Ricky Hatton thinks he should go to the Hall of Fame with...

http://secondsout.com/news/index.cfm?ccs=534&cs=21474 Hatton targets Hall of Fame win One legend down... (Mr Will) Ricky Hatton believes the 2007 will be the year where he books his ticket to the Boxing Hall of Fame. If every boy who laces the gloves dreams of becoming a world champion, world champions dream of the institution in Canastota, New York. At present, Scot Ken Buchanan and Ulsterman Barry McGuigan are the only Britons to be inducted in the Hall of Fame while still drawing breath. But Hatton believes his next fight – should he win - will at least entitle him to consideration from Canastota. At a press conference in his hometown of Manchester Monday, the Hitman confirmed his June 23 clash with Mexican icon Jose Luis Castillo at the 17,000 capacity Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, and Hatton vowed a win worthy of remembrance. “I’ve taken some criticisms for my last performance,” Hatton said of his easy but somewhat unsatisfying decision over Juan Urango last month. “But in any long career you can’t expect to be at your very, very best every single time. And Jose Luis Castillo is a fight where both of us will have to be at our absolute bests if we don’t want the sh*t kicked out of us. “I don’t take a backwards step and neither does he so I think this fight will be one of the best in a good few years.” Hatton, 42-0 (30KOs), admitted that the former two time lightweight king was perhaps the biggest challenge of his life. However, the two-division world champion and reigning IBO junior welterweight champion added that he is relishing mixing it with another pound-for-pound talent. He said: “I’ve beaten one legend in Kostya Tszyu and instead of fighting old men, has-beens or whatever, I then fought other champions in my next three fights. I think beating the likes of Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo and Juan Urango does look good on my CV. But I think beating Jose would be just as good as the Tszyu win and I think it will be an even bigger and better fight. “When I beat Kostya Tszyu I beat one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and Jose undoubtedly falls into that category as well. You become a great fighter by fighting great fighters and Jose is one of them. “If I win in June, I think I’ll have justified myself as a Hall of Famer, although I leave that decision to others.”

Comments (20)

This is why I really like Lennox. He did what he had to do in England, left, and took care of business in America. Lennox made his name on the other side of the Atlantic though.

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

What the hell are you talking about? Exactly when was Jones prepared to fight him? Never. Exactly when was Calzaghe prepared to fight Jones? Always. Calzaghe wasn't prepared to move up to fight at light-heavy unless it was against Jones, Michalczewski, Tarver or Johnson. Maybe he was wrong, but look - he's still undefeated, he's still world champion, and he's now on the verge of the big American paydays. Jones was always prepared, but the MONEY was in America. You don't tell a fighter like Roy Jones Jr. to go to England to fight Joe "nobody knows" Calzaghe. And who is Joe going to fight now? This is why I really like Lennox. He did what he had to do in England, left, and took care of business in America.

19y ago

Run8964

Hatton beat an all-time great who was coming off his career-best performance and was considered 'lb4lb #1' - nobody gave Ricky a chance beforehand, yet he made the great man quit on his fucking stool while leading on all three cards. That was a legendary fight, wasn't it? Calzaghe has only ever been an underdog once in his career, and that was against a Lacy who for me looked like absolute shit every time I saw him (Wiggins, Vanderpool, Reid, Pemberton). Yes what he did to Eubank was insane and spectacular, but it was only on British PPV at 2 in the morning and it was Eubank who made all the headlines not Calzaghe (taking the fight at 11 days notice beforehand and losing 20lbs in seven days, and for his brave effort afterhand), and they don't even know who Eubank is in America, as amazing as that seems (the HOF is US-based, right?). The Sheika, Brewer and Mitchell wars were good, but not really HOF stuff. He could get in on the Lacy fight alone though, for the sheer performance or whatever. I don't know. Knocking a Mitchell with a bum knee out was by no means KT's best career performance. And that was after a 2 year layoff, where everyone kind of interjected him back into the P4P rankings. You must have missed Lacy's fights against Rubin Williams, Onwar Oshana, and let me remind you....he was the first person to ever stop vanderpool or Reid. He was a wrecking ball force..... Oh yeah right......the Eubank that fought Calzaghe was a shell of the Eubank that could be considered a threat to Calzaghe. I don't think that had anything to do with Calzaghe being spectacular....more Eu being washed up. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

19y ago

Mick_Hucknall

He was,he was a big name who alot of people thought would beat Calzaghe and now American fans know Calzaghe and what he is capable of

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

That's just ridiculous. Lots of reports said Joe was really nervous leading up to the fight. Maybe I am wrong, but from a distance, it seems Joe was backed into a corner, and what happens to any animal when it is backed into a corner? He fights back. Joe wasn't pressured to fight Jones Jr., that is why he didn't fight him. I think Joe needed to be in more pressure sitiuations in order to be at his best. That's why I would of thrown him to the wolves in New York when he was still in his 20's. Joe might not like the "Star" aspect of Boxing celebrity, but he could of easily been a "Star" But hey, I could see why somebody doesn't want to be a "Star", it can really suck. It is just hard to fight "Stars" and not become one yourself.

19y ago

Mik

I'm only go by what he's been saying in interviews over the past 12 years. Great, you want an unbiased opinion so you go and listen to the person himself. I've listened to Calzaghe interviews, the stuff Frank Warren says, the things other professionals like Barry McGuiggan have said about Calzaghe and the type of person he is. Seems to give me a broader spectrum of what Calzaghe is like as a person than listen to him talking about himself. Maybe I should act like I'm the authority on the subject and start telling you how much crap you're talking.

19y ago

Mik

Well then somebody has been feeding him the wrong info. Seems Lennox knew what to do. How come so different? How come everybody else around the World gets it, but Joe? Oh, and Darius Michelacantspellhisnamsky Wlad and Vitali didn't get the same memo as Joe. Wlad and Vitali were making big money over in Germany, but decided to build themselves up over here as well. Undoubtedly. I dont think that Joe has done his career the credit it no doubt deserves by being obstinate at his peak about certain things. Its different with people like Lennox though, different person, different time, different weight. How often do you ever see Calzaghe getting into brawls with people on TV? How often do you even see him on TV. His career isnt over though, its coming to its big years now, so he needs to make more of an effort now. Effectively he's not doing the things he should've done 5 or so years ago.

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

Frank should of sent Joe to New York way back. Joe could of been big. Some people just need to be pushed in the right direction. I don't think Joe really wanted to fight Lacy, but I think Joe knew he had no choice, so he fougt him and he stepped up.

19y ago

Mik

Sorry but that's crap. Calzaghe has dedicated his life to boxing, and he never expected to be in boxing beyond the age of 29. Yes Calzaghe wants and deserves the big American paydays more than anybody (his total career earnings so far = £4mill, which is crap for one of the most talented at his profession on the planet), which is why he'd have fought Jones for nothing - it would of opened the floodgates for him over there, even in a losing effort. Who are you? His Dad? You have your informed opinions of what has happened to make him not get into the biggest fights at one time or another, I have mine. Neither of us know for certain, so quit acting like you're the authority on it.

19y ago

Tysonisgod

I think beating the likes of Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo and Juan Urango does look good on my CV no it doesnt carlos was a lucky punch champ and made him look bad, collazo was untested and unproven and made him look bad, and he ran and held against urango who was very raw and unproven what does this mean in his boxing cv nothing lol

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

Not a woman, just a publicity shy home-town guy. Its easy to ignore the politics of boxing when you are the top guy and can do whatever you want. Calzaghe was never comfortable with being a star, it seems he always felt that he shouldnt have to go to America and fight a couple of bums, lick some network guy's backside and press the flesh. His title credentials and his talent should've gotten him the fight. He's only recently become a little more forward-thinking in his attitude towards publicity. Well then somebody has been feeding him the wrong info. Seems Lennox knew what to do. How come so different? How come everybody else around the World gets it, but Joe? Oh, and Darius Michelacantspellhisnamsky Wlad and Vitali didn't get the same memo as Joe. Wlad and Vitali were making big money over in Germany, but decided to build themselves up over here as well.

19y ago

Mik

WTF, is Joe a women? So you deal with it with your fists. You tell yourself that you will KNOCK OUT JONES, get your respect. If Jones wants a rematch, the ball is in your court. Not a woman, just a publicity shy home-town guy. Its easy to ignore the politics of boxing when you are the top guy and can do whatever you want. Calzaghe was never comfortable with being a star, it seems he always felt that he shouldnt have to go to America and fight a couple of bums, lick some network guy's backside and press the flesh. His title credentials and his talent should've gotten him the fight. He's only recently become a little more forward-thinking in his attitude towards publicity.

19y ago

cotto1p4p

Yeah but he has a very simlar body build to Cotto so I don't see a problem with him fighting at 147, don't say you should be a HOF when you don't want to fight the best.

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

You realise that there's also MANY great fighters who never even attempted to become two-weight champions? Let alone successfully accomplish it. Yes this is true, but I am only asking him to fight fighters that used to be lighter than their current division, like COTTO and Shane Mosley. A fight with Oscar would be nice also. Shane and Oscar aren't exactly in their primes, but Cotto is. Either way, fights and wins over them will get him into the Hall of Fame.

19y ago

Mik

That's a load of rubbish. He said time and again he'd fight Jones any time, anywhere and any place. All boxers say that. Joe also says that he considers the money to be one of the most important parts of boxing for him. I can well believe him going in a huff about it because he wasnt offered a fair take against Jones. I dont believe that he would duck Jones or anyone else, but to believe that, you also have to believe that his ego which thought that he should be considered just as highly as his American counter-parts has certainly gotten in his way more than once when it comes to fight negotiations.

19y ago

Benny_Leonard

Hm, thats one interpretation of it. Another is that Joe doesnt like the spotlight and it has taken a lot of time and talking into it for him to finally decide to try and make it in America. For the longest time Joe was considered a very credible champion and didnt see why he had to sacrifice all of the advantages to take on Jones where Jones had all the cards and didnt have to give any of them up. That is the 'ego' problem that held him back more likely than the fact that he never wanted Roy in his prime or any fear of losing. Calzaghe has never legitimately lost in his amateur nor pro career, I dont think the he has much fear of losing because he doesnt know anything about it. Its much more likely that he simply went back in his shell because he didnt feel he was being dealt with fairly. WTF, is Joe a women? So you deal with it with your fists. You tell yourself that you will KNOCK OUT JONES, get your respect. If Jones wants a rematch, the ball is in your court.

19y ago

Mik

He thinks he's a HOF and he refuses to move up to 147 and fight Cotto. If you're so good why don't you want to step out of your comfort zone and fight the best. Many great fighters have "blown themselves up" and fought in division they shouldn't be fighting. DeLahoya, Trinidad, Mayweather, Holyfield, Toney, etc....all this guys have recently fought in a weight class that is no theirs to be able to land the big fights. But no Ricky gets a scare against Collazo and he runs back to 140 and his group says they'll never fight at 147 against a natural WW like Cotto. Man up and stop talking so much shit, Castillo has nothing left on his tank, he'll just be a name on your resume because any boxing fan can tell you he is ay past his prime!!! You realise that there's also MANY great fighters who never even attempted to become two-weight champions? Let alone successfully accomplish it.

19y ago

cotto1p4p

19y ago

Mik

Hatton beat an all-time great who was coming off his career-best performance and was considered 'lb4lb #1' - nobody gave Ricky a chance beforehand, yet he made the great man quit on his fucking stool while leading on all three cards. That was a legendary fight, wasn't it? Calzaghe has only ever been an underdog once in his career, and that was against a Lacy who for me looked like absolute shit every time I saw him (Wiggins, Vanderpool, Reid, Pemberton). Yes what he did to Eubank was insane and spectacular, but it was only on British PPV at 2 in the morning and it was Eubank who made all the headlines not Calzaghe (taking the fight at 11 days notice beforehand and losing 20lbs in seven days, and for his brave effort afterhand), and they don't even know who Eubank is in America, as amazing as that seems (the HOF is US-based, right?). The Sheika, Brewer and Mitchell wars were good, but not really HOF stuff. He could get in on the Lacy fight alone though, for the sheer performance or whatever. I don't know. Records need to be giving more credibility in boxing. Calzaghe's title-reign ought to be impressive enough to get him a place in the Hall of Fame, especially as it isnt like Otke's title-reign and doesnt include multitudes of duff judging decisions and no-name contenders. It may not be the strongest record in terms of depth of opponent, but most of those who do have a stronger record also have a few losses to their name. I think that Hatton and Calzaghe are JUST about even at the moment. Joe could pull ahead within the next year or two, but ultimately I think that Hatton will level up.

19y ago

Mik

Yes, this way of thinking would have Jones never moving up from 160-68-75-Heavyweight.:rolleyes: Ego is what made Jones move up and yes, I guess "Ego" (in losing), is what made Joe stay down.:D Fighters talk about this and that, who they want to fight, but do they really want the fight? We hear non-stop how Hatton wants Mayweather, but no fight yet. Oh, how much did Hatton want the fight? 10-13 million price tag, according to Mayweather. Frank Warren new better than to put Joe in a fight with Roy in his prime. If Joe wanted the fight, all he had to do is come to the States and make a name for himself. Lets face facts: Eventhough they say "Skin color plays no effect these days", they really do. Joe and his "Light Skin" would get himself a shot at Roy Jones Jr. Hm, thats one interpretation of it. Another is that Joe doesnt like the spotlight and it has taken a lot of time and talking into it for him to finally decide to try and make it in America. For the longest time Joe was considered a very credible champion and didnt see why he had to sacrifice all of the advantages to take on Jones where Jones had all the cards and didnt have to give any of them up. That is the 'ego' problem that held him back more likely than the fact that he never wanted Roy in his prime or any fear of losing. Calzaghe has never legitimately lost in his amateur nor pro career, I dont think the he has much fear of losing because he doesnt know anything about it. Its much more likely that he simply went back in his shell because he didnt feel he was being dealt with fairly.

19y ago