Hatton Camp: "Witter Priced Himself Out"

[S1MANC]

"We offered Junior Witter his highest purse he'd ever had," said Ray Hatton. "If someone offered Ricky that, I'd be insulted. But as far as Junior Witter was concerned, it was his biggest purse. It is unfortunate, but you are getting a fighter who has not captured the public's imagination. Most others would say they could live with what we offered. He can't say this, that and the other and then refuse the offer. We've taken that back now. It's gone. Now he wants 30 percent of everything that comes with a Ricky Hatton fight?"

Witter should have taken the offer and since he was so sure of victory that he was willing to fight a "winner take all." Junior would have made all the money he could ever wanted by beating a living legend like Hatton, in the rematch, they could've even had a "double or nothing clause."

Now Hatton is locked up for three fights with HBO, first Lazcano and then Malinaggi at MSG. HBO is not interested in having two Euro fighters face each other after how poorly Calzaghe/Kessler did in America ratings wise.

Ray Hatton as even admitted that the offer was insulting. regardless of hattons stock value, Witter is WBC champion and a 30% purse is more than reasonable.

[BennyST]

Witter should have taken the offer and since he was so sure of victory that he was willing to fight a "winner take all." Junior would have made all the money he could ever wanted by beating a living legend like Hatton, in the rematch, they could've even had a "double or nothing clause."

Now Hatton is locked up for three fights with HBO, first Lazcano and then Malinaggi at MSG. HBO is not interested in having two Euro fighters face each other after how poorly Calzaghe/Kessler did in America ratings wise.

Hatton is alright as a champ today but he is far, far from a 'living legend'!

The problem with so many people here that I see, as above, is that everyone keeps talking about 'HBO is not interested', 'The ratings won't be high enough', 'It won't make enough dollars'....WHO GIVES A ****!!!

Don't you guys want to see Hatton show that he is the best there is at 140? If you do then this should really be the first fight you would want to see! Two countrymen who're both at the top with belts, which also has a lot of interest in Britain, with both camps claiming they're the best and many people undecided who actually is the best.

Why should any fan care about what HBO thinks or what the ratings might be or how they argue over the purse split or anything to do with all that rubbish! We, as fans, should only care about seeing the best fights put together for us to see who is the best fighter. That should also be the fighters main concern as well but it would seem the managers have too much of a say with these things sadly. Then again, with the money to be made from being a champion these days I can certainly understand why they would take ****ty pointless fights just to make more money without any actual risk. But screw that, I just want to see who is the best out of these two guys. I do think Witter could give Hatton some problems but I'm not going to know until I see them fight and I think it's a fight that should definitely be made. I also think it would be a very good fight!

[11player]

30% = belt holder Witter pricing himself out?

It only attests that Hatton's camp is ducking Witter.

I'm not criticising Hatton, it's OK to postpone the Witter fight for now, but to say something like that is just ridiculous, embarassing.

[S1MANC]

BennyST...

In all honesty the only fans that don't want to see this fight are the hatton fans that don't want their fighter to get exposed. I am hatton fan but I'm a BOXING fan first, therefore I believe the best should fight the best.

It's obvious there is some ducking going on, in the hatton camp with regards to witter. As at first it was because witters been calling him, now its because witter wants to much of the purse (30% for ****s sake! - what a nerve! not even like witter holds a belt!)

Hatton denied witter a shot because he has been calling him out, but i'm sure you'll remember this:

[cotto16]

Witter would tame hatton!

[badnewsbrown]

Witter - I'll fight Hatton for 'peanuts'

Junior Witter today declared he would willingly take Ricky Hatton's "peanuts" offer for a May showdown in Manchester.

Bradford's WBC light-welterweight world champion hit back after claims that he had rejected the chance to face the Hitman for £100,000.

Hatton's manager, dad Ray Hatton, said yesterday they had offered Witter "the highest purse he'd ever had". But it had been turned down and the cash was no longer on the table.

But Witter is furious and wants to pin down his deadly rival after years of ducking and diving - saying the fight is his only motivation not the wealth.

"This is not about the money - it's personal," he blasted. "The pay-day is not even close to what I was getting for going out to America.

"I would have got well over twice as much to fight Demetrius Hopkins over there. But I'm prepared to take it just to knock Hatton out for his cheek.

"It might be all about greed with some people but not me. If that's what they think I'm worth then fine I'll take it just for the chance to finally put Hatton into retirement."

Hatton is expected to face Texan Juan Lazcano in his comeback fight after losing to Floyd Mayweather in December.

Lazcano has been out of action for a year since a defeat against Vivian Harris, who Witter viciously KO'ed in seven devastating rounds five months ago.

Ray Hatton claims a "gentleman's agreement" is in place although Witter's promoter Mick Hennessy understood Lazcano had not signed his contract.

Hennessy said: "I spoke to Golden Boy Promotions in the early hours today and they told me that the Lazcano deal was not done yet.

"So my understanding is there is no contract signed between the two; the venue is not sorted as of today; HBO (American TV giants) have not confirmed they are covering it and it's not the fight the paying public want to see - which is Witter v Hatton.

"Junior is happy to jump in and take up their peanuts offer because he isn't greedy."

Hennessy claimed Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams had said that if the fight did ever come off, Witter "would not get a penny over £100,000 because that is all he is worth."

Witter's manager John Ingle spoke to both Williams and Ray Hatton today.

Williams confirmed that the offer mentioned was for May 24 but Hatton said it was never for that date.

"Maybe Floyd Mayweather hit Ricky Hatton that hard even his dad and lawyer are confused," laughed Witter, who is currently warm-weather training in Gran Canaria.

Witter was due to defend his title in California next month against Hopkins but that fell through after the American pulled out for no apparent reason.

Now he is desperate to take out his frustration on the man he has been stalking throughout his career.

Ingle said: "I can understand their reluctance to take the fight because (trainer) Billy Graham's record against us in major contests isn't very good.

"Alan Bosworth beat Matthew Hatton, Johnny Nelson finished off Carl Thompson's reign as champion and Andrew Facey took Matthew Macklin's unbeaten record.

"The only major win Billy has got over us was Ricky Hatton against Jon Thaxton. But Thaxton has proved since then that he's not a real light-welter by going back to lightweight.

"Ray Hatton says they are tied up for the next 12 months with a deal with HBO, who've got a list of opponents. But how can Junior not be on that list?

"We've been told that he is and that's the fight that HBO want to see. It's a travesty if it doesn't happen."

[Johnny Rebel]

If that bullocks is true then WHY didn't just Junior sign the contract when it was offered?

[PATO 1]

son

change that embarassing sig

hatton isnt top 10 p4p and calslappy aint in top 5

[Johnny Rebel]

BennyST...

In all honesty the only fans that don't want to see this fight are the hatton fans that don't want their fighter to get exposed. I am hatton fan but I'm a BOXING fan first, therefore I believe the best should fight the best.

It's obvious there is some ducking going on, in the hatton camp with regards to witter. As at first it was because witters been calling him, now its because witter wants to much of the purse (30% for ****s sake! - what a nerve! not even like witter holds a belt!)

Witter wanted 30% of the entire revenue not just the purse. Hatton is the money maker and id in position to call the shots.

I have no doubt that Hatton destroy will Witter when they fight, but it will be an awkward and boring fight and most people who are saying Witter will beat Hatton will be saying that Witter was "overrated and or past his prime" when it's over.

[Johnny Rebel]

son

change that embarassing sig

hatton isnt top 10 p4p and calslappy aint in top 5

Calzaghe is P4P #5 according to The Ring and Hatton is P4P top 10-15.

Calzaghe and Hatton are indeed the #1 and #2 P4P British fighters.