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So after much speculation, Ricky Hatton's next opponent has been unveiled as WBA welterweight king Luis Collazo.
'The Hitman' has struggled to land a suitable fight following his ninth round blow-out of Columbian Carlos Maussa at the Hallam Arena after his acrimonious from Frank Warren's Sports Network to Dennis Hobson's Fight Academy.
The little known Luis Collazo has been confirmed for the 13th May in Boston for the Hyde warrior's third trip across the pond, a shrewd move to further the gathering momentum of popularity in the states after his sensational win, capturing the IBF crown, against the universally recognised undisputed light-welterweight king Kostya Tszyu in June 2005.
A unification bout was swiftly arranged in Sheffield against WBA champ Carlos Maussa, a shock winner against previous champ Vivian Harris, an earlier possible opponent for Hatton.
Ricky showed that despite some people's reservations about his ability to take opponents out with one shot, he pulled out a magnificent KO of Maussa after his old problems with cuts disturbingly returned (in truth it was an awful clash of heads that could have happened to anyone), he was spurred on to up the tempo and demonstrate to anyone who doubted him, that when he is in trouble he has the power to deliver concussive punches to any fighter.
New York native Collazo managed to claim the WBA crown with a points victory over Jose Antonio Rivera with only two weeks notice so he has proved himself a worthy adversary.
Recognised as having a high workrate with a powerful left hand, Collazo is a heavily tattooed, menacing looking foe, but his single loss to relative unknown Edwin Cussian; by third round TKO in 2002 shows he is probably biting off more than he can chew against the marauding Mancunian.
Registering just 12 KO's out of twenty-six wins, his record does not show him as a devastating puncher, and, having mixed in much lower echelons, this is surely too big an ask.
Ricky has relinquished his IBF belt, a painful decision after all the hard work he had to put in to secure and finally grab the title from Kostyu Tszyu. His reluctance to face the IBF's mandatory challenger, Ben Rabah, put him in mind to move up to welterweight to face Collazo.
Ultimately the Hitman will be setting his heart on another superfight and no-one fights the bill better than four weight champ and many peoples pick as the best pound-for-pounder in boxing today, Floyd Mayweather jnr. He also recently moved up to welterweight, wrestling the IBF crown from Zab Judah.
Eventually easily winning on points, a ninth round fracas ensued after Jab hit Mayweather low then rabbit punched him, prompting his uncle Roger Mayweather to enter the ring in disgust and prompt an ugly brawl with Zab's corner.
Don King, Judah's promoter, has bitterly disputed Floyd's win, stating that if a cornerman enters the ring while a round is in progress, their fighter is instantly disqualified. For once you must have sympathy for King as this rule is clear, but one wonders if Mayweather's superstar status effectively cocooned him from such an outcome.
Why the references to Mayweather? Well this has to be the Manc marvel's ultimate fight, even bigger than the Tszyu epic, a chance to defeat a modern master on his home soil.
Expect Hatton to halt an outgunned Collazo in the middle rounds then hopefully a superfight with Mayweather can be clinched.
The American public will expect Floyd to be victorious but I am still to be convinced that he could cope with the relentless attack of Hatton who will continuously back the pretty up and I wouldn't be surprised if he emerged triumphant.
Remember the last American superstar who was taken apart by a certain Welsh slapper?
Britishboxing.net
'The Hitman' has struggled to land a suitable fight following his ninth round blow-out of Columbian Carlos Maussa at the Hallam Arena after his acrimonious from Frank Warren's Sports Network to Dennis Hobson's Fight Academy.
The little known Luis Collazo has been confirmed for the 13th May in Boston for the Hyde warrior's third trip across the pond, a shrewd move to further the gathering momentum of popularity in the states after his sensational win, capturing the IBF crown, against the universally recognised undisputed light-welterweight king Kostya Tszyu in June 2005.
A unification bout was swiftly arranged in Sheffield against WBA champ Carlos Maussa, a shock winner against previous champ Vivian Harris, an earlier possible opponent for Hatton.
Ricky showed that despite some people's reservations about his ability to take opponents out with one shot, he pulled out a magnificent KO of Maussa after his old problems with cuts disturbingly returned (in truth it was an awful clash of heads that could have happened to anyone), he was spurred on to up the tempo and demonstrate to anyone who doubted him, that when he is in trouble he has the power to deliver concussive punches to any fighter.
New York native Collazo managed to claim the WBA crown with a points victory over Jose Antonio Rivera with only two weeks notice so he has proved himself a worthy adversary.
Recognised as having a high workrate with a powerful left hand, Collazo is a heavily tattooed, menacing looking foe, but his single loss to relative unknown Edwin Cussian; by third round TKO in 2002 shows he is probably biting off more than he can chew against the marauding Mancunian.
Registering just 12 KO's out of twenty-six wins, his record does not show him as a devastating puncher, and, having mixed in much lower echelons, this is surely too big an ask.
Ricky has relinquished his IBF belt, a painful decision after all the hard work he had to put in to secure and finally grab the title from Kostyu Tszyu. His reluctance to face the IBF's mandatory challenger, Ben Rabah, put him in mind to move up to welterweight to face Collazo.
Ultimately the Hitman will be setting his heart on another superfight and no-one fights the bill better than four weight champ and many peoples pick as the best pound-for-pounder in boxing today, Floyd Mayweather jnr. He also recently moved up to welterweight, wrestling the IBF crown from Zab Judah.
Eventually easily winning on points, a ninth round fracas ensued after Jab hit Mayweather low then rabbit punched him, prompting his uncle Roger Mayweather to enter the ring in disgust and prompt an ugly brawl with Zab's corner.
Don King, Judah's promoter, has bitterly disputed Floyd's win, stating that if a cornerman enters the ring while a round is in progress, their fighter is instantly disqualified. For once you must have sympathy for King as this rule is clear, but one wonders if Mayweather's superstar status effectively cocooned him from such an outcome.
Why the references to Mayweather? Well this has to be the Manc marvel's ultimate fight, even bigger than the Tszyu epic, a chance to defeat a modern master on his home soil.
Expect Hatton to halt an outgunned Collazo in the middle rounds then hopefully a superfight with Mayweather can be clinched.
The American public will expect Floyd to be victorious but I am still to be convinced that he could cope with the relentless attack of Hatton who will continuously back the pretty up and I wouldn't be surprised if he emerged triumphant.
Remember the last American superstar who was taken apart by a certain Welsh slapper?
Britishboxing.net