Hatton is Not a P4P Level Figher

[The Wire]

Ricky Hatton's last five opponents:

Juan Urango - Columbia
Luis Collazo - USA
Carlos Maussa - Columbian
Kostya Tszyu - Russian Australian
Ray Oliviera - USA

His next opponent is Mexican.

So what do you mean, not a "world" champion?

Absolutely. He is a world champion, he's the linear light welter champ. The Ring thinks so, and they awarded him fighter of the year in 2005, the first British fighter ever to do so. So this bull**** about him not being a world champion is exactly that - bull****

[hugh grant]

Of course Hatton is world class. I am begginning to feel that the person talking BS comments about Hatton may actually be PBF in disguise.

[global_analyst]

Absolutely. He is a world champion, he's the linear light welter champ. The Ring thinks so, and they awarded him fighter of the year in 2005, the first British fighter ever to do so. So this bull**** about him not being a world champion is exactly that - bull****

Only name i recognize from that list is Tyzsu, what is world about Oragotang?. However, i believe that Hatton is a very good boxer at the world level........but just a few notches below elite level

[BigDog9]

man hatton hasnt fought hanyone good yet form the us, no one competitive, castillo will b his test, i say. hattn isnt all that great has people say.. all he does his hold on, and u guys know it.

[Guest]

Ricky Hatton's last five opponents:

Juan Urango - Columbia
Luis Collazo - USA
Carlos Maussa - Columbian
Kostya Tszyu - Russian Australian
Ray Oliviera - USA

His next opponent is Mexican.

So what do you mean, not a "world" champion?

I can name journeymen who have not only fought fighters from around the globe, but fought in their opponents' backyard. Does that make them world class too?

[squealpiggy]

I can name journeymen who have not only fought fighters from around the globe, but fought in their opponents' backyard. Does that make them world class too?

That wasn't my point and you know it.

But these journeymen, have they fought the following:

Juan Urango - IBF Junior Welter champ
Luis Collazo - WBA Welter champ
Carlos Maussa - WBA Junior Welter champ
Kostya Tszyu - IBF and the Ring Junior Welter champ, linear champ at 140, P4P number 3 in the Ring lists, top five for just about everyone
Ray Oliviera - Alongtime fringe title contender but let's be honest, cannon fodder.

If the journeymen you know had fought and beat the above fighters then by all means they could count themselves as world class.

But this post was a counterpoint to the unlikely accusation that Hatton was only a "local" world champion because he fought in his "home town" against "local" fighters. Clearly not the case.

[hugh grant]

I can name journeymen who have not only fought fighters from around the globe, but fought in their opponents' backyard. Does that make them world class too?

Why is it even necessary to say this? PBF dont fight anywhere though apart from America and we dont moan about it or feel the need to mention it. PBF hasnt beaten a name as big as Kostya, but PBF is still rated No 1 in the world and above Hatton, so quit while you are ahead.

[aps214]

The simple fact of that matter is that Ricky Fatton was always allowed to grab and hold excessively in UK for extended periods of time. He won't get away with that in the USA. That's one of the ways he tired his opponents..smaller opponents. Another overhyped Brit! Just watch his expression when the camera panned in on him while he was ringside for Gatti-Mayweather. Just from the look in his face you can tell he didnt want anything to do with PBF.

[hugh grant]

Yeah and if PBF thought in England the ref wouldnt allow PBF to run so much and would want more action from PBF because the ref understands the crowd pay good money to watch and maybe that is why PBF stays and is successful in America?

[Franko]

Going life and death with Luis Collazo, a guy that a 35-year-old Mosley completely outclassed, showed the world that Hatton just isn't a world class fighter. That's why he will never step foot again at 147. He'll retire when he can't make 140 anymore...

Any P4P level fighter should be able to handle moving up one division without a problem. Mayweather has done it many times. Pacquiao has done it many times. Winky had no problem moving up to middleweight and arguably beating Jermain Taylor. Barrera has moved up three divisions. Hopkins even skipped a division at 41 and dominated Tarver. Just over the weekend, Marquez moved up to 122 and beat the RING champion there. The list goes on and on.

If Hatton is a world class, P4P level figher, why did he struggle mightily with a fringe contender like Collazo? Why did he decide not to stick around welterweight and prepare his body properly for the division? Why did Hatton run back to 140 when there are absolutely zero meaningful fights to be made there?

Would you have considered Hatton world class after his performance against Tszyu? Sure Hatton's past few performances haven't been exceptional, but guys you'd probably label P4P don't always perform exceptionally well i.e. IMO Mayweather isn't outstanding everytime...
There is no reason to believe that Hatton will never step foot again at 147! Obviously you have that opinion due to Hatton's performance over Collazo. Personally i believe that Hatton will go back to 147 at some point.
That said, i don't believe there are no meaningful fights for Hatton at 140...
I would say that the Castillo fight is meaningful, and i would personally like to see Hatton in with Witter, but obviously the bigger fights are at 147 i.e. Mayweather, Cotto etc.