RICKY HATTON INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!l!!

Kball1519y ago

Exclusive Interview: Ricky Hatton By Ace Freeman FightFan.com caught up with “The Hitman” yesterday to get the latest on his next fight, a possible clash with Jose Luis Castillo, his desire to Floyd Mayweather and much more! August 24, 2006 FF: Ricky thanks for taking the time to talk with the FightFans at FightFan.com. What are you up to these days? RH: Well my next fight will be on Dec. 9th but that’s a little too far away for my liking. I’d have preferred a fight in October or November but Dec. 9th was the only date that was available. We’re working out in the gym now but the fight is still 15 or 16 weeks away so I’m just staying sharp and getting ready for Dec. 9th. FF: We understand the fight on Dec. 9th will be in Atlanta GA in the US. Is there an opponent solidified for that date? RH: There’s a few in the mix with Oktay Urkal being the mandatory for my WBA welterweight title, and another option being Juan Urango who just won my old IBF title at 140 that I had vacated. FF: So it’s safe to say your next opponent will more than likely be Urkal or Urango? RH: Yes that’s right, and that’s what you’ve been hearing in the media as well. We should be finding out which one it will be in the next week or so. FF: We last spoke to you prior to your last fight with Luis Collazo. Congrats on you win, we had you winning the fight on our score card. I don’t think it’s any secret you choose a very difficult style match up for your first fight at Welter. After the fight with Collazo, can you tell us how you’re feeling about fighting at 147 vs. 140? Which weight do you see yourself fighting more in – in the near future? RH: Well I can still make 140 without trouble. You know I didn’t want to fight at welterweight in the first place but the fight was brought to me and it was a choice between Vivian Harris (who’d just lost to Maussa) and fighting Collazo for the title. With the way Harris had just lost his last fight to Maussa and the fact I’d just knocked Maussa out, that was not a very appealing fight for me. Then there was Collazo and the reason I took that fight was so I could become a welterweight Champion. FF: Tell us about the Collazo fight you just came out of. Was it a more difficult fight that you’d imagined it would be? RH: Well like I said I liked the idea of fighting for the title and becoming a Champion in two different weight classes, but ideally for my first fight in America and in a new weight class you don’t step right up to fighting a Champion. It was a very very close fight. And if you remember I was going to fight Juan Lazcano but he was injured about 5 weeks out from the fight. Normally you grow into a weight division but I ended up moving up with very little time to build my body up to be accustomed to that weight. But Collazo put up a good fight and I don’t think people were giving me enough credit for that fight. I definitely think we’ll be seeing good things from him in the future. While it was a tough fight I felt like I was ahead and I don’t think too many people scored if for Collazo. It was a close fight but I think I had my nose ahead when it was all over. FF: Give us your take on how you felt at welterweight. Collazo is a big guy, but there are guys at welterweight even bigger. With your style of swarming your opponent and exerting your strength do you feel it will be more challenging to fight at 147? RH: Well it’s like I said: most people take two or three fights to grow into a weight division and I had to do it in a manner of six weeks or so. You know to put it into perspective I think Floyd Mayweather is pound for pound the best fighter on the planet and he didn’t fight a Champion in his first fight at welterweight. I think the Collazo fight was a good achievement in fighting a Champion and southpaw in my first fight at welterweight. I might stay at welterweight given that I feel bigger and stronger after fighting there, but having said that I can still make 140. The Collazo fight was really a welterweight Champion fighting a Lt welterweight Champion. I’ve had 41 fights now and I really only want to fight for another two or three years. Whether I fight at Lt Welter or Welter really depends on what opponent I’m fighting and what weight they’re at. FF: Ricky did you use any weights in building up to fight Collazo and can you comment on how that effected your performance in that fight? RH: It was difficult because I only had six weeks or so to do it, but yea I was on a weight training program. I wanted my muscles to be firmer without losing the speed. It was very difficult with the short amount of time and I think with a longer camp I would have had an easier time. FF: I’ve heard rumors a fight between yourself and Jose Luis Castillo has been talked about for sometime next year. Can you comment on that? RH: Yeah, my camp has been in negotiations with Castillo’s camp and we’re very confident we make the fight. When you retire people remember you for the big fights you had and that’s why I’d really like more fights like this. I can do welter or Lt. welter and I think it would be a great fight for me. FF: And for boxing fans everywhere. That has fight of the year written all over it. Castillo has essentially been fighting at 140 for the last year bursting at the seams at 135. He’s a big strong guy and he comes to fight and on the inside. Will this be a case of two forces colliding? Would your game plan be to fight him toe to toe? RH: Styles make fights and I think with me and him you wouldn’t see anything other than a good fight. I’d certainly go toe to toe and at Lt welterweight I feel I’m stronger than anyone else. FF: Ricky lets talk Floyd Mayweather. Last we spoke, you told me a fight with Mayweather would only grow into a bigger event as some time passes and that you’d likely meet down the road. Is Mayweather still a fight you want, how badly do you want it, and when would you envision it taking place? RH: I definitely want the fight against Mayweather, he’s the number one pound for pound fighter in boxing so I really want the fight. But I signed a three fight deal with HBO (Collazo being the 1st in that series) and Mayweather wasn’t part of that deal. The idea was for me to have those three fights in the US so people can see me fight and my name will get built up. We really want the Mayweather fight but it will need to be negotiated. Obviously we’d want to see more money for a fight with Mayweather because the fight would be worth a lot. I’d like to get the 2nd and 3rd fights of the deal with HBO out of the way and fight Mayweather with a clear head. Obviously I’ve had problems going on outside the ring with my former promoters and things like that. I had my debut at welterweight in America and I think a few more fights under my belt would make the fight even more exciting than it already is. FF: Floyd Mayweather has said several times in the press in recent months that you demanded 13 Million dollars to fight him. Was such a fight ever discussed and can you comment on the validity of his statement? RH: I don’t remember saying that exactly, but it was probably something in that region. I think it’s a mega fight worth a lot of money, but that end of it is really up to my father and my team to negotiate. I think it’s a fight people really want to see because people know Floyd moved up to welterweight without fighting the Lt welterweight champion. I think a fight between he and I could be one of the biggest fights to be made in boxing. FF: I know you’re all class Ricky, but I’m going to put you on the spot. Did Floyd Mayweather duck Antonio Margarito? RH: Possibly. I’m not going to say anything derogatory about Floyd Mayweather because I respect him as a person and as a boxer he’s unbelievable. Like a lot of guys he’s careful about what opponents he picks. A lot of guys at the end of their careers like Arturo Gatti and Demarcus Corley. Some of his opponents may have seen better days but they’re still good fighters. Margarito is at the top of his game and I’m not going to say he’s ducked him but that’s probably why the fight hasn’t taken place. He’s been very cleverly matched, but you can’t take anything away from his talent. FF: What do you think of him fighting Carlos Baldomir? RH: Carlos Baldomir is number one at welterweight. Floyd may have something to say about that, but Baldomir did beat Judah when he was the man. He’s the Ring Champion and I think that’s a good fight for Floyd. FF: When will you enter training for your Dec. 9th bout? RH: I will enter camp about 12 or 13 weeks out. FF: Can you tell us what you’re weight is like right now? RH: I’m weighing about 12 Stone right now (168lbs). FF: Anything else you want to say to all of the Hitman fans over here? RH: Just looking forward to fighting in the US again. The last one was a big success and if my next fight is at welterweight expect to see me stronger with more time to prepare and if it’s at LT Welter, you know I’m already the number one guy in that weight class. I’m looking forward to fighting again soon. FF: Ricky thanks for taking the time to talk with FightFan.com, it’s always a pleasure. RH: Cheers mate, we’ll talk to you soon. ----------------------------------------------- http://www.fightfan.com/interviews/0806-Hatton.htm -----------------------------------------------

Comments (20)

cupcrazy01

Who is there at 140lbs, Urango :confused: Vivian Harris that got KO'd by Maussa? There is Castillo and thats it possibly Witter. There is no way you can sit there and argue that jrWW has a deeper talent pool than WW. So yeah it is the kiddy table. Why does everyone assume that Corrales will soon move up? There are more potential big fights for him at 135lbs than there are at 140lbs. At 135lbs he has Casamayor, Freitas, Juan Diaz, Julio Diaz and there are a bunch of 130lbs that could possibly come up in a year or 2 while Corrales is fighting these guys. Castillo and Witter would be two big fights at 140--though I think the Witter fight has to be in England, kind of derailing his US "invasion". I never said or tried to infer that 140 has anything CLOSE to the talent at 147; I was merely pointing out there are fights people would like to see for Hatton at 140, among them Castillo, Corrales and to a lesser extent (except in the UK) Witter. Oh and who's to say someone else won't come up to 140? Corrales has talked over and over again about killing himself to make weight in the wake of both Castillo debacles, and if I recall correctly, he attended the Hatton-Tszyu fight and a fight between Hatton and Corrales was thoroughly discussed for Millennium Stadium...

19y ago

Knicksman20

Hatton does take some subliminal shots at Mayweather & then tries to come across as respecting him. Criticizing his(Mayweather's) competition as of lately & those are some of the same fighters that he wanted to fight; especially Gatti after Mayweather already destroyed him. With Hatton moving back down this will probably be the road block to keep the fight from happening. Mayweather's looking to go up to 154 & then he would have to go back down to 140 to fight Hatton; I just don't see that happening.

19y ago

untouchable

$13million?!!?!?! WTF!!! Talk about ducking!

19y ago

Left2body

With Castillo and Corrales moving up soon, I wouldn't call that a kiddy table. If he fights Urango it would be a joke, but I guess he wants that IBF belt back so the fight with Castillo would be a title fight, even though it already would be a Ring title fight. If Mayweather ever wants to be considered a legit 140-lb. champ, he'll have to come back the kiddy table too. You do make good points about Mayweather's previous weight class jumps. Who is there at 140lbs, Urango :confused: Vivian Harris that got KO'd by Maussa? There is Castillo and thats it possibly Witter. There is no way you can sit there and argue that jrWW has a deeper talent pool than WW. So yeah it is the kiddy table. Why does everyone assume that Corrales will soon move up? There are more potential big fights for him at 135lbs than there are at 140lbs. At 135lbs he has Casamayor, Freitas, Juan Diaz, Julio Diaz and there are a bunch of 130lbs that could possibly come up in a year or 2 while Corrales is fighting these guys.

19y ago

cupcrazy01

Now Hatton will most likely go down to the talent depleted jrWW division because he can't sit at the grown up table and needs to go back down to the kiddy table. With Castillo and Corrales moving up soon, I wouldn't call that a kiddy table. If he fights Urango it would be a joke, but I guess he wants that IBF belt back so the fight with Castillo would be a title fight, even though it already would be a Ring title fight. If Mayweather ever wants to be considered a legit 140-lb. champ, he'll have to come back the kiddy table too. You do make good points about Mayweather's previous weight class jumps.

19y ago

Left2body

The whole point that all parties can now obviously see is that Hatton is the reason why this fight hasn't happend. A lot of guys at the end of their careers like Arturo Gatti and Demarcus Corley. Some of his opponents may have seen better days but they’re still good fighters. Margarito is at the top of his game and I’m not going to say he’s ducked him but that’s probably why the fight hasn’t taken place. He’s been very cleverly matched, but you can’t take anything away from his talent. Cough 35yr old Tzu...Cough Cough 40yr old Vince Philips... Quote cupcrazy01 (3) Hatton makes a good point about Collazo as his first opponent at welter...a respected current title holder on five weeks' notice, whereas Floyd goes the Sharmba Mitchell route (Tszyu's leftovers, of course the same Tszyu whom Hatton made quit) for his 147 debut... PBF has fought tougher competition coming up in weight, he fought Castillo in his first lightweight fight. He fought Demarcus Corley in his first fight at jrWW. Dont think that Hatton actually thought he was getting a hard fight. Hatton thought he had a weak opponent who has no power and would'nt be able to hurt him. Look at Collazo's KO ratio and when was the last time Collazo KO'd someone? Collazo is a good C+/B figher who looked great against Hatton because Hatton doesn't fight that high a level of competition. What good fighter has Hatton beaten that isn't 35years old or older? Now Hatton will most likely go down to the talent depleted jrWW division because he can't sit at the grown up table and needs to go back down to the kiddy table.

19y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Maybe it was the same crew that mugged Super Judah. :p

19y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

The problem with that is he could stay at 147 and still have some nice big fights. I disagree with what your saying because if he fights Urango & Castillo then that would just be 2 fights at 140 that he wasted when he couldve been at 147 the whole time getting adjusted to the weight. You know very well that after those 2 fights he wont jump straight to 147 and fight a Mayweather who will have probally had a fight at 154 by then. He's going to say that he needs a tuneup or 2 at 147 That's an interesting point. If here were to take those fights and then move up to 147 and take a few fights that would be very counter productive. Regardless, the prospect of a Hatton Castillo fight a really exciting one because of the style match ups. I think there's enough interesting fights at 140 he could stay there a while. And if he and Floyd remain undefeated and on the pound for pound list, they can meet without Hatton taking fights at a new weight. Title holders have jumped to face another title holder without a tune up inbetween.

19y ago

DLT

hes not STILL in china i dont think. and how did they get the mugging story if they couldnt reach him in china? it was prolly done on the phone. :D And i think Hatton is just nervous. he says he's only gonna fight for 2 or 3 more years. thats like only 6 more fights. He has to pick his choices right so that when he DOES fight mayweather, he has a better shot at winning. im a big hatton fan, and his fight choice does seem to ligical to me. moving down to 140 for his old belt will raise awareness and importance for a castillo fight, which will then be MORE likely to happen. If he beats castillo then we can be certain he will get a shot at floyd. see what im saying? but i understand why everyone is gettin pissed. he makes it seem like hes ducking and dodging all over the place. im pretty frustrated that he's takin on URANGO or URKAL. i dont wanna watch either... The problem with that is he could stay at 147 and still have some nice big fights. I disagree with what your saying because if he fights Urango & Castillo then that would just be 2 fights at 140 that he wasted when he couldve been at 147 the whole time getting adjusted to the weight. You know very well that after those 2 fights he wont jump straight to 147 and fight a Mayweather who will have probally had a fight at 154 by then. He's going to say that he needs a tuneup or 2 at 147

19y ago

superchamp

Not to question the validity of the interview, but how did they reach out to Hatton when he is currently in China maybe they phoned him? maybe he phoned them? or does china not have telephone service. or maybe he's not in china anymore?

19y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

he could get a shot at Floyd now though. He dont need to beat castillo to get a shot. Im cool with him fighting Castillo, but it aint necessary to fight Floyd, but it is necessary for his legacy! Yes but like several people have said Hatton Mayweather isn't as marketable right now as it could and should be.

19y ago

cortdawg25

hes not STILL in china i dont think. and how did they get the mugging story if they couldnt reach him in china? it was prolly done on the phone. :D And i think Hatton is just nervous. he says he's only gonna fight for 2 or 3 more years. thats like only 6 more fights. He has to pick his choices right so that when he DOES fight mayweather, he has a better shot at winning. im a big hatton fan, and his fight choice does seem to ligical to me. moving down to 140 for his old belt will raise awareness and importance for a castillo fight, which will then be MORE likely to happen. If he beats castillo then we can be certain he will get a shot at floyd. see what im saying? but i understand why everyone is gettin pissed. he makes it seem like hes ducking and dodging all over the place. im pretty frustrated that he's takin on URANGO or URKAL. i dont wanna watch either... he could get a shot at Floyd now though. He dont need to beat castillo to get a shot. Im cool with him fighting Castillo, but it aint necessary to fight Floyd, but it is necessary for his legacy!

19y ago

cortdawg25

I think its been like 1, 2, or 3 more fights until Floyd for about 10 straight fights now. After every fight he says that he needs 2 more fights? Im like, didnt you just say that 3 fights ago :rolleyes: right, Floyd will be 50 before he fights him, LOL, U gotta love it though. he whatn't hating too bad, he was throwing some subliminal disses in between his floyd compliments, u gotta love it.

19y ago

Kball15

Scratch that, Pellulo, his US promoter, just told me he is home. :D called that

19y ago

cupcrazy01

A few things here: (1) HBO does/did indeed want to build up Hatton in the US by taking at least a couple of fights before making a huge PPV with Floyd...and after the Collazo fight, he basically has to start over, which is why Urkal/Urango is such a disappointment. (2) Floyd-Hatton isn't nearly the fight now that it was last year--how's that for irony? At 140 it was THE FIGHT, with the winner and Cotto being the next mega-fight. Now, instead of being built up, it's losing steam, and the weight issue further diminishes it. I don't want to see PBF-Hatton at welterweight (though I will surely take it), I want it at 140. Of course if Floyd beats Baldy, ("if"...that's funny) then he is the man at welterweight and that would help regain some momentum. But the truth is, the fight will probably never be more anticipated than it was LAST year... (3) Hatton makes a good point about Collazo as his first opponent at welter...a respected current title holder on five weeks' notice, whereas Floyd goes the Sharmba Mitchell route (Tszyu's leftovers, of course the same Tszyu whom Hatton made quit) for his 147 debut... (4) Comparing RECENT resumes, Hatton's run of Tszyu/Maussa/Collazo (three straight titleholders) is more impressive than Gatti/Mitchell/Judah (two paper titleholders sandwiched around a shot fighter)

19y ago

BIGPOPPAPUMP

He just got mugged yesterday, according to the UK press, and all of the UK media had to speak to his agent regarding the incident, because he was unavailable. I don't know the time difference, but I would assume the interview had to have been conducted this morning. Scratch that, Pellulo, his US promoter, just told me he is home.

19y ago

BIGPOPPAPUMP

hes not STILL in china i dont think. and how did they get the mugging story if they couldnt reach him in china? it was prolly done on the phone. :D And i think Hatton is just nervous. he says he's only gonna fight for 2 or 3 more years. thats like only 6 more fights. He has to pick his choices right so that when he DOES fight mayweather, he has a better shot at winning. im a big hatton fan, and his fight choice does seem to ligical to me. moving down to 140 for his old belt will raise awareness and importance for a castillo fight, which will then be MORE likely to happen. If he beats castillo then we can be certain he will get a shot at floyd. see what im saying? but i understand why everyone is gettin pissed. he makes it seem like hes ducking and dodging all over the place. im pretty frustrated that he's takin on URANGO or URKAL. i dont wanna watch either... He just got mugged yesterday, according to the UK press, and all of the UK media had to speak to his agent regarding the incident, because he was unavailable. I don't know the time difference, but I would assume the interview had to have been conducted this morning.

19y ago

Kball15

Not to question the validity of the interview, but how did they reach out to Hatton when he is currently in China hes not STILL in china i dont think. and how did they get the mugging story if they couldnt reach him in china? it was prolly done on the phone. :D And i think Hatton is just nervous. he says he's only gonna fight for 2 or 3 more years. thats like only 6 more fights. He has to pick his choices right so that when he DOES fight mayweather, he has a better shot at winning. im a big hatton fan, and his fight choice does seem to ligical to me. moving down to 140 for his old belt will raise awareness and importance for a castillo fight, which will then be MORE likely to happen. If he beats castillo then we can be certain he will get a shot at floyd. see what im saying? but i understand why everyone is gettin pissed. he makes it seem like hes ducking and dodging all over the place. im pretty frustrated that he's takin on URANGO or URKAL. i dont wanna watch either...

19y ago

DLT

when he signedup with hbo i remember reading that hbo dont want the mayeather fight in this agreament and i mentioned it at the time of it happening , and ricky has just remiminded me so it is clearly outta hes hands so stop complaining cause its ommut he has no control over the fight will happen in time and as ive always said ricky hatton will win I dont buy that but either way he still basically admits that he wants a couple of more fights 1st anyway but Im not like most fans. I have no problem with a fighter saying that and I completely understand it but nothing makes me madder then a fighter saying that and then dissing the other fighter in the process. All Hatton says is how he doesnt was to disrespect Floyd but then he always manages to clown him throughout the whole intervies. He talks alot of shit but then tries to act like he's humble

19y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

I don't really have a problem with what he said about wanting to fight Floyd except for the fact he seems to contradict what he's said in the past about moving up to 147 to chase Floyd and that he'd want to fight him in early '07. It is strange that he admits asking for a high purse, but he seems to think the fight is worth that much, and at this point I'm not sure it is. Regardless, I think it's a good move for him to stay at 140 and look to fight Castillo. If Castillo is the 3rd fight of his HBO deal and it's in Vegas, (providing he wins) that will really boost his stock in the US. Especially if it's as exciting a fight as it sounds on paper.

19y ago