Why was Ricky Hatton so popular?

Lets all be honest about the Witter fight (or lack of);

If the money had have been right it would have happened.

It wasnt, so it didnt.

That's the only reason fights dont happen. Froch v Calzaghe is exactly the same.

Why wasnt the money right? Because like it or lump it Witter wasnt, isnt and will not be a big draw. Outside of these forums who is arsed? I dont know any casual sports fans who had heard of Witter. Therefore, the ol' risk reward ratio, just wasnt worth it. It was worth it for Witter because he'd earn more from a Hatton fight than he would anywhere else so he could afford the risk of being beaten. Hatton on the other hand could earn more elsewhere so why fight Witter?

(Other than obviously to satisfy the baying internet mob).

Hatton beat Tzsyu who beat Zab who beat Witter. Since that fight there has been no reason for the fight to happen. Prior to that maybe it should have, but it didnt. Because the money wasnt right. No other reason.

.

 

And you think the WBU cans like Pedersen are a DRAW?

Foolish, feeble and hypocritical excuse.

Not everybody can be a draw in boxing, that comes down to many things. The fact is the vast majority are not huge draws because boxing is a minority sport.

 

Risk ratio

My post clearly states Witter did not satisfy the risk ratio. Had he been able to generate more money for a fight then he would have satisfied the risk ratio.

Froch is the same. Prior to beating Taylor there wasnt a chance that a fight with Calzaghe would happen. If Joe C was still active then maybe now that would change.

 

There are many ways to dress it up nicely but the conclusion is always the same. Hatton was scared of losing the fight and everything he built up. He was scared of losing to Witter.

Pretty sad really, because British boxing missed out on a big fight, a grudge fight, and one that looking back now should Hatton of won it would be one of his top 3 best wins.

 

I really dont see it that way.

There's a difference between risking your future for an amount less than it's worth and being scared.

Given the way Hatton's career panned out, I'd say he made a decent choice to be honest.

 

He was scared of losing. How else are you supposed to say it?

I'm not saying he was scared of big, bad Junior Witter as a human (although his Award Ceremony comments make me wonder) but as a fighter he feared what he saw and didn't want to risk it.

For all the **** people talk about Witter, I keep reminding people to work out where Witter would fit on Hatton's list of best wins. Check for yourself, its an eye opener. Hatton knew Witter was a good fighter quite obviously, if he'd have believed in himself and won the fight long-term his resume would have benefited.

 

And if he lost he'd have gotten no where near zoo.

It was a fight that he didnt benefit from at the time and then the opportunity passed because Hatton was above Witter and could chase bigger fights.

 

Get a life and move on man.....

 

Tszyu
Castillo - big name, good stoppage
Collazo - been in with good company, at 147
Urango - has subsequently won back a belt
Malignaggi - No.1 challenger by consensus
= 6th Maussa/Witter

I'd say Witter would be level with Maussa - both men's best wins are against Harris and both had short reigns.

People vastly over-rate Junior's record just because he's British... his record is weak IMO. He was manouevred to a belt. Corley was a joke opponent at this stage, a gift, on home soil too.

Your argument is weak AND disingenuous, it (conveniently) fails to take into account that Hatton has faced the 2 best fighters on the planet too.

So in his career Hatton has fought about 7 or 8 better fighters (and a couple more who were past their best when he faced them) than Witter.

I'd say that is plenty enough evidence to dispel any of this 'ducking' nonsense.

 

Witter was #1 challenger "by consensus" at a point too. It's just that Malignaggi seemed to tie in nicely when he was because he's a soft touch that can't punch a lick.

Man, give that **** up, Maussa is a complete and utter joke. He got starched in a round, the guy can not even spell box and Urango's resume is feeble even compared to JW. He's beaten Ngdoujo and a shell of Vilches, big deal.

 

Then it speaks volumes that his best win is against the same guy as Junior

Hatton has faced (and beaten) a number of fighters better than Witter

Witter has beaten nobody close to Hatton's quality

Only an idiot would dispute that

So what's your point again?

 

My point is Hatton ducked him for years, and I've already said I give Hatton a bye for a number of so called "bigger" (not neccessarily tougher) fights in a lot of cases.

That doesn't change the fact he was fighting tomato cans like Pedersen and Rios, and managed to fight his other domestic competitors but conveniently managed to avoid the one that was world class talent. Convenient indeed, he would have been layed out.

 

Hatton has fought better guys, and beaten them, so that is highly unlikely.

You're getting a bit desperate now, like Junior himself all those years begging Hatton for a payday.

 

It was highly unlikely that Lazcano was supposed to send Foster sprawling into action after a hook detonated on Ricky's chin. It would have looked a lot worse against an operator like Witter that truely can punch awkwardly from either stance, so in that respect it was a good decision to decline when Witter wanted to call his bluff after being offered pennies.