While I was watching the recent Mayweather-Hatton 24/7 episode 2 special on HBO the other day, I couldn’t help notice the similarities between Floyd Mayeather Jr’s training regiman and that of the fictional character Apollo Creed from the Rocky movies. Both fighters tended to overly pamper themselves, not focusing on what had gotten them to the top in the first place. In Mayweather’s case, he seemed almost looking for ways to get out of boxing, for example, when he was visiting a massage therapist, who had given him a recommendation that he should get out of boxing soon due to his various injuries.
Ricky Hatton
Hatton Mayweather: Is Ricky The Bigger Draw?
As the time inches closer to the December 8th showdown between unbeaten fighters Rikcy Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs), I’ve noticed that Hatton seems to get the more attention from fans in the majority of the websites that I’ve checked out. It’s seems particularly odd, because most of the fans – probably Americans and Canadians – have likely only seen Hatton fight once or twice, if at all, meaning his reputation has been carried largely by word of mouth and by HBO’s 24/7 advertising. It’s not that Mayweather doesn’t have his legions of fans, because they’re are quite a few crazed fans on his side, the type that would back him no matter how much he runs and pot shots.
“I Am The Greatest” – Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In a recent press conference, World Boxing Council welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs) said “I respect what Robinson and Ali did for the sport, but I am the greatest and this is my time.” It’s unclear whether Mayweather, in fact, believes what he says or whether it was done to get more publicity for himself and December 8th bout with Ricky Hatton. However, after watching Hatton-Mayweather 24/7 on HBO, I tend to think Mayweather actually believes that he is the greatest fighter of all time, even though he’s weaved his career and somehow avoided taking on the best fighters in each weight class that he’s competed in.
Certainly, his performance in his last bout, a split decision over the aged Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007, would indicate that Mayweather is far from being the greatest. In fact, Mayweather likely isn’t even the best of the welterweights at this point in time. That would, it seem, belong either to Paul Williams, Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, all of which Mayweather would find it hard to use his punch and run style with much effectiveness.
“I’d Love To Fight Cotto” – Ricky Hatton
As lnternational Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) prepares for his upcoming showdown with Floyd Mayweather on December 8th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hatton took time out for a chat session at ESPN. During the session, Hatton, 29, when asked whether he’d like to fight Miguel Cotto, said ” I’d love to fight Miguel Cotto.” There it was point blank, something that the writers like me had been waiting for, a bombshell blast.
For most of us, we’d either not considered that Hatton could beat Mayweather, or we naturally assumed that he fight Oscar De La Hoya next, whom has been saying in the media that he’s interested in fighting Hatton. Naturally, a fight with De La Hoya would easily make mean more money for Hatton than one against Cotto, a new star in the boxing world for most fans. Cotto’s promoter, Bob Arum, has also mentioned Hatton as a future opponent, possibly in 2008, but the fight would hinge on a number of important factors, namely that Hatton would have to first beat Mayweather for it to happen.
Mayweather Advisor Predicts KO Win Over Hatton
The adviser for WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather (38-0, 24 KOs), Leonard Ellerbe, is predicting a knockout win for Mayweather over Ricky Hatton, according to John Martinez of eastsideboxing.com. “This fight is the biggest fight that Hatton has ever been in. For Floyd, all he is going to do is be himself and that is the six-time world champion in five different weight classes and undefeated in eight years.
Hatton Shows Some Rare Courage When In Front of Manchester fans
By Gary Jones: After a week of watching Ricky Hatton get constantly embarrassed over and over again by Floyd Mayweather Jr,, Hatton finally showed a little courage at Manchester when he let loose with a couple four letter words directed at Mayweather. It was funny, but also sad, mainly because Hatton had stood by in earlier press conferences, smiling silently and chewing his gum with a ridiculous look on his face like he was too embarrassed to respond. But once in Manchester, Hatton suddenly gets brave and finally responds now that he’s backed by thousands of his fans, many of them singing English songs, cursing and drowning out any comments made by Mayweather.
The best that Hatton could say, however, was calling Mayweather a “puff” and “a six year old,” mixed in with a couple of four letter words. It was pathetic of Hatton, and made him look less than courageous in large part because he had waited until he was in front of his home fans to finally respond to Mayweather’s constant insults. Up until then, Hatton had been repeatedly nsulted by Mayweather, who had done an excellent job of making a complete fool of Hatton.
Hatton-Mayweather: Fighting on The Back Foot
By David Lahr: At the recent press conference in Manchester with Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs), Hatton commented that Mayweather “fights like a woman” and “fights on the back foot,” meaning that Mayweather tends to fight in a mostly a safety first defensive posture to avoid taking shots from his opponents. However, what Hatton fails to realize in saying this, though, is that all of the former great boxers of the past, for example, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammed Ali, Ezzard Charles and Jack Johnson, as well as boxing stars of the present, like Roy Jones Jr., and Chris Byrd, use the same style of fighting with most of their weight on their back foot.
There’s no shame in having a sound defense, as the nature of boxing is to hit and avoid being hit in return. Somehow, Hatton has got it mixed up in his head about fighting, perhaps thinking it’s a test of manhood to take unecessary shots to the head in order to gain the respond of the fans. Who knows? That may be a requirement in England, but if it is, it’s something that they need to get away from because the boxer is the one that has to live with the results of being punches continuously in the head, not the fans.
Mayweather-Hatton On HBO
“This fight is going to be extremely exciting, the buzz is worldwide and I am very excited that Golden Boy can bring another great event to boxing fans,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “This is one of the biggest nights in boxing history, showcasing a welterweight match-up between two undefeated fighters … a fantastic way to end a record-breaking year.”
Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions said, “Mayweather Promotions is delighted to be a part of this tremendous event. December 8 will be our first major promotion and its magnitude only is a testament to our commitment to bring great boxing match-ups to fans around the world.”