Are All of Hatton's Opponents Handpicked?

[Steak]

It's obvious Hatton has handpicked every opponent before Mayweather. The only reason he took the Mayweather fight, which clearly he was going to lose, is for the money.

Some people believe he didn't handpick Tszyu, but the fact is he waited and waited for Tszyu to deteriorate before fighting him. Hatton was the mandatory challenger to Tszyu as far back as 2003 after beating Ben Tackie. He didn't fight Tszyu until 2005 after a long layoff and a string of injuries had taken their toll.

What's even more telling is the fighters Hatton has ducked. While he was the mandatory challenger at 140, he refused to fight Sharmba Mitchell for the interim title at the time that Mitchell was tearing up the entire division. Hatton was content merely fighting all of Mitchell's leftovers from Vince Phillips to Ben Tackie to Ray Oliveira when they were all washed up. To this day, Hatton is still avoid Junior Witter because he is the biggest threat to him in his division and in his own country.

After Hatton beat Tszyu, he moved from handpicking bums to handpicking titleholders. He consistently went after the worst titleholder available to artificially inflate his accomplishments. Maussa was viewed as the weakest titleholder in the history of 140 after a stunning upset of Vivian Harris. What did he do after losing to Hatton? He went on to lose to journeymen and prospects. Next up was Collazo, the weakest titleholder at welterweight. Hatton underestimated him and he was very fortunate to escape with a win. He goes back down to 140 to fight Urango, a guy who still hasn't accomplished a notable thing in the world of boxing.

Hatton's resume is handpicked and a complete joke.

are those parts true? I like Hatton, but if those parts are true, thats kind of suspiscious.

Im not sure why he refuses to fight Witter either...hope he has a worthwhile opponent sometime in the future.

but I think he has a good record and all. a little bit overrated by some of his followers, but that happens.

[CardioMonster]

Yes, but it isn't really a point is it? All boxers go into fights willingly which means they are all handpicked.

I agree, all boxers handpick opponents, its called matchmaking....Mayweather was a payday though

[deevel79]

Here's the truth about Hatton:

Hatton defeated Tszyu to win the IBF belt, and become the No. 1 at LWW (by general consensus). Then defeats Maussa to become IBF/WBA champ - good move IMO (could have fought a can as an easy defence). Had to vacate the WBA due to a ridiculous mandatory, then the IBF opponent pulled out, leaving little alternative to fight Collazo at welter - and won. The mandatory for the WBA (at welter) was Urkal (who is hardly a name), therefore opted to move back to LWW to fight Urango - schooled him, and was mandated to fight N'Dou (again a nobody really), and gave that up to fight Castillo.

After beating Maussa, the WBA mandatory was ****, then after beating Collazo, the WBA mandatory was again ****, after Urango, the mandatory was ****. If Hatton had kept the IBF belt, he would have been accused of ducking Castillo, and hiding behind a belt!

After defeating Castillo, everyone was talking about Mayweather - if he hadn't taken the fight, and instead took on say Torres for the WBO, with the intention of unifying, he would have been accused of ducking Floyd this time!

[eri]

a man who talks a bit of sense, best post ive read on the hatton subject for a while

what is everybodys beef with hatton?

[Nicky_Hatton]

Exactly.

I'm a fan of Hatton, I wouldn't call him a world beater though. I know his limitations and am under no illusion.

[revs1227]

not at all ....?

[Guest]

a man who talks a bit of sense, best post ive read on the hatton subject for a while

what is everybodys beef with hatton?

The problem is he keeps fighting handpicked opponents. Lazcano is yet another handpicked fighter in a long, long list of handpicked opponents...