Roach says he declined to train Hatton last year – News
March 16th, 2010
By William Mackay: Trainer Freddie Roach said in an article at the Telegraph that he had been approached by Ricky Hatton December of 2009 about becoming his trainer. Roach, unfortunately for Hatton’s sake, declined the offer. At the time, Roach was in England with World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan. Roach was interested in having Hatton as an opponent for Khan, but he wasn’t interested in training Hatton because he some his as being past it. Seven months earlier, Roach’s fighter Manny Pacquiao stopped Hatton in the 2nd round in May, a fight in which Hatton was out cold for several minutes on the canvas.
If Hatton is shot and over the hill, why does Roach want to put Khan in there with him? Khan had already fought another old guy in 35-year-old Marco Antonio Barrera, who many people thought was way past it last year, and now Roach was looking to put Khan in with a guy that he thinks is shot?
Roach says “If he [Hatton] continues fighting, he’s going to jeopardize his health. I would not want to be a part of that. If he decides to fight Amir Khan, that’s up to him. He’s been a multi-world champion, he’ll go down in history for some of his great victories, and the thousands of British fans who followed him to America, he’s been there and done it, and he doesn’t need to do it anymore.”
So Roach is okay with Hatton fighting Khan, even though he’s worried about Hatton jeopardizing his health. That seems weird. First off, why put Khan in with a guy that you consider shot? What good does that do Khan? If Hatton was to fold from the first few big shots he gets hit with, does that reflect in how good Khan is or is it because he’s shot? I don’t see it being a good fight for Khan if Roach is correct about Hatton being over the hill.
What does Khan get from that other than a name on his scalp that has value in name only? That doesn’t seem right. If you want to make Khan a better fighter, shouldn’t Roach put in with a live body like WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana instead? Roach, by the way, doesn’t want Khan to fight Maidana right now. I can understand how Roach might not want to train Hatton because he’s worried about Ricky’s health, but then in the next breath to say he’s okay with Hatton fighting Khan just seems wrong to me.
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@Lucas
For someone who “used to be the biggest Pacquiao fan out there, until I read many articles about all of Pacquiao’s greatest opponents just coming off of a big loss and on the down side of their careers” Lols, you’re someone who never saw his fights, didn’t you? Hahaha. You just read about it. You’re funny. I’d say you probably watched 2-3 the most.
thomas i agree but greedy hatton dont love the boxing public enough to give them what they want i think his fat arse is scared of getting beat on british soil as fatton would say by an average fighter although i think witter is better than fatty
id like to see hatton fight juniour witter for his last fight in manchester men arena as part of a big undercard… probally a haye fight
lucas you not getting mixed up with hatton screwing the fans
Smart
Hatton is still too much for Amir Khan
He wants to build Khan’s name. Hatton has a name, by getting him in the ring with Khan would get Khan’s name out there more to the casual fan.
@sweet science- Again, this is not about Mayweather, though. I have my criticism of Mayweather. To be honest, I shouldnt have mentioned my critique of Pacquiao because we are missing the point. However, I will tell you this much: Mayweather and Pacman are equal to me until they get in the ring together and I will tell you this much more about this subject: If Pacquiao signs his next fight with someone else other than Mayweather (given its NOT Mayweather’s fault), I will NEVER respect Pacquiao again for screwing the fans to protect his own legacy.
Ok, back to the whole subject at hand: A, I have lost alot of respect to Roach for what he says about Hatton. B, Amir Khan is nothing but a decent fighter until he proves himself against a non washed up top qualify fighter (Clottey would not count), C, I still love Ricky Hatton and think he should fight one last fight against a similar legend on the decline of his career. Thats all I was saying.
@lucas
Maybe you are looking at the wrong side of the ledger when you say Pacquiao weighed more than his opponents you mentioned, box rec says the opposite of what you commented.
Let’s see how the self proclaimed ” best ever” turns out.
@ Lucas……………… now break down Mayweather like you just did pacman, please. im pretty sure it will turn out the same.
@draw- Look, Im not going to debate about the virtues and vices of being a pacquiao fan, because I have already exhausted this topic. But you wanted a list, Ill give you a list and then we can drop and go back to the subject of Roach, Khan being unproven and overrated and Hatton still being a hero who should fight again.
Barrera- Just came off a lose, Pacquiao weighed 2 pounds more than him and he was just plain on the down side of his career, simple as that.
Morales- Pacquiao weighed more than Morales at weigh in. Every single time Pac fought Morales, Morales just came off a loss, including the time where Morales won. Not to mention that Morales was waaay down hill by the time they fought.
Marquez- Pac weight 1 1/2 lbs more than Marquez at weigh in. Personally, if it wasnt for round 1 of the 2004 fight, Marquez would handedly won the fight. Secondly, in the 2nd fight, I still think Marquez should have definitly won EVEN WHEN DROPPED ONCE BY PACMAN!
De La Hoya- Dude, are you serious? De La Hoya lost several fights before fighting Pacquiao and was WAY over the hill. Not to mention that there were many many reports of De La Hoya basically being a sickly old man who was dehydrated to sickness.
Hatton- Weighed more than Hatton at weigh in. Hatton was knocked out by Mayweather 2 fights earlier. DID NOT lose right before Pacquiao, but basically nearly got knocked out by a light hitting Luzcano. Many people though Ricky didnt deserve the win.
Cotto- Looked skinny and weeker than normal. Why not Mosely, Pacman? Just lost and was MURDERED by Margarito. Unfairly won (so in reality should have lost) an unfair decision by a VERY MEDIOCRE Clottey (we now see the truth about Clottey) and yet is truely down hill. You can tell Cotto is not the same Cotto of 3 years ago.
Go look it up on bleacher report the video of Roach choosing Pacquiaos opponents whom he admitted were all washed up legends. Roach is the biggest culprit here. He feels he fails when Pacquiao fails, so he will stop at nothing to make sure Pacquiao wont lose. Bottom line.
I say let Ricky retire, he was exposed already people know his style and you cant teach an old dog new tricks thats why Freddie declined to train him. He will never get off that habit of his pumping his fist before he strikes.
@Jackman- Know, I was saying HATTON should fight Marquez or Cotto, because it would be fair because all are legendary greats, but all of them are on the decline. Everybody keeps talking about how Khan is the next flipping Pacquiao, so if its true, then lets see him against someone like Valero, baby!
@ Lucas
At least you admit he lost to the best in the world! Manny Pacquiao baby!!! Oh yeah…he happens to be under Roach! Freddie Roach all the way!!!
@ashishwarrior
You have some issues brother. Did Hatton not give you an autograph? If you were American you would make a fine Democrat. Expecting everything to be handed to you. Blaming someone else when things don’t do right.
Hatton was a great fighter. He would still rip apart Baby Khan.
bang on the money Lucas mate
Boxing is a business and if Hatton stays in boxing then other less known and less experienced fighters can at least get experience and some notariety fighting him…thats why old fighters still get fights, more than the younger hungrier fighters that could probably bring a more competitive fight. Roach has to find ways to get his fighter “known and experienced” at fighting different styles without being tested too much at this point in Khan’s career. Its a delicate thing to “groom” a fighter and yes plenty of older, washed up fighters are used to accomplish that…thats boxing! Thats business!
hatton would still destroy khan dnt know why people say khan would win
To all who said that Pacquiao is fighting washed up fighters, then provide a name that he should fight at that time who you think is not a washed up fighter. And while doing that, also name a fighter that you think was not fighting fighters who came back from a loss.
hatton ripped you all off as his fans what about the big home coming ha ha ha being a sound guy the kids of hattersley just harrased a 65 year old man to death they cant afford his funeral why dont limp d1ck fatton help them out care in the community and all greed fat bar steward thats why hatton thought p4p was a new burger are something he could eat oh do the cokey
Roach would never ever put khan up against somone like Valero becasue he knows the outcome of the fight before it happens. also i agree with everything lucas said apart from that khan should fight Cotto mabe Marquez but i think cotto would just put another lioss on hattons record and i dont want to say i think Pacquiao is on steroids becuase i have no evidence but after seeing how well cotto can fight at his best e.g when he fought mosley i really fight it hard to beleive what i saw when pac0man used Cotto as a pin ball i think he had some extra strenght behind him ither that or well i duno.
i agree with tonyevs he does not have much belif in khan if he wants to put him up against over the hill fighters.
he thinks that an over the hill hatton is on khans level itheir that or he just wants khan to put some big names on his record but if hatton fought khan like he fought in his prime khan wouldent last 3 rounds in my opinion
Completely agree with Lucas! At last someone with a bit of respect for what Hattons achieved!
Hatton’s better off retiring because he doesn’t take care of himself. He’d need to kill himself for a year to get back in shape. Then at fight night he gets knocked out cold again. That can’t be good for the body.
Sadly its the state of boxing today. Hatton is too `shot a fighter` for Roach to train … but an ideal opponent for one of Roachs guys to fight????????????
There was a time not that long ago when a world champion fought worthy contenders …
It kinda shows the belief Roach has in Khan .. about as much belief as everybody else has in the fragile chinned pretender.
it’s actually very simple, ROACH knew that even if he train hatton, he’d still lose because he’s declinining so he dont want any part of it, as for khan its the perfect opportunity to build up his resume by beating a beatble, on the decline known fighter, this is boxing business, why you imposing roach to be a saint and look out for the best for everybody?
Roach failed! rather, he should say- “Hatton stop!!! don’t fight Khan. it’s bad to your health.”
The more and more I hear about Freddie Roach, the more I get turned off by him. Just like Pacquiao. I used to be the biggest Pacquiao fan out there, until I read many articles about all of Pacquiao’s greatest opponents just coming off of a big loss and on the down side of their careers. I heard Manny is looking to fight Margarito, but what does that tell you? Margarito just lost big in his last fight against the underdog of the opponent who you claimed “ducked” you! Lastly, Margarito is great but he usually loses against the REALLY big names….
So, what about Amir Khan? Well, first, Freddie, you said that you whished you could have trianed Ricky and now you turned him down?! But to my point.. This news seems typical of Freddie.. Putting his fighters against “washed up” fighters, like Ricky Hatton (however, I do want Ricky to have one last fight against a declining fighter). Its like a perfect Roach mentality to put his fighter against a washed up fighter. Look, everybody keeps talking about how great Amir Khan is and he hasnt even done ANYTHING to prove hes all that great. His ass got knocked out cold by a mediocre fighter and he beat a REALLY washed up Barrera and a mediocre champion. WHOOPEDY DOO!! You got a lot to prove young man. Beating Ricky Hatton isnt saying anything. Lets see him fight Valero or Maidana and then I will be impressed.
Lastly, I dont know why everybody wants Ricky to quit. Perhaps he needs a new trainer! Hes pretty young and there are plenty of good fighters who lost FAR more than Ricky at his age and are even better while OLDER than Ricky. Just look at Mosely! Please, Ricky, you are one of my favorite fighters, please dont quit (and Im American). Marquez would be perfect because he is on the decline too. Him or Cotto would be perfect. God bless you Ricky, you are an amazing man to have over 40 fights without a defeat and yet you only lost to the best in the world. Good grief, give the man a break.