What would be more damaging to Hatton's legacy?

Two wins, one against a welterweight titlist. The "recent form" is 3-1, the one loss coming to the P4P number one when stepping up in weight. I don't think thats enough evidence to make me think Hatton couldn't beat Witter and Pauli.

 

I would never hold the defeat to Mayweather against him so let's just put that aside. He scraped through against Urango and Collazo. Many people felt Collazo beat him although I had it 114-113 to Hatton. Knocking out JLC was impressive although I'm not sure how much Castillo had left at that point. Still, beating any Castillo in 4 rounds is pretty good.

I'm not saying Witter is definitely better but I would say that on recent form it looks pretty close.

 

The answer is a no brainer.

If he lost to Witter it would completetely **** up Hattons legacy and that's why the fight will never take place!

 

Thats pretty fair Mike, I just think Hattons beaten better men even if he's struggled a few times. Recently Witter has Corely who hasn't won a fight since, Kolteknik and Lynes on points and Harris who is probably just as shot as JLC but not as good in the first place.

 

a truly laughable comment, and one that even most American boxing fans will (rightly) deride as utter shite. Find another sport to comment on mate.

 

Harris's wasn't as shot as Castillo, Castillo is shot to the point of failing to make weight at 140, and didnt even want to be in the ring with Hatton, looked very slow and looked like he didnt even train properly for Hatton,Harris looked in way better nick and had obviously improved his stamina for Witter, and Hatton has been in with Mayweather, bar that his opponents since castillo have been the same level as Witter's opponents some maybe the bigger name in Castillo, but both were fighting World or former world champions.

 

No, they haven't been on the same level.

If you look at Hatton's last ten opponents on a versus basis, I would bet that at least eight of Ricky's are better than Junior's.

Mayweather vs Harris (RH)
Castillo vs Morua (RH)
Urango vs Corley (RH)
Collazo vs Lynes (RH)
Maussa vs Kotelnik (JW)
Tszyu vs N'Dou (RH)
Oliveira vs Bienias (RH)
Stewart vs Battaglia (RH)
Vilches vs Hall (RH) - Both crap
Pedersen vs Kinuthia (RH) - Both crap

So 9 in favour of Ricky here for me - any advance?

 

Hatton was fighting the elderly.

Putting Urango over Corley? What the **** has Urango done that Corley hasnt??

Id also pick Bataglia over Stewart at least Bataglia at least lost in a very close fight to a top fighter unlike Stewart is famous for the Contender and thats it.

 

I can not see Hatton getting by Lazcano.

 

Won the three following fights instead of losing them?

 

If Hatton loses to Witter, he'll be seen as a fraud

And he knows it...

At the same time, if he doesn't fight him hardcore boxing fans will remember that, and it WILL tarnish his legacy no matter what his fans say

 

I agree totally.

But the bigger blot would be to lose, as opposed to not fighting him.

 

It obvious that it's losing to Witter which would be worse. As said, that's why the fight isn't likely to happen. The rammifications of losing to Witter far outweigh the desire to shut him up once and for all. I have always understood that. Is that now accepted behaviour for champs now? They can now disregard a challenger that might be good enough because they're not popular enough and everyone's cool with that? I know boxing's a business too, but I get disillusioned when even fans think ducking is a good thing. For better fighters, I can understand, but for worse ones? Paulie has barely two notable wins (if you count Ngoudjo as a win) and happens to be American. If people really think he's a better fighter than Witter, Frank Warren really has done his job well.

 

I don't think Paulie is a better fighter than Witter at all, in fact quite the opposite. But there have been many instances of fighters turning down a fight due to the risk reward factor. Everyone wants to fight Hatton because he will be their biggest payday (realistically) - and though they stand a chance of getting beaten, they can use the excuse that 43 others have gone the same way. Witter, on the other side, couldn't fill a phonebox in a thunderstorm - low payday, and even if you win, he would make you look ****.

 

I didnt know that, but if that is true, then constantly calling out Hatton is perhaps a bit lame.