Khan's career to mirror Bruno's?

FW must be like Darth Vader when he offers them the WBU title. Offers domestic or area journeymen more money and a world title even though It's a crap title.

 

Sadly in a sport like boxing can you blame them.. Its down to the fighter at the end of the day. But titles like the WBU are bad news for boxing in the long term and don't help to further a fighters career. If a fighter has found his level then fair enough. But for Hatton to make so many defenses of such a slipshod piece of crap like the WBU and then be talked about among the pantheon of great boxers is disgusting and most of all insulting to any fan with normal intelligence.

 

That's a little off-base, it's what Ricky did after the WBU run that had people enthused about him...no-one was saying pre-2005 that he was a candidate for greatness when he had that WBU bauble after all. If he'd retired at the end of 2004 he wouldn't have anyone outside the UK talking him up.

WBU is a stepping-stone, no more than that. At some point it's necessary and then you move on.

 

Not for 15 defences on Sky Sports at my "pocket" it aint. Who else in boxing has made that many defences of the WBU? Il tell you for free. NO ONE.

You cant just forget his history just because he had one bout with a guy who was semi retired. And then a few bouts in the US against guys we`d never heard of. Its farcical.

 

i agree that wbu title ended up holding him back.

he should have been moved quicker.

 

But surely Hatton's 15 title defences was pro boxing at its best? A fighter and promoter making excellent money and minimum risk because a TV station wanted to headline its shows with world title fights....

22,000 odd showing up at the MEN, fight in and fight out kind of proved them right IMO.

 

He ought to have had more self respect than to defend the WBU.

Granted, Tszyu held all the main belts, but if he was ready (we kept hearing it) and didn't fancy Tszyu, why not drop down to lightweight which was much weaker at the time and clean up there?

Then move up for the Tszyu fight and follow his path afterward - but I would have had Mayweather immediately after Tszyu rather than Maussa and leaving Floyd while later.

 

By the time Hatton and Kostya fought all he had left was the IBF. The rest were stripped from him. Prior to that Hatton turned down a mandatory for the WBO and the WBA.

 

For $$$ reasons I understand.

Shame.

 

That is why Hatton could get away with 15 defences of WBU alphabet crap. Boxing fans are seemingly obssessed with alphabet crap.

Kostya Tszyu proved himself the best 140lber on the planet, thus no matter what belt held his trousers up, he remained champion until he retired, moved weight division or lost in the ring.

Ricky Hatton won The 140lbs World Championship the night (morning) he beat Tszyu; whatever other trinket came with that win was a bonus/burden.

 

:thumbsup

 

It wasn't hatton idea to fight at two in the morning but they had to accomodate showtime telly in America.

 

When did this turn into a Hatton thread?

 

Reading though; from post #17 I think.

 

Khan has much more talent that Bruno ever had, ok Khan has dodgy whiskers at the moment but with some specialist defence coaching from a top trainer he could be the real deal.
I don't blame the ****er for being confident, hes a young kid who won a silver at the olympics and works hard at what he does, he's not perfect by any means and he probably knows that himself.
I find it ridiculous that after the fight with Gomez, Rosenthal was focusing on the negatives of his performance straightaway, not suprising that fighters get cocky as everyone cant wait to knock them down as soon as they show a weakness, Andy Murray being a case in point.
The complete contrast to Bruno is obvious, Bruno was lucky to get a world title shot as he continually fought bums throughout his career and made himself look great, the public loved him because he was a character not because he was a great talent. The fact is he had a good punch and that was it, as soon as he got tagged he was like a drunken tramp and you felt for his safety.

Its still early days for Khan I just hope he gets credit where its due, if he deserves it and focuses on becoming the best he can be and not some celebrity loser like Bruno was.
Hate the way the british public support losers!