Hatton will be Mayweather's toughest challenge

[SkillspayBills]

I agree Hatton will be one of floyd's toughest fights to date. Ricky will be relentless and like Floyd, he doesn't know how to lose. It will be a more exciting fight than people think. It's hilarious how some people are already saying Hatton will add nothing to Mayweather's legacy and are already looking to another fight when earlier people said Hatton could be one to dethrone Mayweather after he beat Kos, the hating amazes me.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Dios Dominicano,
I will bet you $200 that Hatton will not be stopped by Mayweather.
If he is is stopped I'll send you the money..if not , you send it me...
Simple...

Mick.

Please send me a PM, and we can work it.


*******: bernardo712

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

You offer some solid insight of your own, and I agree with every you've said for the most part. I can see Hatton's eyes start swelling up later in the fight but I can't see Mayweather getting a TKO unles he swells Ricky's eyes like Mosley did to Vargas. I also can't see Hatton just giving up on his own, if the fight ends up stopped I don't think it will be his doing.

Do you believe that whoever wins this fight deserves the "Fighter of the Year" award, like me and Dwiens. Or do you think it will be so one sided that giving Mayweather the award wouldn't be possible?

Brinzzy,
If mayweather wins, he is FOTY. If Mayweather loses, and Cotto wins convincingly, then Cotto proly gets it for going 3-0 including wins over Judah and Mosley.

Hatton wins and Cotto loses, Ricky walks with FOTY.

Don't sleep on Pavlik if Kel KO's the undefeated Taylor.

That's kinda how I see it playing out.

[SkillspayBills]

Dios Dominicano,
I will bet you $200 that Hatton will not be stopped by Mayweather.
If he is is stopped I'll send you the money..if not , you send it me...
Simple...

How tough are you, bet money that hatton wins how about that?

[mick66]

How tough are you, bet money that hatton wins how about that?

When have I ever said that I think Hatton will win.
I think it will be a close fight and Mayweather has the edge, but to think Hatton has no chance is rediculous.
Billy Graham says he has a plan for Mayweather , whom he has beem studying for years, (which does not include holding..)
Anyway I have the greatest repect for Graham and think Hatton will fight a very tactical way, against the best P4P fighter out there..and has a real chance of winning..60-40 % for Mayweather...

Chances of Hatton getting stopped....very slim...Hence the bet..
Dominicano..states he will takes bets against Hatton finishing as the fight will not be close....
Well thats confidence for you...

Dominicano..I shall PM you when I find how to..
Stand by..

[Easton Assassin]

The more I think about it and the more I watch of these two guys, the more I think their styles are perfect foils for one another. Let's examine it a bit closer.......

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Undoubtedly the best boxer in the world today, with speed and finesse to spare. Mayweather has built his reputation on being able to utilize his superior boxing skill, speed and counterpunching ability to frustrate and even embarass his opponets. From seasoned pros like Carlos Hernandez, and Jesus Chavez to gritty tough guys like Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales, and even living the living legend Oscar De La Hoya Mayweather's resume is one of the best in boxing today.

Ricky Hatton

Hatton is a legend in his own right in his home town of Manchester England. Hatton has built his reputation on his tough guy mentality and his "take two to land 1" style of boxing/brawling. From seasoned vets like Tony Pep, and Mikhail Krivalapov to to tough guys like Carlos Maussa and Luis Collazo, and even a legend in his own right Kostya Tszyu. Hatton's resume, while lacking in highly recognizable names, is loaded with some tough competition as well.

Records

Clearly Floyd Mayweather Jr has the better record here than Hatton, with a better list of standout names and solid fighters than Hatton's.

Styles

Floyd Mayweather Jr is a masterful boxer and tactician. Mayweather is mainly a "bob and weave" and counterpunching fighter. He uses his small stature to the highest advantage, utilizing his shoulders and torso to avoid contact while maintaining a high level of head movement and faking. Mayweather's speed is second to only Zab Judah's IMO. His counterpunching ability is pinpoint and thrown with laserlike precision. While his jab and hooks are often thrown multiple times to confuse his opponets.

Ricky Hatton is mainly an inside fighter/brawler with a slight bit of boxing ability thrown in on occasion. Hatton is a big puncher for someone in his weightclass and has built that reputation on having a great strategy of ripping the body with vicious hooks, then focusing upstairs almost immediately. Recently Hatton has employed a clinching gameplan in order to get inside and wear the body down on opponets whom he normally may not be able to get inside on very easily.

Fightplan - Mayweather

Mayweather knows exactly what he must do to keep Hatton at bay. He must linger just outside of Hatton's reach, wait for him to fire and then counter him with his straight right hand. Mayweather may decise to fight off the ropes because he's the best in the sport at doing so, but I don't think that would be a very smart move considering Ricky's body work.

If I were Mayweather I would employ a similar gameplan to the one he used on Carlos Baldomir. Mayweather's punches are not going to be able to hurt Hatton, so he needs to employ the strategy he always employs and that's boxer/counterpuncher. Mayweather's strategy in fights is always flawless, so I can't really pick out much for him to do other than box, box, box.

Fightplan - Hatton

If I were Ricky Hatton I would come out of the corner in the first round with my eyes fixed on Mayweather's arms and shoulders. Floyd likes to avoid contact inside by using his shoulders to "roll" or lean away from incoming punches. If I were Ricky I'd use my decent head movement (which he has shown against Urango) to get inside. Once there I would unload bombs on Mayweather's arms and shoulders, to try to weaken them for later in the fight.

The idea would be to break down Mayweather's arms and shoulders over the course of several rounds, and essentially break his defensive shell. Once that was accomplished, I would target the body relentlessly. Hatton is know to have a serious punch downstairs and Mayweather has shown he is vulnerable to a sustained body attack in his first fight against Jose Luis Castillo.

The idea for Hatton would be to get inside to target the arms and shoulders first, then attack the body. hatton needs to be quick about this because his stamina only holds up for around 10 rounds, so he needs to start making it his type of fight once the bell rings.

Summary

This fight is a classic example of boxer vs brawler at it's highest level. Both fighters are undefeated Champions who are masters of their particular styles. I'm not saying Ricky Hatton can beat Floyd Mayweather Jr, because I'm still betting on Floyd to win. However I beg you all to rethink this fight a little bit and stop writing Hatton off so quickly.

There's no doubt that Mayweather has every advantage possible over Hatton, except for power. But I think some people aren't thinking of how close or tough this fight actually could be if Hatton were to be able to get inside of Mayweather's amazing defense.

I'm still picking the "Pretty Boy" to win a unanimous decision, but there is a possibility Hatton could pull an upset. Anything can happen in boxing, and I just wanted to go on record saying that win, lose or draw, I think Ricky Hatton will no doubt be Mayweather's toughest fight to date.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on anything I have said here, agree or disagree.

Hatton tko10.

Floyds record is one of the best in boxing today?If names mean more than the actual condition or age of the fighters involved then yes, Floyd has some decent names on his resume, but not a damn one was prime or even near their peak! How many times does this need to be said. I appreciate you giving Hatton a fair shake in your analasys- it's more than the nutlickers will even consider,but I think you are forgetting that quality of competition is the only accurate gauge when trying to define a fighters ability. Roy Jones was living proof of that, And not unlike Jones, Maywaether has spent more than a couple years fighting past it and light competition. His resume can be picked apart at will(as can Hattons for that matter).

It is a pickem fight imho, but i'm leaning with Hatton. I know Hatton can take a punch. I know Hatton will keep comming. I know Hatton has the greater will(It's eveident in their styles), and I know Hatton will seek to confront while Floyd will avoid as much as possible. Against inferior competition that tactics works, but against a prime,hungry,world class fighter like Hatton it will be a tougher stretch for Mayweather to find the distance he needs in order to compose himself and think-That space Hatton will not allow. So for Floyd to win he is gonna have to do so in the trenches. Has floyd ever been in the trenches? Castillo pressured with much success, What makes anyone believe Hatton wont be able to close the distance?

Hatton tko10!!!

[wmute]

Brinzzy,
If mayweather wins, he is FOTY. If Mayweather loses, and Cotto wins convincingly, then Cotto proly gets it for going 3-0 including wins over Judah and Mosley.

Hatton wins and Cotto loses, Ricky walks with FOTY.

Don't sleep on Pavlik if Kel KO's the undefeated Taylor.

That's kinda how I see it playing out.

Are you saying that Mosley-Judah would be better than Mayweather-Castillo?

[wmute]

Hatton tko10.

Floyds record is one of the best in boxing today?If names mean more than the actual condition or age of the fighters involved then yes, Floyd has some decent names on his resume, but not a damn one was prime or even near their peak! How many times does this need to be said. I appreciate you giving Hatton a fair shake in your analasys- it's more than the nutlickers will even consider,but I think you are forgetting that quality of competition is the only accurate gauge when trying to define a fighters ability. Roy Jones was living proof of that, And not unlike Jones, Maywaether has spent more than a couple years fighting past it and light competition. His resume can be picked apart at will(as can Hattons for that matter).

It is a pickem fight imho, but i'm leaning with Hatton. I know Hatton can take a punch. I know Hatton will keep comming. I know Hatton has the greater will(It's eveident in their styles), and I know Hatton will seek to confront while Floyd will avoid as much as possible. Against inferior competition that tactics works, but against a prime,hungry,world class fighter like Hatton it will be a tougher stretch for Mayweather to find the distance he needs in order to compose himself and think-That space Hatton will not allow. So for Floyd to win he is gonna have to do so in the trenches. Has floyd ever been in the trenches? Castillo pressured with much success, What makes anyone believe Hatton wont be able to close the distance?

Hatton tko10!!!

1) Castillo was definitely in his prime

2) You dont KNOW that Hatton has more will than Mayweather, you just ASSUME so. Everyone probably thought the same of Ali until the 70s. Winning in the style that suits you best is not a sign of lack of will, it's a sign of smarts/discipline.

[SkillspayBills]

Hatton tko10.

Floyds record is one of the best in boxing today?If names mean more than the actual condition or age of the fighters involved then yes, Floyd has some decent names on his resume, but not a damn one was prime or even near their peak! How many times does this need to be said. I appreciate you giving Hatton a fair shake in your analasys- it's more than the nutlickers will even consider,but I think you are forgetting that quality of competition is the only accurate gauge when trying to define a fighters ability. Roy Jones was living proof of that, And not unlike Jones, Maywaether has spent more than a couple years fighting past it and light competition. His resume can be picked apart at will(as can Hattons for that matter).

It is a pickem fight imho, but i'm leaning with Hatton. I know Hatton can take a punch. I know Hatton will keep comming. I know Hatton has the greater will(It's eveident in their styles), and I know Hatton will seek to confront while Floyd will avoid as much as possible. Against inferior competition that tactics works, but against a prime,hungry,world class fighter like Hatton it will be a tougher stretch for Mayweather to find the distance he needs in order to compose himself and think-That space Hatton will not allow. So for Floyd to win he is gonna have to do so in the trenches. Has floyd ever been in the trenches? Castillo pressured with much success, What makes anyone believe Hatton wont be able to close the distance?

Hatton tko10!!!

The bet is already in my sig so don't forget come the 8th my freind.

[squealpiggy]

If mayweather wins, he is FOTY. If Mayweather loses, and Cotto wins convincingly, then Cotto proly gets it for going 3-0 including wins over Judah and Mosley.

Hatton wins and Cotto loses, Ricky walks with FOTY.

Don't sleep on Pavlik if Kel KO's the undefeated Taylor.

Agreed apart from one thing: If Hatton beats Floyd then he should be FOTY regardless of what happens with Cotto and Mosley. Hatton beating Mayweather is a much bigger deal than Cotto beating Mosley (which is much closer odds-wise) and I think Hatton's KO of Castillo would have to rank higher than Cotto's KO of Judah because of the dominant fashion he did it.