Tweet
Las Vegas, NV -- Ricky "Hitman" Hatton is in Vegas finishing up his training camp for what many are calling the biggest fight of his career against rugged Mexican warrior Jose Luis Castillo. Although many of his fans believe Hatton is at the pinnacle of his sport, Hatton has still been the object of criticism from his detractors, including his June 23rd opponent, due to his less than scintillating performance in his one-sided victory over former IBF champion Juan Urango.
"We have looked at some tapes of his fights and know he likes to come forward and that's great because that's what I like to do," said Castillo. "I think Hatton has been exposed as being a relatively ordinary fighter."
The harshest words have concerned The Hitman's excessive clinching, which made the latter half of the Urango fight difficult to watch and have resulted in Hatton being compared to former Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz who is notorious for using this spoiling tactic.
"I'm no John Ruiz," Hatton exclaimed. "With all due respect to Ruiz who was a great fighter, a former heavyweight champion of the world who beat Holyfield, I don't need to rely on clinching to win fights. Anyone who has watched me throughout my career knows that I win fights with aggression, body punching, and I feel my boxing ability is underrated.
"Coming into the Urango fight, I was feeling a bit under the weather so me stamina wasn't completely there and Urango is a strong bloke. I didn't feel it would be to my advantage to battle with him inside. I tried to box most of the fight and only hold when he got too close for comfort. Against Jose Luis Castillo, I know I can get the better of him inside. It will be a war and everyone will see the Hatton they've come to expect."
Castillo is ready for whichever Hatton shows up.
"I saw his last fight and I did think he was afraid to go toe-to-toe with Urango. But I have also seen other Hatton fights and I'm expecting him to come forward and bring the fight to me. Either way, I'm prepared to knock him out."
Let's hope this show, entitled Gladiators, lives up to its billing.
"We have looked at some tapes of his fights and know he likes to come forward and that's great because that's what I like to do," said Castillo. "I think Hatton has been exposed as being a relatively ordinary fighter."
The harshest words have concerned The Hitman's excessive clinching, which made the latter half of the Urango fight difficult to watch and have resulted in Hatton being compared to former Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz who is notorious for using this spoiling tactic.
"I'm no John Ruiz," Hatton exclaimed. "With all due respect to Ruiz who was a great fighter, a former heavyweight champion of the world who beat Holyfield, I don't need to rely on clinching to win fights. Anyone who has watched me throughout my career knows that I win fights with aggression, body punching, and I feel my boxing ability is underrated.
"Coming into the Urango fight, I was feeling a bit under the weather so me stamina wasn't completely there and Urango is a strong bloke. I didn't feel it would be to my advantage to battle with him inside. I tried to box most of the fight and only hold when he got too close for comfort. Against Jose Luis Castillo, I know I can get the better of him inside. It will be a war and everyone will see the Hatton they've come to expect."
Castillo is ready for whichever Hatton shows up.
"I saw his last fight and I did think he was afraid to go toe-to-toe with Urango. But I have also seen other Hatton fights and I'm expecting him to come forward and bring the fight to me. Either way, I'm prepared to knock him out."
Let's hope this show, entitled Gladiators, lives up to its billing.
to your mom..
Comment