Hatton: "I'm No John Ruiz"

[Tha_Greatest]

im starting to hate hatton just like floyd if this crap continues

you truly are a niceguy

[potatoes]

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.

I hope Castillo is ready for all the hugging and kissing. Hatton might claim he ain't no Ruiz, but he can't change what is on the videos.

[majestiC]

Jesus christ i havent seen this interview anywhere, Sin has made this up

[TheEvilSaint]

hatton has been hugging a lot in his last two fights. i agree, hes no john ruiz. ruiz has made a career out of hugging and shows no intention of changing his style.

ruiz does nothing but hug. ricky has a much deeper repertoir (spelling?). at least ricky can box, punch, go to the body, move around, and make a fight exciting.

ruiz can't, period.

[denboy]

WOW he really needs help if he made this up. To go to the trouble to write it is pathetic. This obsession he has with hatton has is more than just about hattons boxing....

[hugh grant]

I think Ruiz forgot he was a hugger against RJJ and tried to box him. IF RUiz had of hugged RJJ, it would of winded RJJ and make him gasp for air even more than a Ricky Hatton body punch would have done.

[squealpiggy]

I hope Castillo is ready for all the hugging and kissing. Hatton might claim he ain't no Ruiz, but he can't change what is on the videos.

A lot of people have tried to change what's on the videos by claiming hugging in situations where the clinching was limited.

[$iN]

hatton has been hugging a lot in his last two fights. i agree, hes no john ruiz. ruiz has made a career out of hugging and shows no intention of changing his style.

ruiz does nothing but hug. ricky has a much deeper repertoir (spelling?). at least ricky can box, punch, go to the body, move around, and make a fight exciting.

ruiz can't, period.

Hatton has taken the hugging to another level recently...

[Mozza]

Hatton has taken the hugging to another level recently...

You are quite possibly the biggest ****ing moron on this board and you are not short of competition for that crown either.

[AntonTheMeh]

You are quite possibly the biggest ****ing moron on this board and you are not short of competition for that crown either.