Ricky Hatton versus Takeshi Paul Fuji

Hatton by majority film decision.

I know Fuji was rated a destructive puncher...but on paper I think Ricky can maul his way to a decision or late stoppage.

But I really cant say Ive only seen Fuji getting schooled by Locche.

 

Could go either way I think. Hatton would be eating a lot of leather but I'd say he probably manages to bull Fuji to the ropes at some point and break him up too. Be a lot of action.

 

Hatton in a close but clear decision.

 

That ref wasn't too desperate to break it up at the end there.

 

Right, all I have seen of Fuji is that video Mcgrain posted and the Locche fight.

Now my first impressions of Fuji was as a wide puncher who needed room to throw damaging shots, now this would play into Hattons hands as he was a smothering type fighter like the Kostya Tzsyu fight.

However the second knockdown of that video Fuki knocks him down with a series of short mauling punches, although his opponent was already hurt, it was the short punches that dropped him. Also Hatton is susceptible to hooks which Fuji seems to revel in, so this would play against Hatton, although I think he could get into the arc of the hook and smother Fuji, to get his own work going.

I'm not 100% lads, give us some feedback.

 

Interesting match-up.

I think Hatton in 'Tackie' mode will do alright. I he mixes up boxing and mauling when Fuji gets close, rather than doing it too often (as to be honest as strong as Hatton was this guy looks like he'd possibly get the better of it there) I think he can win a close points decision.

I have no idea about the above opponent he's decimating, and as others have said, the Locche fight is no good indication to how Ricky would fare.

Tentatively, and admitting I don't know enough, Hatton points.

 

Anything could happen with the kind of power Fuji possessed and his raw aggression. If Hatton can hold on and as GPater said, smother Fuji's punches, he could win a decision.

 

What do you think of Hattons chin, and the fact he can be tagged and hurt by hooks.

 

I think he had a solid chin but with the way he fought he did not see left hooks coming all the time. Look at the way he leads with his left hook leaving himself completely open. Mayweather took advantage of that, Lazcano later hurt him the same way and Pacquiao all but finished off his career.

If he gets hit by Fuji the way Lopopolo was, he'd get hurt. Sandro wasn't a bad fighter either, he just got caught. That was the only time he was stopped outside of one of his very last fights well past his prime.

However the belt should have belonged to Nicolino Locche at this point who had beaten Lopopolo in a non-title bout before Paul Fuji KO'd him.

 

If Fuji does land his shot he is going to hurt Hatton, and I think he will land it at some point, it is if Fuji can finish him off.

Hatton would have to fight quite a disciplined fight and look to smother Fuji and stay on him, non stop.

 

He was a betting favorite over Locche.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/933255632.html?dids=933255632:933255632&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+12%2C+1968&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Hawaiian+Favorite+Over+Argentine+Foe&pqatl=google

"[SIZE=-1]TOKYO (AP) -- Paul Takeshi Fuji, the slugging Hawaiian who fights out of Japan, was a strong favorite over Nicolino Loche of Argentina in the second defense"

Unfortunately I'd have to pay for the full article.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IRMOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xHsDAAAAIBAJ&dq=locche fuji&pg=5442,2055104
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