Hatton v Witter..

Correct answer.

That fight had been discussed since 2000 or so, but I've always felt Hatton should've gone for it after Witter beat Chop. HBO approved Witter as an opponent following Hatton's successful unification tilt against Maussa, but Witter had looked flat against Colin Lynes and Ricky chose Collazo and the accomplishment of becoming a two-weight titlist, which was understandable — upon his decision to return to 140, though, he could've held off committing to the Urango fight and waited a matter of weeks for the outcome of Witter-Corley, then challenged Witter for the WBC instead of boxing the Colombian to regain his old IBF strap. I don't doubt that Junior would've jumped at the opportunity to make some big money, but it seems clear that Ricky was contemptuous of him and just plain didn't want to give him the payday at that point.

With that said, realistically, Hatton had too much dog and hustle for Witter, who could blow hot and cold and would've struggled to cope with Ricky's directness and intensity. You can find previews in spots of the Lovemore Ndou fight where Ndou would bull his way inside and let his shots go, except Hatton wasn't going to spend near as much of the night at long to medium range being hypnotized by Witter's snake charmer act, he would've been throwing caution to the wind and using his footspeed to repeatedly force his way into those close quarters, where Junior would've been able to do little but spoil his way to a clear UD loss in a messy fight, if he wasn't overwhelmed or bullied into submission (and Witter did have quit in him, as Devon Alexander revealed).

Witter could punch, had long arms and handspeed, but his style doesn't allow him to make good use of those assets in this matchup — he feeds off an opponent's hesitation, which he uses to set up shots, he isn't a sharp enough counterpuncher to time a gung-ho Hatton with his best shots as he steams in.

 

Witter wins the biggest payday of his career!
But gets beat up in the ring,

 

There's a reason it was so in demand, and that's because it was a real head-scratcher to predict (more so than because anybody who knew both fighters really thought it would be a toe-to-toe corker of a fight or anything).

On the one hand you could easily see the awkwardly disruptive Witter pulling a Calzaghe vs. Lacy on the comparably far more basic Hatton. On the other hand, Lacy, while he packed more pop (in a p4p sense as well as just being larger bloke) overall and in that signature left hook especially, did not have anywhere near Hatton's engine, work rate or inside game - so there's a chance Ricky might've shaded a lot of close rounds in the view of judges of a particular bent of stylistic preference, no matter whether he was less effective or accurate than Witter.

 

Its a fight that should have happened, and would have helped Hattons legacy, but now it just reminds us that Ricky didn't really want it because of the risk of losing to his arch rival. I wish he would have fought Witter, win, lose, or draw. I thought Hatton would have won clearly, but it would have been dangerous and Hatton had alot to lose. If he fought aggressive and smart I think Hatton would take it, similar to the Eamon McGee fight.

 

It has just always done my head in that Rick balked at making beacoup dosh in a big domestic clash with Junior... but then had no problem taking on another, lesser-known tricky southpaw, this one a full weight class larger, abroad no less, in Luis Collazo. Just - what? How did that logic work?

"Yes, of course I'm willing to look bad versus a lefty and risk either taking an L or edging it out in controversial fashion - but I absolutely insist on not doing it to a packed house full of my rabid Mank fans, and I'd prefer if my opponent were less of a financial draw. Oh and make sure he's physically bigger than me, too, cheers."

 

Even if Witter had pulled off a win, it's very hard to see him putting on that kind of display of dominance.

And that goes some way to explaining why. Witter isn't going to negate those qualities for the entirety of a fight.

If, for argument's sake, Hatton hadn't become deeply resistant to the idea of boxing Witter on account of some haughty/butthurt personal conviction;

Witter was coming off a flat, indifferent performance against Colin Lynes at York Hall, while Collazo offered the chance to become a 'champion' in a second division. It was a bigger challenge/accomplishment and would seem to embolden his P4P credentials. Easy one to understand.

It would be more confusing that Hatton, having determined a return to 140, didn't then wait a short time to see what what happened with Witter and Corley before committing himself to a bout with Urango.

Truth is, though, Hatton strongly disliked Witter, was sore over the perceived disrespect Junior had extended toward him as far back as Ricky's bout with Thaxton, and nothing short of the embarrassment of huge public demand would've pushed him to give Junior the fight. He was earning handsomely without Junior and judged it a greater punishment to freeze him out of the big money than give him a hiding in the ring.

For Witter's part, while Hatton-Witter was a promotable fight for Sky, one their publicity machine could've done a big job on once signed, actual public demand for it never reached a fever pitch. Junior didn't really keep up his end and force the issue by looking spectacular and making noise when he needed to (the splattering of Viv Harris came too late), so Ricky was never put in a position where his wider public/sporting image could be compromised by not making the Witter fight.

 

The "edgy" , " I'm a hardcore boxing fan " answer is Witter

The correct answer is Ricky

 

Hatton, more output, fast enough feet to shut down Witters moving and much stronger inside.

Witter liked to pose, take time off in rounds and you couldn't do that with Hatton. Witter's power was good but maybe not quiet as good as that KO streak might have looked at first.


Hatton stoppage

 

Agree it's what I first thought when I saw the thread title.
It's really having that rep of being the daddy in the UK. nobody wants that number 2 status so they won't risk it unless like with Khan it's a cash out fight passed prime. as you still can make an excuse anf go "I would have beaten him in my prime"
I always though Witter's style would have been awkward for Ricky. Witter could stink out the joint and was hard to look good against. I would probably edge with Ricky on workrate but it wouuld be a messy scrap.

 

The follow the sheep answer Hatton
The people who know answer Witter

 

Witter.

He would have a rough few early rounds, but would pick him apart from the outside from around the fifth and get a UD.

 

Hatton would have got to him,Witters Ingle style was slick and he was heavy handed but constant pressure from Hatton would have wore him down and got the stoppage after a few rough early rounds as already mentioned .

 

Hatton all day long. Hatton was equally all wrong for witter as witter was for hatton style wise....imo he was probably more so. Fair enough hatton wouldnt have liked the tricky footwork...the long punches....switch hitting etc. By the same token tho witter would not have liked hattons foot speed. Relentlessness....constantly moving forward etc. Its pretty much the best way to beat an ingle fighter.

Ricky hardly lost a round in his fights leading up to tyzsu....he pretty much beat guys from pillar to post from the first round to the last a lot of the time. Its actually a pity they never got him fighting better opposition earlier than they did...because a younger hatton would have taking some better names than he ended up doing.

He was better than witter. I dont even think it was much of a duck due to the fact witter had no problems putting on a boring fight. At the point he was due to meet hatton....hatton was on the way to building a massive following....looking better/more entertaining every fight almost. The last thing you want to do is fight someone that could put on a bad show at that point and thats what witter represented. That was more the problem than anything else. Witter would have made hatton not look good and it probably wouldnt have been a good fight to watch. But he was the better fighter.

I dont see a massive comparison between khan v brook and witter v hatton. Khan and brook we,re both entertaining fighters both with good followings. On the otherhand witter was often not very entertaining with no real following in comparison to hatton who looked red hot in the early days building a massive following.

 

No. I couldn't stand Ricky at the time, guy annoyed the crap out of me, but he has become quite grossly underrated in the years since a lesser version was flattened by Pac.

Hatton is the educated answer.