Floyd Mayweather vs Ricky Hatton

Perhaps the biggest fight involving a British boxer ever.

It's 'going down' on Saturday. Apparently Mayweather has missed training sessions and hasn't been seen for days. All sorts of rumours are going around.

I really hope it isn't going to be called off. Hatton is in the shape of his life and looks really focused. Though he has very little chance of causing an upset, at least he does have a chance. Anyone watching the 24/7 series on HBO? I find myself switching from disgust to pity at Mayweather. His family and upbringing sound like hell.

Any fight fans apart from Danny boy? Any thoughts or predictions?

Btw, how big is boxing in cricketing counties like Australia and India? Interest in Aus must have died down since Tszyu retired.

Ha ha......Floyd vs Ricky..........

Have they selected their handbags yet?

bliksem wrote:Ha ha......Floyd vs Ricky..........

Have they selected their handbags yet?

Eh?

Hatton is at pretty good odds for this - esp for a knockout.

Should be a cracker.

He should be at good odds for a knockout, I doubt he'll chin Mayweather, possible body punching. The physical size is the thing. Usually Hatton can dominate by not being able to be moved around and still being able to pummel away at his opponent. Bigger blokes can work some space to grab on or even push him away and set themselves. It probably wont happen this time. Floyd is favourite.

Though what I will say is Ricky's got a decent chin and Mayweather's not concussive in his punching, more stinging apparently - this is well in Ricky's favour as he doesn't tire massively until round 10 and if Mayweather cannot knock him out it's hard to see him winning on points. American judges, or judges in American-based fights, like busy fighters who're constantly throwing punches - not so much calibre of the punches thrown.

I don't think Floyd has ever fought anybody like Ricky - chin down and angular punches coming horizontally - if De La Hoya had Ricky's style I think he'd have beaten Mayweather but as it was he allowed Floyd to use his feet and get his jab going - Oscar was always on the back foot.

They say styles make fights and I'm hoping so because a classy brawler against a quick, flashy fighter is usually a good one.

Looking forward to it, though quite nervous. I've been a massive Ricky Hatton fan since he started and I dread to see him lose.

My heart's saying Hatton and I'm going to let my head go that way too.

Oscar was an idiot. Everytime he threw the jab in that fight, Floyds head snapped back but he chose not to use it most of the time. And I still reckon those Compubox stats were wrong. There's no way that Floyd outlanded him to that degree. A massive amount of Floyd's punches hit DLH's gloves.

The two things against Hatton that you haven't mentioned are:

a) Cuts. His pasty Manc face tends to crack open on occasion and Floyd's likely to hit him in the same spot again and again.

b) The American ref. They're less lenient than the British and because of Ricky's style, I can see him getting pulled back every time he goes inside and it looks like he might be grabbing or pushing.

Hopefully it'll be a classic.

I don't think a Yankee ref will be a problem, Ricky's usually too busy to get pulled away and if Floyd's grabbing him then it'll count against him. As for cuts, yeah it could be a problem but at the same time Mayweather's going to have to be able to catch him for prolonged periods and Hatton's changed his style a little to combat the cuts issue - he moves more and tries to get inside at the first opportunity.

Hatton mentioned it's the only way Mayweather will beat him, but that just isn't true. But still, I'm glad he's confident.

Sadly I think it will be Mayweather on points. His stamina is awesome and I can't see Hatton getting enough of the big hits past Mayweather's defence. Hope I'm wrong though.

I think it will be Mayweather on points but I would love for Ricky to knock that twat out. He is so disrespectful to every opponent he faces, I don't think I've ever disliked a boxer more than I dislike Mayweather. Even Nas wasn't as bad as him.

...Ricky will have to stop him early, I think, else Floyd will get more punches in and that'll be that.

Plus it's in the US and their judges won't let Ricky win it.

I can't wait for this fight. I'll be supporting Ricky.

I hope Leslie takes it in the 4th.

Rob I wrote:Plus it's in the US and their judges won't let Ricky win it.

Actually, the Yank judges are much less 'hometown' than people give them credit for. They are biased against styles though.

I can't wait. I think people are getting slightly too excited at Hatton's prospects though. The odds are far too short at bookies at the moment. He still has a very slim chance of winning. About a 25 - 30% chance I'd say.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:b) The American ref. They're less lenient than the British and because of Ricky's style, I can see him getting pulled back every time he goes inside and it looks like he might be grabbing or pushing.

The Hatton camp are happy with Joe Cortez. He's certainly not as 'break' happy as some which can only be a good thing.

Two months ago I didn't give Hatton a prayer. Hatton might be the best pressure fighter on the planet, but Mayweather's in a different league and he's done it against the very best of the rest at five different weights. I was expecting Mayweather to keep his distance and swap rounds with Hatton for the first 9 or 10, before totally outboxing him in the later stages as Hatton tires. However, the closer it gets the more I think Hatton can do the impossible. I believe Hattons attitude and belief could have un-nerved the great man, throw in the iron will, desire, and best preparation he's ever had, and the little Manc with the face and body of a musclebound smackhead might just pull off the second greatest upset of all time. The greatest being Honeyghan versus Curry back in '87. Possibly the greatest, most thrilling, sporting occasion I have ever witnessed.

By the way, did you know 31% of all Hatton and Mayweathers fights have been won on points? Let's just hope it isn't won by a cut, or, controversial.

I think Hatton's damn special in the way he can just pressurise with relentless work and good shots from good angles for the entire 12 rounds(Duran being possibly the last great exponent) and whoever Floyd has fought has either been forced to, or lets, Mayweather get on with his own game. Hatton, for all his Manc dribblings, is a very intelligent fighter and is well schooled by Billy Graham. He'll have a decent game plan that he'll hopefully implement given that he's in the shape of his life.

Mayweather is clearly unnerved, he never whinges about his body - he just constantly trash talks instead... this time he's all: "oh, my body's giving up... my hands... my neck..." and so on.

I don't know, I think he has a chance but that's about it. Mayweather is just so damn good. A lot of people are comparing the fight to Ali-Frazier. But Hatton isn't Frazier.

I actually think Cotto would give Mayweather a tougher fight. I was massively impressed by his defeat of Moseley. The guy's a warrior, and a pressure fighter, though he showed in the final few rounds that he knows how to box too. And he's a natural welterweight, unlike Hatton.

Latest odds at Betfair

Mayweather 1.56
Hatton 3.00
Draw 29.00

Hatton's 2.5 at Coral.

Not really a boxing follower although I get into the big fights.

Am I right in thinking this is the biggest boxing match for a while?

And is Hatton that much of an underdog?

Biggest boxing match since Mayweather - De La Hoya.

Hatton's a huge underdog but there seems to be a swell of optimism amongst British fight fans at the moment.

LLL, are you going to fork out £14.95 of good student beer money to watch this then?

No., I'm going to a) see if a mate's paying for it b) look for a late night sports bar that's showing the match in Sheffield or c) look for a decent broadband stream of the fight.

If all that fails, I'll be 50/50. Pay for it or just listen on the radio and download it the day after.

I did wonder, hope you manage to get to see it then.

Cheers.

Didn't know you were a fan of boxing.