Sharmba Mitchell vs Ricky Hatton

Mitchell could probably win this one.

 

Ricky Hatton was a little better. I say he wins a UD.

 

Mitchell had no heart. I think the Hatton that beat Tszyu would have taken Mitchells heart.

 

Hatton wins this by late rounds stoppage. Mitchell was not very durable. He usually made this a non-issue by avoiding alot of punishment with his speed and reflexes, but Hatton would track him down by banging the body, until Mithchell would slow down, languish on the ropes and get pummelled. Mitchell was exposed in similar fasion early in his career by Steve Johnson and Levander Johnson. It was a credit to him that he rebounded and won a title. But, he did this through clever management and smart selection of opponents. He would not beat Hatton.

 

Mitchell was 23 when he suffered back to back losses to future champions. Yes, he rebounded very well and was beating contenders left and right for a decade. Clever management?

 

Yes, clever management. His best victories between the Johnson ko loss and the first Tszu ko loss (a span of seven years, not ten years) were: a ko of a young, green Terron Millett in 1995, a decision over two time title challenger Jose Barboza in 1997 (a WBA favorite), a decision over the light-hitting Kalid Rhaliou for the WBA Title, a split decision defense over tough but ordinary Reggie Green. None of these fighters, except Millett had legitimate KO power, ahd he was inexperienced at the time. After the first Tszu loss, Sharma won a split decision over a faded Vince Phillips and a decision over the tough but soft punching and oft-beaten Ben Tackie. Then was ko'd by Tszu again.

I'm no Hatton fan, he was the benefactor of great management and promoter Frank Warren, but he did KO Tszu shortly after Tszu had ko'd Mitchell for the second time. He had the style to beat Mitchell. Apply great pressure and overpower the slick but fragile Mitchell.

 

a alternate universe exists in your mind where hatton never won a single fight doesnt it...

 

Not really, I just think these mobile boxers give Hatton fits. Mitchell was a pretty good fighter when his knee wasnt giving out. To be perfectly honest Hatton was not that good in my opinion. He was a pretty crude slugger and slick boxer mover was going to give him fits, always.

 

Hatton was quite overrated..he got the maximum amount of his "15 minutes of fame".

 

i will take hatton by a ud in a close fight

 

I liked Mitchell, he's better than Malignaggi and probably on par with Collazo but smaller and faster. Fast southpaws gave Hatton fits and Mitchell fits this role, but he is a none puncher so Hatton can walk him down to an extent. But Hatton had fast feet to chase none punchers down and in his prime had a very high workrate. Allot of people thought Mitchell got a gift against Ndou around 2004 so Hatton being better beats him at this period in time as he was past prime after Tyszu 1 anyway. All in all I lean towards Hatton and he did better against common opponents in Tyszu, Phillips and Tackie

Witter would probably knock them both out around 2004

 

I wouldnt say he was overated. He got pretty far with a pretty crude style. Hatton was not a powerful guy and his defense was pretty leaky, but he threw a lot of punches and had a ton of determination and toughness.
If you think hes overated in the head to head sense against technically good fighters historically, I would agree with that.

 

Rahilou had just battered Randall in Randall's hometown. Mitchell went to France and outclassed Rahilou.
Mitchell clearly beat Phillips.
Tackie wasn't soft punching. He was no knockout artist (well except for that KO of the year) but he had decent pop in his punches. Soft punchers are boxers like Malignaggi, Urkal etc. Tackie (who was coming off a loss to Mitchell) gave Hatton all he could handle. Mitchell beat him fairly easily and is the only man to have knocked down the granite-chinned Tackie. Because of his toughness Tackie was later relegated to being a test for up-and-comers. Many of those fights were close fights and fights that he was never going to win on points.
Clever managment doesn't put you against so many top contenders and Tszyu X 2.

I never said that he was going to beat Hatton. With a proper referee he has a decent chance although I would still favor Hatton.