grayggr
07-30-2007, 07:30 AM
Now I'll get it out now. I'm a big Ricky Hatton fan, same hometown (Hyde), same age and have watched his career progress. I even went to the same louvalite gym for 4 weeks when I was about 12, but stopped as soon as I was hit in sparring (:p). I would however, despite my allegiances, like to think I am unbiased in assessing Hatton's chances v Mayweather. I think Mayweather is a huge favourite going into the fight no doubt, but the fight is 'live' and not a forgone conlusion in any way shape or form.
What I have been seeing is the 'Collazo' analogy from a lot of fight fans indicating that if Ricky struggled against Collazo at 147lbs then Floyd will dispatch Hatton rather easily and embarrassingly.
My view is that too much emphasis has been placed on Ricky's one forray into the Welters. Sure he didn't look good, and he was holding on for dear life at the end, and the decision could have gone either way (I thought it was a draw or if not Collazo may have done enough being the champ) but there are mitigating circumstances often ignored, and to say PBF will beat Hatton because of this is short sighted.
Hatton struggles against Southpaws and often gets caught on the counter easily, he acknowledges it, his trainer knows it (and by all accounts was very against the Collazo fight), thus there was always a liklihood he could look bad in there. Floyd is obviously an orthodox stance fighter.
Hatton took the fight at short notice (6 weeks - my limited understanding is that 12 weeks is usually needed to train properly), having been due to fight at 140lbs initially. Hatton will have a full training camp, and Billy Graham, who is known to be a complete boxing anorak, will ensure he is fully prepared to face Mayweather.
Luis Collazo was generally considered a stepping stone for Hatton to move on up to bigger things. To announce his arrival to the 147lb division. By Hatton's own admissions he took this fight too lightly. With Mayweather being many peoples p4p No 1, motivation and desire will not be lacking in Hatton's training camp.
Luis Collazo was/is a natural welterweight and his height and general size/reach advantage over Hatton was greater than what Floyd's will be when thaey tee off.
Floyd will obviously provide Hatton with severe problems of his own, handspeed, footwork, supreme elusiveness and accuracy of punches. But to think Hatton will struggle because 'Collazo nearly knocked him out in the 12th' is perhaps a little distant from what will happen.
In any even we will have a great last portion of '07 to look forward to!
What I have been seeing is the 'Collazo' analogy from a lot of fight fans indicating that if Ricky struggled against Collazo at 147lbs then Floyd will dispatch Hatton rather easily and embarrassingly.
My view is that too much emphasis has been placed on Ricky's one forray into the Welters. Sure he didn't look good, and he was holding on for dear life at the end, and the decision could have gone either way (I thought it was a draw or if not Collazo may have done enough being the champ) but there are mitigating circumstances often ignored, and to say PBF will beat Hatton because of this is short sighted.
Hatton struggles against Southpaws and often gets caught on the counter easily, he acknowledges it, his trainer knows it (and by all accounts was very against the Collazo fight), thus there was always a liklihood he could look bad in there. Floyd is obviously an orthodox stance fighter.
Hatton took the fight at short notice (6 weeks - my limited understanding is that 12 weeks is usually needed to train properly), having been due to fight at 140lbs initially. Hatton will have a full training camp, and Billy Graham, who is known to be a complete boxing anorak, will ensure he is fully prepared to face Mayweather.
Luis Collazo was generally considered a stepping stone for Hatton to move on up to bigger things. To announce his arrival to the 147lb division. By Hatton's own admissions he took this fight too lightly. With Mayweather being many peoples p4p No 1, motivation and desire will not be lacking in Hatton's training camp.
Luis Collazo was/is a natural welterweight and his height and general size/reach advantage over Hatton was greater than what Floyd's will be when thaey tee off.
Floyd will obviously provide Hatton with severe problems of his own, handspeed, footwork, supreme elusiveness and accuracy of punches. But to think Hatton will struggle because 'Collazo nearly knocked him out in the 12th' is perhaps a little distant from what will happen.
In any even we will have a great last portion of '07 to look forward to!