Remember When Junior Witter Called Ricky Hatton Out To His Face?

Hatton forced on the defensive again after muted win fails to satisfy critics By Ron Lewis FOR such an exciting boxer, Ricky Hatton has a tough job keeping people happy and Saturday night was no exception. At the MEN Arena, Manchester, Hatton became the first man to stop Aldo Ríos, a tough-as-nails Argentinian who took everything Hatton had to throw at him, getting up off the floor twice before his corner wisely called off the bout at the end of the ninth round. Hatton had not looked great — Ríos’s cagey style had ensured that — but, in his first bout in six months, he had secured a one-sided victory over a boxer who had twice competed for the world lightweight title. But a man stepping up to light-welterweight had been enough to have the critics carping: what about Kostya Tszyu, the world champion, Zab Judah, Arturo Gatti or even Junior Witter? “When I fight the top guys, they will come and try to win, so that will leave openings,” Hatton said. “This guy doesn’t have a mark on him and I now know why: he was very hard to catch. People may start to say this shows I am not a devastating puncher, but it was more a case of finding the punches.” One of the people who was saying the same was Witter, Hatton’s domestic rival, who retained his Commonwealth title with a two-round stoppage of Fred Kinuthia, an old-looking 34-year-old from Kenya via Australia. The pair have long been expected to meet in the ring, but Witter has been rejected by Showtime, the American television network. At least the pair’s relationship has developed. Instead of insulting each other, they now insult each other’s opponents. While Witter now regards Hatton as “one of the world’s best light-welterweights”, Ríos was “just a blown-up lightweight”. Hatton regards Witter as “a very good fighter”, while Kinuthia was “a ten-fight novice”. The route Hatton now takes, though, is riddled with politics. Having been shunted down the queue for shots at the WBC and WBA titles, Hatton’s hopes of a bout for a significant title may now rely on Witter winning the WBO title. Witter is due to face Kelson Pinto, a Brazilian, for an interim version of that title later this year. However, Frank Warren remains certain that Hatton will get all the big bouts he wants and favours a meeting with Gatti, regarded by many as the world’s most exciting boxer. “If the public demand is there, it will happen,” he said. “It won’t take as long as it took to make Lewis-Tyson either.” What is disappointing is that the language being used by Hatton and Warren would imply that they are happy to hold on to the WBU title — for the record, this was Hatton’s tenth defence. Instead of talking of boxing for “real” titles, the pair now talk of “unification”, giving the WBU, which is unknown in the United States, credit it does not deserve. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1164308.ece

Hatton was being broadcast by Showtime. I suppose he should've just cancelled the contract to give us all the Witter "megafight". Hatton put it in his contract with Warren demanding the Witter fight. The fight was scheduled to go ahead when they both fought on the same night at the MEN, American tv was interested and Warren had made plans for the fight. Hatton had a thrilling win over Vince Phillips whilst Witter got rocked and struggled to get rid of Jugen Haeck. Yes maybe you can blame Warren for some of it, not getting it done earlier but Witter has to shoulder some of the blame for completely bottling it and putting in horrendous performances when given the chance to impress No-one is denying the fact that Showtime refuse the fight based on Witter's performance against Judah but thats because Warren was trying to sell it to them so he could make some money from the american market. But the fight could have made million in the UK alone because of Hatton and the fight was big enough for us not for american, Haye v Maccarinelli was for us not american audience, I dont blame Hatton entirely for the fight not happening but people saying he didnt didnt duck Witter are incredibly biased especially when you know the entire story behind it.

Actually Castillo was ranked 1 by the Ring when he fought Hatton (which was after Witter won the WBC title). There was an article in the Ring commending Hatton for dropping a belt to fight Castillo as it was the two best junior welters going at it. In hindsight, you could say Castillo wasnt the best but hindsight is always 20/20 and at the time, people labelled it an even fight and the one everyone wanted to see. I didn't mention Castillo for that same reason, at the time, he was thought of as a legit threat and was Hatton's 2nd biggest fight to date and I remember HBO really wanting that fight, but Urango and Lazcano weren't. Wait till the Hatton fanatic who only started watch Hatton after he beat Tsyzu come on here and tell you how nobody wanted to see the fight between Hatton/Wtter pre-tsyzu. It was a big fight that Sky wanted to put on at the time but the fight was too risky for Warren to put on. Haha, Warren hates putting in his golden goose with a legit threat. Murray and some other British lightweights are getting the same treatment with Khan.

But the fight was never for the american fans it was a domestic match up for us, Thats my problem with this..I never had any problem with Hatton not fighting Witter after he beat Tsyzu NOT a single problem but before tsyzu Hatton (warren) didnt want the fight because Witter was a risk to Hatton. Amir Khan and Murray are now in the same situation, Warren would make Khan fight Limond or earl instead of Murray just like he let Hatton fight people like Rowland or lightweights like jon thaxton.. Am not fooled. Hatton was being broadcast by Showtime. I suppose he should've just cancelled the contract to give us all the Witter "megafight". Hatton put it in his contract with Warren demanding the Witter fight. The fight was scheduled to go ahead when they both fought on the same night at the MEN, American tv was interested and Warren had made plans for the fight. Hatton had a thrilling win over Vince Phillips whilst Witter got rocked and struggled to get rid of Jugen Haeck. Yes maybe you can blame Warren for some of it, not getting it done earlier but Witter has to shoulder some of the blame for completely bottling it and putting in horrendous performances when given the chance to impress

kingmo04-04-2005, 05:00 PM Gentlemen shall we just get our facts straight here. It wasnt that just that Witters style was the problem. There is more too it that that. Witter jealous at hattons early career promotion as he in the same promoters stable (sports network aka Frank Warren), threw a hissy fit at the fact he wasnt getting as good fights nor as much coverage as the Hitman. Now that is down to crowd pleasing styles, hatotn draws 20 k Junior couldnt draw turds to fly post his Zab judah effort, Im afraid and Junior while he was with SN was contracted to meet hatton. Witter had an acrimonous split with Warren which involved a war of words. So from Warrens perspective do you blame him, and witters do you blame him? No and no, warren doenst want to give witter any help after their fall out and witter basicaly for 18 months of his career until recently has made a noise and impact through calling out hatton. Amazing now he has signed with Golden boy promotions that all of a sudden "Hatton is irrelevant." so there you go, thats roughly what occured, these things arent as simple as one fighter ducking another. :boxing: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not true, Witter was with sports network for a number of years without any problems between himself and Frank warren. Your right he wasn't a draw, however Witter vs Hatton was and still is the biggest domestic fight out there, its the fight the British public wanted to see and still do. Witter vs Hatton would have sold the MEN arena out 3 times over. You mention Hatton ducking Witter, Hatton is not ducking anyone.. however his promoter is, Witter was a risk for Hatton, Warren does not take risky fights or even 50/50 fights for his fighters. He doesn't want to risk losing his golden goose. Just look at Joe Calzaghe, what a waste of a career. Frank Warren is becoming a joke, the only reason the Tszyu fight has been made is because after 38 nobody's, blown up lightweights and over the hill fighters, everyone has had enough; the public demanded it, the media demanded it and most importantly for Warren, Hatton demanded it. http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-32499.html I dont understand how this answered my point......

Maybe Sky did, but America yawned with indifference watching Witter stink out the building against Judah and then struggle with Jurgen Haeck when the Hatton fight was being set up. But the fight was never for the american fans it was a domestic match up for us, Thats my problem with this..I never had any problem with Hatton not fighting Witter after he beat Tsyzu NOT a single problem but before tsyzu Hatton (warren) didnt want the fight because Witter was a risk to Hatton. Amir Khan and Murray are now in the same situation, Warren would make Khan fight Limond or earl instead of Murray just like he let Hatton fight people like Rowland or lightweights like jon thaxton.. Am not fooled.

Ducking Junior Witter? What about witter would possibly make Hatton want to duck him? Besides his big mouth. You dont duck someone and then fight someone better you're supposed to duck them for someone worse I think thats how its supposed to work.This is the truth /thread.

Maybe Sky did, but America yawned with indifference watching Witter stink out the building against Judah and then struggle with Jurgen Haeck when the Hatton fight was being set up. kingmo04-04-2005, 05:00 PM Gentlemen shall we just get our facts straight here. It wasnt that just that Witters style was the problem. There is more too it that that. Witter jealous at hattons early career promotion as he in the same promoters stable (sports network aka Frank Warren), threw a hissy fit at the fact he wasnt getting as good fights nor as much coverage as the Hitman. Now that is down to crowd pleasing styles, hatotn draws 20 k Junior couldnt draw turds to fly post his Zab judah effort, Im afraid and Junior while he was with SN was contracted to meet hatton. Witter had an acrimonous split with Warren which involved a war of words. So from Warrens perspective do you blame him, and witters do you blame him? No and no, warren doenst want to give witter any help after their fall out and witter basicaly for 18 months of his career until recently has made a noise and impact through calling out hatton. Amazing now he has signed with Golden boy promotions that all of a sudden "Hatton is irrelevant." so there you go, thats roughly what occured, these things arent as simple as one fighter ducking another. :boxing: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not true, Witter was with sports network for a number of years without any problems between himself and Frank warren. Your right he wasn't a draw, however Witter vs Hatton was and still is the biggest domestic fight out there, its the fight the British public wanted to see and still do. Witter vs Hatton would have sold the MEN arena out 3 times over. You mention Hatton ducking Witter, Hatton is not ducking anyone.. however his promoter is, Witter was a risk for Hatton, Warren does not take risky fights or even 50/50 fights for his fighters. He doesn't want to risk losing his golden goose. Just look at Joe Calzaghe, what a waste of a career. Frank Warren is becoming a joke, the only reason the Tszyu fight has been made is because after 38 nobody's, blown up lightweights and over the hill fighters, everyone has had enough; the public demanded it, the media demanded it and most importantly for Warren, Hatton demanded it. http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-32499.html

Wait till the Hatton fanatic who only started watch Hatton after he beat Tsyzu come on here and tell you how nobody wanted to see the fight between Hatton/Wtter pre-tsyzu. It was a big fight that Sky wanted to put on at the time but the fight was too risky for Warren to put on. Maybe Sky did, but America yawned with indifference watching Witter stink out the building against Judah and then struggle with Jurgen Haeck when the Hatton fight was being set up.

yes he ducked witter but imo it was out of fear that he would lose & not be the top guy in his country. as long as he didnt fight witter he had the title of being the british top dog.

Bigger fish to fry? That excuse would have worked for a while, but after Witter picked up the WBC strap and #1 Ring ranking it doesn't really hold up. There was a time Witter's name was on doghouse boxing every week calling out Hatton while being the #1. People from the UK were calling for that fight, and in that time Hatton fought Urango and Lazcano. Those are some pretty big fish though so I can't call it. Wait till the Hatton fanatic who only started watch Hatton after he beat Tsyzu come on here and tell you how nobody wanted to see the fight between Hatton/Wtter pre-tsyzu. It was a big fight that Sky wanted to put on at the time but the fight was too risky for Warren to put on.

Bigger fish to fry? That excuse would have worked for a while, but after Witter picked up the WBC strap and #1 Ring ranking it doesn't really hold up. There was a time Witter's name was on doghouse boxing every week calling out Hatton while being the #1. People from the UK were calling for that fight, and in that time Hatton fought Urango and Lazcano. Those are some pretty big fish though so I can't call it. Actually Castillo was ranked 1 by the Ring when he fought Hatton (which was after Witter won the WBC title). There was an article in the Ring commending Hatton for dropping a belt to fight Castillo as it was the two best junior welters going at it. In hindsight, you could say Castillo wasnt the best but hindsight is always 20/20 and at the time, people labelled it an even fight and the one everyone wanted to see.

This man Got in the ring.. with Tszyu, Mayweather, Pacquiao, Castillo and Collazo but he was Ducking Jr Witter??? This is one case.. where I have always defended Hatton in that if I was giving a post fight interview and Witter interrupted like that.. I would not have fought him either.. Sometimes you just don't want to give the other person what they want.. and Fear isn't always the reason..

That's right, Hatton had bigger fish to fry. Bigger fish to fry? That excuse would have worked for a while, but after Witter picked up the WBC strap and #1 Ring ranking it doesn't really hold up. There was a time Witter's name was on doghouse boxing every week calling out Hatton while being the #1. People from the UK were calling for that fight, and in that time Hatton fought Urango and Lazcano. Those are some pretty big fish though so I can't call it.

Damn, I didn't know it was this bad, I didn't know Witter was getting at him since Hatton's WBU days. The guy had a WBC title reign, was #1 jr. welter, and just lost last year. When someone with just a WBU title says you have to sell more tickets and build your name up to fight them, you know he's ducking.

Ducking Junior Witter? What about witter would possibly make Hatton want to duck him? Besides his big mouth. You dont duck someone and then fight someone better you're supposed to duck them for someone worse I think thats how its supposed to work. I don't know who Hatton was fighting that was better than Witter instead, unless you're referring to Juan Urango or the diminished version of Castillo. Witter was a bad style for Hatton no doubt and when you have a cash cow like that, you think twice before jeopardizing the draw.

if Hatton had beaten Witter before Tszyu it'd be a top 3 or 4 win on his resume i don't think he fried many bigger fish

And people like thaxton and rowland had what wins?? Am not going to go down this little road again, Hatton after he fought Tsyzu cant be faulted for not fighting Witter but before he fought Tsyzu warren made sure he avoid Witter. That might be difficult for some of you to get because Hatton is this loveable guy but the risk was there in Witter and they avoid him...Period But your argument is ridiculous. If you want to say Hatton avoided Witter at least use a different time period then 2000 where Junior Witter had just lost to Zab Judah. At least pick a time where in later 01-02 where Ricky was fighting stiffs. You can at least argue that, but that's pretty much null and void when Ricky stepped up in 03 against Vince Phillips.

Because Witter had what noteable wins then????? Who had just lost to Zab Judah in a pitful performance????? And people like thaxton and rowland had what wins?? Am not going to go down this little road again, Hatton after he fought Tsyzu cant be faulted for not fighting Witter but before he fought Tsyzu warren made sure he avoid Witter. That might be difficult for some of you to get because Hatton is this loveable guy but the risk was there in Witter and they avoid him...Period

they figured the risk/reward ratio wasn't favourable whether you call that ducking is debatable Good point S.G., but I never saw Hatton as the kind of fighter who ducks. A guy who is afraid of Junior Witter wouldn't step into the ring with the likes of Tszyu, Castillo and Mayweather who are, let's be honest, so much better than Junior Witter. It was a risky fight and Hatton didn't do those until Kostya. Would be a fun way to end his career though. Yep, if it's ever likely to happen, now is the time. 100% free webcam site! | Awesome chicks and it is absolutely free! | Watch free live sex cam - easy as 1-2-3