Ricky Hatton Deserves Credit For This At Least

[Technical_Skill]

At Least he's making the big fights happen, I respect that.

I respect the fact he left warren and that silly WBU belt behind and is making some proper fights.

He deserves credit for this, In his last 3 Fights, he took on the best of his generation in his absolute prime at 147 in the USA, took a comeback fight, then made the biggest fight with a top guy at 140 and now is taking on the P4P no1 again in his prime.

So I think by the end of it he would have fought 2 all time great fighters in 4 fights, that deserves credit.

The guy is fighting Prime Legends, unlike the other well known British boxer, who doesnt, and seems to get more credit.

[ALT=_=Assassin]

The best thing Hatton has done with his career was leaving Frank Warren.

I hope Ricky wins his fight against Manny and gets back on top of the P4P charts.

[hammerhiem]

At Least he's making the big fights happen, I respect that.

I respect the fact he left warren and that silly WBU belt behind and is making some proper fights.

He deserves credit for this, In his last 3 Fights, he took on the best of his generation in his absolute prime at 147 in the USA, took a comeback fight, then made the biggest fight with a top guy at 140 and now is taking on the P4P no1 again in his prime.

So I think by the end of it he would have fought 2 all time great fighters in 4 fights, that deserves credit.

The guy is fighting Prime Legends, unlike the other well known British boxer, who doesnt, and seems to get more credit.

I point out frequently to the haters that his last 8 fights have been against good opposition, highly ranked and respected (before the fight at least) you can't say he isn't doing things the right way.

Calzaghe was handicapped by the fact that two of the other belt holders (Ottke, Beyer) would never in a million years get in a ring with him unless they where ensured 3 home judges and a home ref.

Look where that got Brewer, Mitchell Ried et al.

Win or lose to pac, hatton will be looking for another big fighter to share a ring with in 2010.

[Technical_Skill]

Calzaghe was handicapped by the fact that two of the other belt holders (Ottke, Beyer) would never in a million years get in a ring with him unless they where ensured 3 home judges and a home ref.

Yeah but to be fair, Ottke isnt really a legend nor is Beyer, calzaghe should have moved up a divison and made something happen. Hatton did similar **** with mayweather, i honestly dont think mayweather was that bothered about fighting him at that time, until hatton called him out on HBO, thats what made the fight happen.

Would have love to have seen calzaghe leave his backyard, move up a weight class and chase some prime legends for a big payday.

[Pugilistic™]

Hatton fights the best no doubt about it.

[Sparked_1985]

The other argument is that if anyone could bank like Hatton they'd fight the best too.

I'm sure 99% of boxers would take the fights Hatton is fighting. I do believe most elite boxers want to fight the best, their millionnaire's already, they need to earn bucks that makes it worthwhile, after all it's a dangerous game, and in a fight that captures their imagination.

On the Calzaghe point, I agree Joe was always too much of a homebird and on another point his career always stopped and stalled in momentum after injuries and a couple of **** performances, he was never that marketable - was he? at least until after the Lacy fight.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Yeah but to be fair, Ottke isnt really a legend nor is Beyer, calzaghe should have moved up a divison and made something happen. Hatton did similar **** with mayweather, i honestly dont think mayweather was that bothered about fighting him at that time, until hatton called him out on HBO, thats what made the fight happen.

Would have love to have seen calzaghe leave his backyard, move up a weight class and chase some prime legends for a big payday.

If you think this, you're pretty gullable. Mayweather fought Hatton because it was the biggest payday out there barring an Oscar rematch. The two sides had been in negotiations after the Tszyu fight and it was pretty much agreed that Hatton would have a few fights in the States to build towards a Mayweather showdown.

Calzaghe was in a completely different situation. He wasnt the cash cow that Hatton was in the UK and certainly wouldnt and still doesnt have the crossover appeal to the US audience. Hatton knew he could leave Warren and make it on his own. Plus Calzaghe didnt have the big names in his division. He did try to secure a fight with Hopkins but Bernard didnt wanna know.

[Technical_Skill]

If you think this, you're pretty gullable. Mayweather fought Hatton because it was the biggest payday out there barring an Oscar rematch. The two sides had been in negotiations after the Tszyu fight and it was pretty much agreed that Hatton would have a few fights in the States to build towards a Mayweather showdown.

Ermmm no.

Mayweather made hatton an offer in the past which team Hatton admitted they turned down.

Mayweather Himself said it was the HBO call out by hatton which made the fight happen when it did.

Ps. Calzaghe could have moved up a division alot earlier, rather than staying in that cesspool called 168 for years.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Ermmm no.

Mayweather made hatton an offer in the past which team Hatton admitted they turned down.

Mayweather Himself said it was the HBO call out by hatton which made the fight happen when it did.

Ps. Calzaghe could have moved up a division alot earlier, rather than staying in that cesspool called 168 for years.

Yeah and Team Hatton turned it down because they wanted tune up fights in the States first to make Hatton a star there.

Lol @ anyone believing that Hatton calling him "boring" made him sign the fight. Yeah thats right, like dudes havent been calling him a coward the past few years without getting fights. Dont be so niave. That was all HBO 24/7 smoke and mirrors to hype the fight.

Calzaghe move up a division and fight who? Jones? The guy who wouldnt even fight his main rival there?

[JakeNDaBox]

The other argument is that if anyone could bank like Hatton they'd fight the best too.

I'm sure 99% of boxers would take the fights Hatton is fighting. I do believe most elite boxers want to fight the best, their millionnaire's already, they need to earn bucks that makes it worthwhile, after all it's a dangerous game, and in a fight that captures their imagination.

It's also a chicken-or-the-egg argument, as those same 99% wish they had Hatton's fan-base. Therefore, Hatton's able to generate the type of paydays to justify drawing in that level of opposition.

That said, he's seriously slept on. From Tszyu to present, the lone true tune-up he's enjoyed was Lazcano, which isnt bad for a worst opponent among your last eight.

On the Calzaghe point, I agree Joe was always too much of a homebird and on another point his career always stopped and stalled in momentum after injuries and a couple of **** performances, he was never that marketable - was he? at least until after the Lacy fight.

This I completely agree with, and a perfect example of why Ricky deserves credit. Joe had the same promoter and the same opportunities to shine/become a star. He's a star in his own right, but never anywhere near Ricky's level, though a lesson obviouly lost on American promoters in believing he'd bring a nation with him whenever he fought.