Article: Why Hatton Beats Mayweather

Thought you guys might need a good laugh. www.maxboxing.com Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a better fighter than Ricky Hatton. Period. The 30 year old virtuoso has better hand speed, stamina, and skills than the aforementioned Brit, and defensively, Mayweather is simply on another level than the Manchester native. On December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather (38-0, 24 KO’s) will look to evince his superiority to the entire world. In the lead up to the bout (much like the prelude to Mayweather’s May showdown with Oscar De La Hoya), he’ll boast and brag about his own incredible talents while showing no respect for Hatton; on fight night, he’ll enter the ring with cocky music and a flamboyant outfit striped with a “Philthy Rich Records” label; during introductions, he’ll raise his hands high, smile at the crowd, and give Hatton a menacing stare, thinking that this night won’t be any different than the thirty-eight others in which he’s thrashed, thumped, and thudded every one of his opponents. Yes, much will be the same in the Mayweather-Hatton lead up. Mayweather and his diehard followers will have no doubt that the welterweight champ will yet again trounce his foe; most experts will think the same. But on Dec. 8, Mayweather’s reign at the top of the sport will come to an end. The lead up to the fight may be similar to those of past Mayweather bouts, but the result will be far different. Mayweather has made a career of getting inside opponents’ heads. Frustrated pugs of all types have chased the Grand Rapids native hopelessly around the ring, getting picked off with crisp combinations en route to one-sided losses. Ironically, Hatton has already turned the tables in this category. After his four round blitzing of Jose Luis Castillo in June, Hatton insulted Mayweather in a post fight interview. “I think you saw more action in those four rounds than you have in Mayweather’s entire career,” he said in a humble voice. “I’ll leave it at that.” Mayweather immediately became infuriated with the statement. “I’ve tried to let the things he said about me slide by, but now he’s dissing me on national TV and I want to shut him up,” said Mayweather to the media June 26. “I’ve never wanted to hurt an opponent like I do Hatton.” Will the trash talk actually get inside Mayweather’s head on fight night? Probably not. But Hatton (43-0, 31 KO’s) has already thwarted Mayweather’s weapon of mind trickery. Mayweather, who is the self proclaimed smartest fighter in today’s boxing world, won’t be able to mess with Hatton’s head -- the Brit simply won’t fall for it. For the first time in years, Mayweather's mind won’t be an advantage; in fact, it might actually work against him. Mayweather recently announced that he’ll be one of a myriad of celebrities taking part in this fall’s reality series “Dancing With the Stars”. The competition, which begins September 24 on ABC, will be Mayweather’s ultimate downfall in his fight with Hatton. Despite his confidence, no man -- no matter how sure of his abilities -- can feel fully prepared for a fight knowing they spent training camp splitting time between the gym and the dance floor. Mayweather is known to prepare for fights with all of his efforts; practicing dance moves, putting on makeup, and posing for photos will undoubtedly take time away from his training. This lack of full commitment will give Hatton just the edge he needs to take Mayweather out. So how will it happen? Expect Hatton to bang Mayweather’s body in the early going, and put him into submission late. Mayweather may be well ahead on the scorecards going into the final stretch, but those missed hours in the gym will come back to haunt him. Hatton -- a dynamic puncher -- will hit Mayweather anywhere he can, and the latter will eventually break down. Floyd Mayweather is a better fighter than Ricky Hatton. Period. Only Mayweather has erased the period and put in a question mark, leaving his future up in the air. Expect Hatton to blow it away.