KNOCK ON HATTON - The only elite fighters he beat were old and past prime. There certainly is a lot of truth to that. Hatton's two biggest victories came against Tszyu in 2005 and Castillo this year. Tszyu was 35 at the time, and after quitting on his stool after the 11th round, retired from boxing. Castillo was 33, had 64 fights under his belt and was moving up from lightweight. He also had been in many wars, most notably the terrific first bout with Corrales, in which both fighters left the ring seriously battered. Mayweather has said repeatedly that Hatton made his reputation beating "old men." Again, pretty much true. But let's turn the spotlight on Mayweather now. Floyd's biggest fights against top boxers in their prime came at lightweight. His last fight at that weight came in November of 2003, when he beat 26-year-old Phillip N'dou. Now look at the ages of the men Mayweather has beaten since then, beginning with his last fight against Oscar De La Hoya: De La Hoya (34), Carlos Baldomir (35), Zab Judah (29 but coming in off a loss to Baldomir), Sharmba Mitchell (35), Arturo Gatti (33), Henry Bruseles (25, but a B-level fighter) and DeMarcus Corley (30). In fact, the last time Mayweather stepped into the ring against an elite fighter in his prime was in December of 2002 in a rematch with Castillo. Floyd won a close fight on the cards by strictly out boxing Castillo, 115-113 twice, and 116-113. So while Hatton arguably has gilded his reputation by beating a couple of old men, Mayweather hasn't exactly been fighting young bucks. Obviously De La Hoya, who dropped a split decision to Mayweather in May, is still an elite fighter, but at 34 he's no where near the boxer he was in his prime. Hatton turned 29 two months ago and is definitely in his prime.
De La Hoya's good why...Felix Strum beat him for Christ sake and when did he last beat a prime fighter...Vargas?, Judah...please someone who gets beat by a journeyman like Baldomir isn't what I call good anymore.
They have equal opposition at 140 and 147. Bruseles is no better than Urango or Maussa. Castillo, Mitchell, Gatti, and Baldomir are very similar old but not great fighters. Collazo and Judah both troubled them. DLH and Tzsyu are old great fighters.
Luckily very soon we will no longer have to rely on their resumes to try and determine who is the better fighter.
Floyd is too busy slurring Hatton that he forgets that he is guilty of the same crimes. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones..
