered somewhat dirty, but I think that is attributed to his competitive nature. He showed the world that he is a true champion in the Tszyu fight, but I don't think he can handle Mayweather. I would love to see the fight, but I think a bout with Cotto would be a spectacular fight. I think Hatton would beat Cotto if he fought like he did against Tszyu. if he fought the same way he fought tszyu?? you mean the low blow?? if cotto fights this fight he would not fight like tszyu did...that would change the way the fight was.its like you comparing tyszu to cotto. hatton will face a good boxer when he steps in with cotto. a boxer with good power... which will lead to a stoppage by cuts,of even better a 7th - 9th round tko for cotto..

20y ago

leroy_brown

i dont think ricky can beat floyd, but i think it will be a good fight..ricky is game, and a non stop type, but floyd will have his number..he fought well against kostya, but he couldnt put him away, kostya was shot by rd 6..absolutely gone...but it took his corner to stop him, not ricky..i think he would walk thru zab in a few rds, and same with baldimor..but floyd will beat him, and i think kostya would school him in a rematch.

20y ago