When discussing Hatton - Mayweather

[Smokin']

I notice alot of boxing fans tend to only look at Mayweather's defensive/offensive capabilitites but totally disregard Hatton's strength and stamina. Why is this?

I will stick by my statement that I think Ricky is stronger than any fighter in history at 140-147. His legs and chest are simply thicker than even Duran's were at that weight (especially his legs, which are phenomenal). I don't know if I've ever seen a boxer more effective at pushing on the inside than Ricky. Maybe Duran on a good night.

When debating this potential fight, on pure strength and in muscular terms I am sure Ricky would have the edge, the more you have to struggle on the inside, the more fatigue becomes a factor, and skill and speed are negated.

Mayweather's going to be struggling and in deep waters when he fights Hatton.

[SacTown1]

our opinions on the fighters won't matter for at least another year bro

these guys are millions of dollars apart right now, neither has any interest in fighting the other, plus there's other guys who have belts who are easier fights for each guy to win (Baldomir, Margarito, RIvera, Karmazin, etc etc etc)

[Smokin']

Doesn't matter if they are about a year apart. People should keep an open mind on the subject.

[SacTown1]

Doesn't matter if they are about a year apart. People should keep an open mind on the subject.

good point, I hear ya man....BUT.....

muscle and strengh don't win prizefights (ex. Frank Bruno, Mark Gastineau, Frans Botha was tough too)

speed and angles is what wins world championships (ex. Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, FLOYD MAYWEATHER)

Hatton is a tough MoFo, but you can't hit what you can't catch, and you can't push someone who bounces back as qwuickly as Floyd does (check out Floyd's incredible footwork in his fight with Chico Corrales, he lands 2-3 shots and is GONE in a flash, it's simply amazing)

[amagnin]

Sactown hit it right on the head... Hatton is the stronger man at 140 or 147, but strength and moderate skill won't beat Mayweather. If Floyd moved up to 154 to fight a significantly bigger man, then strengh alone might be a major factor. At 140/147 Floyd has already beaten "stronger" guys, so why should this fight be any different?

[Smokin']

I hear ya, too. It's always the guys who have never boxed that say what I'm talking about.

I don't know if you've noticed but youth and enthusiasm is really important, especially in professional boxing. Reach, speed, and skill is what wins you fights in amateur boxing. The professional game is totally different.

[Smokin']

What about other intangibles like chin, desire, determination, inside fighting, punching power, body punching, etc.

I think its awful that you can totally just rule out Hatton. Even if he is painted to be a face-first slugger to most (which he is not) he brings multi-faceted pressure from all angles. He's exactly the type of pressure fighter that Frazier was to Ali, Duran to Leonard, Mcguigan to Pedrosa, etc etc.

[Smokin']

Hm, just another point but I don't like how people act like speed and skill are the only important aspects of boxing. I think we're all forgetting that Mayweather really has to pick and choose at 147, just like Whitaker had to do at 154. Mayweather is going to try to fight the 'right guys at the right time' at 147/154.

[omegamale]

we all seen how hatton fought against the slick boxer collazo and with that said how do you expect hatton to have the style to beat the slickest and most talented boxers on the planet?

[Smokin']

First of all Collazo wasn't slick. He was a good southpaw (keyword: good) with good footwork, good power, good boxing skill, good chin. He was just a tough cookie and the southpaw aspect troubled Hatton. Hatton still never relented and he took the fight to Collazo for 12 rounds. Wasn't Hatton's best performance, wasn't his worst.

People also forget that COllazo is much, much bigger then Floyd. If you would compare the two it would be a landslide. Mayweather is a wimp compared to Luis.