Hatton Not Interested in Fighting Khan: Is Ricky Afraid of Amir?
July 20th, 2009
By William Mackay: Earlier today, Ricky Hatton took the air out of the possibility of him fighting World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan by saying “I don’t think I have to beat Amir to prove anything.” Although Hatton didn’t come right out and say so, his lack of interest in coming out and taking on the 22-year-old Khan seems strange and more than a little odd that Hatton wasn’t jumping all over a fight with the younger Khan.
Kostya Tszyu, who Hatton stopped in the 11th round in 2005, still had a lot left in the tank at the time but never fought again after the stoppage loss. Of course, Tszyu made a lot of money in the fight and didn’t need to have to fight again if he didn’t want to.
Hatton, 30, says that he doesn’t miss boxing. It could be that the money that Hatton has made has taken away the interest/need that he would normally have had he not made the money. However, one has to wonder whether Hatton is suffering from self doubt and is skeptical about his chances against a young fighter like Khan.
That would be perfectly normal if Hatton was afraid of Khan, because Amir looked very impressive in almost pitching a shutout in defeating Andriy Kotelnik last Saturday night. For Hatton to defeat a fighter in the class of Khan, it would take Hatton at his best to defeat him. He couldn’t go into a fight with Khan doubting his ability to absorb a big punch, because Ricky wouldn’t be able to fight hard enough to beat Khan if he’s not pressing forward at 100% effort.
Hatton feels that he doesn’t have anything to prove, and that a fight against Khan wouldn’t make any difference. That may be true, but I have to wonder whether Hatton really wants his loss against Pacquiao to be his last fight of his career.
If he doesn’t and intends on continuing with his career, Hatton needs to choose wisely because it won’t add much to his legacy unless he takes on a good fighter like Khan. Some people feel that Hatton might come back for a fight against former light welterweight champion Junior Witter.
I doubt it, though, because Hatton has never been particularly eager to fight Witter in the last four years and I can’t see that changing now. Hatton might not need the money, but I can’t see how getting a win over a non-champion will do much for Hatton.
Michael Katsidis, a lightweight slugger, has been mentioned as a potential opponent for Hatton, as well several other fighters. However, let me say this, I think Hatton won’t be happy unless he takes on a fighter like Khan. I hope Hatton doesn’t have cold feet about fighting Khan, but I can’t blame him if he did. After all, Khan is much younger, faster, a better mover and is on his way up and still getting better, whereas Hatton appears on his way down after getting knocked out twice in his last four fights.
Tags: 19 Responses to “Hatton Not Interested in Fighting Khan: Is Ricky Afraid of Amir?”
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LOL THIS ARTICLE ISNT EVAN READING LOL!!!!!!!!!
HATTONS IS THE MOST FIERLESS FIGHTER OUT THERE AND HAS BEEN FROM SOMETIME……..EVERYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN KNOWS THAT …EVERYONE NOWS WHO EVER YOU ARE HOWEVERE GOOD YOU ARE HATTON IS!!! GONNA COME AFTER YOU AND IF NOT KNOCK YOU OUT GET KNOCED OUT…HES ONLY LOSS’S ARE TO THE BEST 2 P4P FIGHTERS…..AND THAT SAYS IT ALL…..PEACE OUT.
hatton and khan are friends and they should chill.
amir is a british and so is ricky they should fight americans and make britain viictorious
It’s BETTER not to FIGHT HATTON. Beside AMIR KHAN EXPRESSED LONG TIME AGO that he WOULDN’T FIGHT HATTON. It’s NOT BEING SCARED it’s just SIMPLY because they RESPECTS EACH OTHER. It’s NOT ALL about MONEY PEOPLE. But I would SUGGEST to come out FIGHT SOMEBODY ELSE for HATTON and I TRULY believe he still HAS it. I’m a PACMAN FANS but GO HATTON GO! MORE POWER 2U and GOODLUCK from the PHILIPPINES.
Khan does need to fight Hatton. He should fight Marcos Maidana
Has everyone gone mad?!
1. Khan doesn’t have enough power to knock Hatton out
2. Would Amir Khan go 10 rounds with Mayweather? Erm…..no
3. Would a Khan v Pacqiao fight have the same result? Of course!
4. Khan should concentrate on his up and coming career and forget about Hatton as he would not beat him in a million years.
Khan should fight Zab Judah.
Khan would stop Hatton in the tenth because he lacks defense and Khan would just hit him with too many clean comibantions i would prefer it if Hatton fought witter the long time built up grudge match and retired a decent fighter
IMO the Ricky Hatton that won his contest against Kostya Tszyu would have been to much for Khan. Ricky Hatton won the battle that night but lost the war. Hatton vs Tszyu was a very tough fight and Ricky hasn’t been the same fighter since that contest. The British fans love for Hatton is not misplaced, he fought his heart out that night, and he paid a price for that victory.
I dont wana see this fight and neither really does Hatton. Hes really guna struggle to get motivated as hes seriously contemplating retirement and a fight over a fellow country man and friend just after Khan had done so well/
It would be a great fight for the British fans.
RSF late on & Hatton wins.
Hatton scared of Khan?
Who do the brits think this boy Khan is
Tony Margarito???
I doubt Ricky is scared of Amir, no more so than any other oponant anyway. Its not about the money, he will decide his own future purely based on what he would want for his family and fans. Hopefully he retired a legend as there’s nothing more to prove
Khan has speed, boxing skill and Freddy Roach. Roach has the blueprint to beat Ricky, but then again Khan is no Pacquiao. Kotelnik rattled Khan with a bit of pressure boxing and that showed Khan does not like pressure. We all know that Ricky can dish out pressure by the dozens and that will give Amir problems come fight night. I wouldn’t be too worried should Ricky take this fight as this won’t be a 2rd. trainwreck…Khan does not have that KO power punch that Manny used to blow away Ricky with. I truly believe that Ricky isn’t scared of Amir, it’s Freddy he fears most.
Khan isn’t fit to wipe Hatton’s arse.
I’d love to see Hatton beat the sh*t out of Khan.
would love to see a khan v ricky for the title then ricky defending it against witter, if that could ever happen
the way Khan thought on the backfoot against Kotelnik is worrying, Kotelnik made the fight and Khan was quick in retreat everytime Kotelnik pushed foward, Kotenik is a light puncher, Hatton is a big body puncher and would Khan be able to keep running from him?
As much as i like Hatton, I dont want to see him fight Kahn. I have a feeling that Kahn will be capable of picking him to pieces. If Junior Witter picks up his title soon, then i would like to see a Hatton V Witter grudge match.
If Kahn stays at 140 he has a good chance of getting a few descent fights under his belt, he’s only 22 theres no need to start switching weights yet. whens he’s 28/29 he will be a natural 147 anyway.
Why all the put down on RH, after all it was only a short time ago he was top dog at LtW and even W weight level and was viing for top spot in popularity with Joe Calzagy both in UK and USA. OK Amir Khan has won a World Title – good on him, but he has still to take on the very best, and away from these shores, whereas RH has already done this. If RH wants to fight Khan I’m sure he will. But there are a few very good fighters in LtW division waiting for a chance at a title shot at AK and they will have to be considered before an all UK fight to please British fight fans is even considered. Furtheremore, if AK wants to be ‘the greatest’ he needs to fight the best in his division, why not Mannie P?
is hatton scared ? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ANY FIGHTER THAT CAN BRAKE GLASS IS NOT SCARED OF KHAN HOWEVER WE WILL NEVER GET TO FIND OUT WITH ALL THE HAND PICKED CLOWNS HE FIGHTS……..