De La Hoya: "Hatton Will Surprise Mayweather"

[Wiley Hyena]

I think Zab Judah has the best "blitzkrieg" type of attack in all of boxing and he blitzed Mayweather hard for those first few rounds. Ricky Hatton will also have his moments early, but like all PBF fights, his untouchable defense will see him through the first few rounds of Ricky's attack and he will figure him out. Once he figures him out and Ricky starts taking some leather, he will relent on his pressure exactly as he did against Collazo (around the 5th round) and become less adament in his pressuring attack. Once he does this, the fight will be over. Hatton's will can be broken and it is easy to see he was broken against Collazo. Only difference is that when Mayweather breaks his will, he will start to tee off on Hatton's dome with those straight right hands and left hooks to the body who Hatton is vulnerable to. Hatton will have some good moments as PBF often stays on the ropes, but ultimately he will be picked apart and his pressure won't nearly be enough to dissuade Mayweather from performing his usual surgical work en route to a UD or late TKO on cuts.

How about u?

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, with exception of the statement "Hatton's will can be broken...."

I've never seen Hatton's will broken. What is he now? 43-0? I think that may be wishful thinking, but you're entitled to your opinion.

At first, I agreed with this conventional wisdom. But, upon reconsideration I realized just what makes Hatton so formidable. His overall physical strength. It drains his opponents of their energy. So, for this reason I see it as an even money fight with alot depending upon the ref allowing or disallowing in-fighting. And since it's even money IMO and I would like to see Floyd brought down a peg, I'm picking Hatton by late fight TKO/KO.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

I think Zab Judah has the best "blitzkrieg" type of attack in all of boxing and he blitzed Mayweather hard for those first few rounds. Ricky Hatton will also have his moments early, but like all PBF fights, his untouchable defense will see him through the first few rounds of Ricky's attack and he will figure him out. Once he figures him out and Ricky starts taking some leather, he will relent on his pressure exactly as he did against Collazo (around the 5th round) and become less adament in his pressuring attack. Once he does this, the fight will be over. Hatton's will can be broken and it is easy to see he was broken against Collazo. Only difference is that when Mayweather breaks his will, he will start to tee off on Hatton's dome with those straight right hands and left hooks to the body who Hatton is vulnerable to. Hatton will have some good moments as PBF often stays on the ropes, but ultimately he will be picked apart and his pressure won't nearly be enough to dissuade Mayweather from performing his usual surgical work en route to a UD or late TKO on cuts.

How about u?

... how I see the fight going.

Round 1: Floyd comes out and stands in the middle of the ring. Fairly flat-footed. He is trying to gauge Hatton's strength and speed, and is tuning up his defense. Ricky is catious and throws less than usual. He has a good measure of respect for PBF's speed and counter-punching. He won't get reckless. Ricky was busier. Round 1 Hatton.

Rd 2: Ricky picks up the pace, and so does Floyd. Mayweather still isn't in form, and they fight a fairly busy but close round. Hatton eats some uppercuts and counter-rights. But RH is determined because he knows that he has to establish his fight. They may end up near/on the ropes. It is becoming clear now to Rick that he is not the stronger man in the ring. Close round. Either way. Probably Hatton on activity.

Rds 3/4: Mayweather is busier than in the first coupla rounds. He is landing consistently hard shots now, and blocking Hatton's increasingly wide shots. On some occasions, RH comes inside, clinches and tries to maul. PBF is retaliating by pushing off with the elbow/forearm, and the ref warns him. The first signs of wear appear on Rick's face. Rds 3/4 are Mayweather.

Rds 5/6/7: It is starting to get a bit ugly, and the outcome of the fight is clear now. Hatton, unable to muscle Floyd, and with a considerable skill/speed disadvantage, is getting hit too much. Ricky, being a gamer, rallies. But his face is starting to open badly, and he hasn't solved the puzzle of how to get to Floyd consistently. Perhaps RH takes one of these rounds, but this middle part of the fight is where FMJ really pulls away.

Rds 8/9: Very ugly. Very. At times, it looks "sixth-round-of-the-Gatti-fight-esque". Ricky, uncharacteristically, is fatiguing and his face is a mess. The ref and/or ring doctor has already taken a good look. Floyd puts his foot on the gas. He stays on the perimeter but is launching hard, straight stuff.

Hatton's corner, in a smart decision to preserve their fighter's health and psyche, elects not to send him out for round 10.

Mayweather TKO 9 Hatton.

Bet the farm.

[Wiley Hyena]

"Hatton's corner, in a smart decision to preserve their fighter's health and psyche, elects not to send him out for round 10."

No, I wouldn't bet the farm on that. No way. Unless the fight is stopped on Hatton cuts by the doctor, Floyd is in for the most bruising battle he's ever faced.

It's just so easy to rhetorically negate the Hatton offense with the vaunted Mayweather defense. A mistake IMO.

[MightyMikeA]

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, with exception of the statement "Hatton's will can be broken...."

I've never seen Hatton's will broken. What is he now? 43-0? I think that may be wishful thinking, but you're entitled to your opinion.

At first, I agreed with this conventional wisdom. But, upon reconsideration I realized just what makes Hatton so formidable. His overall physical strength. It drains his opponents of their energy. So, for this reason I see it as an even money fight with alot depending upon the ref allowing or disallowing in-fighting. And since it's even money IMO and I would like to see Floyd brought down a peg, I'm picking Hatton by late fight TKO/KO.

Fair enough. But I insist that Collazo indeed broke Hatton's will in that fight. You can clearly see it in the later rounds that he was not coming forward with the usual gusto and had this clear look of relent in his eyes. Collazo poured on some good punishment in that fight with sharp left hands that strafed Hatton's head, especially in the later rounds. I'm no Mayweather fan but he is no Luis Castillo. I want Hatton to win but I'm pretty sure that Mayweather will 'expose' him (for lack of a better world) come December. Hatton is well conditioned but Mayweather is the best conditioned fighter in the game, no one can deny this. Ricky is too small for 147 and Mayweather has filled in very well since his days at 135 and 140. All Hatton really has going for him is to make the fight a SLOPPY one with his punch and clinch technique but Mayweather is way too smart to fall for that (Mayrunner we're talking about here). He knows what he has to do and he's going to execute as usual.

Mayweather will lose when he's about 34-35 (and has slowed down) and fights a fast boxer-puncher with serious power like Kermit Cintron who can keep up with him due to athleticism (Like Taylor did to Bernard in his old age). No stalker, or pressuring brawler types will beat Mayweather while he's at his peak.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, with exception of the statement "Hatton's will can be broken...."

I've never seen Hatton's will broken. What is he now? 43-0? I think that may be wishful thinking, but you're entitled to your opinion.

At first, I agreed with this conventional wisdom. But, upon reconsideration I realized just what makes Hatton so formidable. His overall physical strength. It drains his opponents of their energy. So, for this reason I see it as an even money fight with alot depending upon the ref allowing or disallowing in-fighting. And since it's even money IMO and I would like to see Floyd brought down a peg, I'm picking Hatton by late fight TKO/KO.

I think that is what Team Hatton is banking on , and it will not materialize.

You don't spend two years fighting middleweights without being physically strong. Sparring partners are notoriously complimentary of the guy paying them, but Kofi Jantuah said that Floyd is a strong kid.

I had asked Greg Leon a question, and he wrote me back saying that he had seen "with his own eyes" Floyd punishing SMW's in the gym.

Based on Hatton's inability to muscle the last two young, fresh fighters he fought (Collazo and Urango), I don't think that he is some freakishly strong kid. Collazo didn't think so either. And when I watched the Maussa and Phillips fights, he outworked - but did not outmuscle - those guys. In fact, Maussa was out-dirtying RH inside. Hatton's face was ground beef.

Hatton will not be stronger than Floyd. Pick ANY decent guy at 154. Can Hatton muscle that guy? Daniel Edouard and Kofi Jantuah have been leaning on Floyd in the gym for the past two years.

Kofi Jantuah would TOY with Hatton.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

"Hatton's corner, in a smart decision to preserve their fighter's health and psyche, elects not to send him out for round 10."

No, I wouldn't bet the farm on that. No way. Unless the fight is stopped on Hatton cuts by the doctor, Floyd is in for the most bruising battle he's ever faced.

It's just so easy to rhetorically negate the Hatton offense with the vaunted Mayweather defense. A mistake IMO.

How about the vaunted Mayweather OFFENSE? How will hatton negate that?

Do you remember what Mayweather looks like against a guy his own size?

[Wiley Hyena]

"Hatton is well conditioned but Mayweather is the best conditioned fighter in the game, no one can deny this."

Mike, I can deny this. Hatton may have had an off night against Collazo. But, generally speaking Hatton's stamina is absolutely fantastic and it results in a certain primal relentlessness. This issue of conditioning is important, I just don't see how Mayweather could be in better condition than Hatton in this fight. I don't see it. I cannot agree with it.

[Wiley Hyena]

How about the vaunted Mayweather OFFENSE? How will hatton negate that?

Do you remember what Mayweather looks like against a guy his own size?

I don't see that Mayweather's offense is "vaunted" at all. That's a laugh. Mayweather is about defense, defense, defense. You cannot change my mind about this one, Dios, so don't even try.

And, to respond to your other post, I believe Hatton will be the stronger fighter in the ring. If for some reason he is not, then Mayweather will win it. But, I won't believe it until I see it, and I truly don't believe we'll be seeing it. Take it to the bank, Dios. We will find that Hatton is physically stronger than Mayweather and a chase will ensue with Mayweather on his bike.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

"Hatton is well conditioned but Mayweather is the best conditioned fighter in the game, no one can deny this."

Mike, I can deny this. Hatton may have had an off night against Collazo. But, generally speaking Hatton's stamina is absolutely fantastic and it results in a certain primal relentlessness. This issue of conditioning is important, I just don't see how Mayweather could be in better condition than Hatton in this fight. I don't see it. I cannot agree with it.

Here is me dis*****g it:

I have seen Hatton fade in TWO fights: Urango and Collazo.

I have seen Mayweather fade in ZERO fights. Against bigger men and a higher level of competition.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

I don't see that Mayweather's offense is "vaunted" at all. That's a laugh. Mayweather is about defense, defense, defense. You cannot change my mind about this one, Dios, so don't even try.

Wiles,

What Mayweather fights have you seen in their entirety. Pls be honest here.