[Boxing] Mayweather savages 'fat' Hatton

[Rappy Veteran]

I think the Mayweather vs Hoya match is gonna be awesome but this just made me laugh....

Boxing great Floyd Mayweather has savaged Ricky Hatton's talent and hinted that he could delay his retirement to fight him in England.

Hatton is desperate for a fight with Mayweather, who was expected to quit after facing Oscar de la Hoya in May.

"Ricky Hatton ain't nothing but a fat man. I'm going to punch him in his beer belly," the American told BBC Sport.

"He ain't good enough to be my sparring partner. I'm retiring in America, that don't mean I'm retiring in the UK."

Interview: Boxing great Floyd Mayweather

The 29-year-old later back-tracked on the possibility of fighting Hatton, but it is clear that Manchester's two-weight world champion remains an irritant to him.

The Michigan native is unbeaten in 37 fights, is a former world champion in four weight divisions and is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

When I retire, I'll get Ricky Hatton to wash my clothes and cut my lawn and buckle my shoes

Floyd Mayweather

His match with WBC light middleweight king De la Hoya, a former six-weight world champion, is set to be the most lucrative non-heavyweight fight in boxing history.

Hatton regained the IBF light welterweight crown from Colombia's Juan Urango last month, but Mayweather was unimpressed by what he saw.

And he was incensed at Hatton's suggestion that he was the more exciting fighter of the two.

Mayweather said: "I've only seen Ricky Hatton fight one time and that was against Urango and he looked like garbage.

"All he can do is punch and hold, punch and hold and wrestle. It's obvious that his fights are not more exciting than mine.

"And guess what? He said he was going to come to America and do 5,000 seats, but 5,000 people come and watch me train every day.

"Nobody even knows Ricky Hatton. He came over to America and nobody even came to see him fight.

"I could come to England and fill up the same stadium he can fill up. He ain't getting money like me.

"When I retire, I'll get Ricky Hatton to wash my clothes and cut my lawn and buckle my shoes."

Hatton, 28, is unbeaten in 42 fights and is set for a meeting with Mexican veteran Jose Luis Castillo in June.

If he can come through that encounter unscathed and Mayweather defeats De la Hoya, clamour for a fight between the two later in the year would mount.

De la Hoya, meanwhile, has also indicated he would be prepared to fight Hatton in England.

The 34-year-old from Los Angeles said he would come back down to welterweight if Hatton was prepared to move back up.

What you guys think?...Would Mayweather destroy Hatton?

[digipoi]

Mayweather would easily beat Hatton via a unanimous decision. Mayweather has hand problems so no knockout will happen. Same reason why I'm putting my money DLH to stop Mayweather. If you cant hurt DLH, you better run.

[Brodel]

"I've only seen Ricky Hatton fight one time and that was against Urango and he looked like garbage. Nobody even knows Ricky Hatton. He came over to America and nobody even came to see him fight."

Odd, I watched the same fight and the only thing I could hear was all his fans cheering and read that several thousand followed him over. Either way boxing is largely full of ego's and built around the hype, wait until the night.

[digipoi]

Odd, I watched the same fight and the only thing I could hear was all his fans cheering and read that several thousand followed him over. Either way boxing is largely full of ego's and built around the hype, wait until the night.

It is odd since anyone in the US that actually follows boxing knows exactly who Hatton is. He is dynamic but has his flaws. We all remember him as the man that put Kostya Tszyu into retirement. Another excellent fighter.

[Sheppard]

What an arrogant tosser.

[Andy07]

"When I retire, I'll get Ricky Hatton to wash my clothes and cut my lawn and buckle my shoes." :rofl:

So funny but so true.. Mayweather can basically say anything he wants to anybody. Hes proven himself at every weight hes tried. Hatton failed when he went up. Hes good but not worldclass.

[Rappy Veteran]

From BBC ...

WBC light welterweight champion Junior Witter has warned IBF title holder Ricky Hatton that it is now or never if the British pair are to fight.

"There is a window of opportunity, but if we are not careful we are going to miss it. If we're going to meet, it has to be this summer," said Witter, 32.

"Nothing else makes sense for Hatton apart from this, unless he is scared.

"I am a British fighter holding the WBC belt. The most prestigious belt. A belt he has never won."

Bradford boxer Witter has been chasing the showdown for years, but Hatton is set to fight Jose Luis Castillo next.

And Witter is adamant that this is the wrong move.

"If they go for Castillo first, what's the point? He's a blown up lightweight who hasn't properly established himself at 10 stone. Castillo isn't even ranked by the IBF," Witter said.

"If anyone thinks Hatton v Witter can wait until 2008 they are badly mistaken.

"Someone will have caught up with Hatton by then. If he wants the biggest fight of his career, he has to step up now.

"Apparently, Hatton would like to give me a beating, but he is worried about giving me a pay-day. Well here is the solution: winner takes all.

"That way, he can give me a good beating for nothing."

I dont think I want to see Hatton face Witter :s

[Powa]

I thought Hatton won when he went up a weight the other year?

Still, I think Hatton can turn it on when he needs it.

[Rappy Veteran]

Seems Hatton has vacated the belt for the second time....

Ricky Hatton has vacated his IBF light welterweight belt in order to fight Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in June.

The IBF wanted the 28-year-old Briton to face a mandatory challenge from Lovemore N'dou but Hatton has opted to meet Castillo in a mouth-watering bout.

Promoter Dennis Hobson said the fight with Castillo was "one of the biggest and most exciting fights in years".

He added: "It is the biggest fight of Ricky's career. We will learn who is the ultimate warrior at light welter."

Manchester's Hatton originally won the IBF title against Kostya Tszyu in 2005 before dropping it to move up to welterweight.

A fight with N'Dou would have been a hard sell to HBO and the American fight fans

Promoter Dennis Hobson

He reclaimed it by out-pointing Juan Urango in Las Vegas on 20 January.

Hobson said Hatton's camp was open to offers regarding a clash with N'Dou but claims the Australia-based fighter's team were not forthcoming.

"We could have done business and reached an agreement," said Hobson.

"We had all week and I'd already spoken to my broadcast partners about working something out. I had a venue in mind and had spoken to them, too.

"Being totally honest, a fight with N'Dou would have been a hard sell to HBO and the American fight fans but I was prepared to explore the possibility.

"Unfortunately, N'Dou's people weren't exactly ringing my phone off the hook trying to make something happen."

[Andy07]

I thought Hatton won when he went up a weight the other year?

Still, I think Hatton can turn it on when he needs it.

he did win but it was tough going and he wasn't very convincing so he went back down to light welter to claim one of his titles back.

Seems Hatton has vacated the belt for the second time....

yea he should have stayed with Frank he knows what hes doing.

[Rappy Veteran]

yea he should have stayed with Frank he knows what hes doing.

Yeah because if he doesn't beat Castillo...whats the next path for him...Frank would of got him the right fight with the right backup option...

[metallithrax]

I think boxing needs to go back to how it used to be. The champion would figt one of the top contenders, not fight the person who would make him the most money. These guys fight to get in the top ten, and then are ignored by the champion because they are not a big box office draw.

[digipoi]

I think boxing needs to go back to how it used to be. The champion would figt one of the top contenders, not fight the person who would make him the most money. These guys fight to get in the top ten, and then are ignored by the champion because they are not a big box office draw.

Amen to that. Watch out UFC, you're next.

[Rappy Veteran]

I think boxing needs to go back to how it used to be. The champion would figt one of the top contenders, not fight the person who would make him the most money. These guys fight to get in the top ten, and then are ignored by the champion because they are not a big box office draw.

Yeah I think thats a bad idea...just because it earns them more money it doesn't mean the bloke they are fighting for the belt is good enough...it may only last one round because they are not in the same class.

[digipoi]

Yeah I think thats a bad idea...just because it earns them more money it doesn't mean the bloke they are fighting for the belt is good enough...it may only last one round because they are not in the same class.

In all honesty though, the people to blame for these fights are actually the fans who pay for them. As a promoter its quite easy to go with what will make the promoter the most money. Matching up household names instead of matching up the best records can yield better paydays. Its up to us fans to boycott.

[Rappy Veteran]

Ricky Hatton's bout with Jose Luis Castillo has been confirmed for the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on June 23.

The lightly-regarded IBO light-welterweight title will be a stake although that is the least attractive aspect of a contest that will see two of the most exciting fighters in the business go toe-to-toe.

Castillo, 33, is a former WBC lightweight champion and is best remembered for two epic battles with Diego Corrales.

Both men featured on the same bill at the Paris Casino in Las Vegas last January - Castillo failing to impress during a split-decision win over Hernan Ngoudjo, while Hatton also laboured during a points success against Juan Urango.

That victory earned Hatton the IBF light-welterweight crown, a belt he opted to relinquish in order to face Castillo.

"You become a great fighter by fighting great fighters and Jose is one of them," said Hatton.

"When I beat Kostya Tszyu I beat one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and Jose undoubtedly falls into that category as well.

"I am so excited about this fight and I am living my dreams by topping the bill in Las Vegas again.

"This fight does not need anyone to sell it because everybody knows how good it is going to be. I am not going to take a backward step and neither will Jose.

"A lot has been said about our last performances but when you are involved in so many big fights you raise your game for a challenge - and this is a challenge to say the least."

Predicitons Peeps?!?...I think Castillo might come good...