Go for the body Ricky.....
Discussion
Anybody else prepared for the long nights boxing till Hatton appears at about 4am? Decided to go for a full nights sofa with beer fridge supplies instead of risking a boozer followed by passingout on the sofa.
Money's on a Hatton tko in the 7th. Slow start from both, goes for body shots from the 3rd, swap to the head, move downstairs again and body shot stops it.
Money's on a Hatton tko in the 7th. Slow start from both, goes for body shots from the 3rd, swap to the head, move downstairs again and body shot stops it.
unrepentant said:
I'm up till 3 at least with the NFL playoffs tomorrow night. Not enough stamina for both...............
Toughen up! If you're up till at least 3 then you may aswell do the full fight and see out the night till about 5am.
NFL or The Hitman? No qustion who wins in the Bennett household.
vette_1978 said:
unrepentant said:
I'm up till 3 at least with the NFL playoffs tomorrow night. Not enough stamina for both...............
Toughen up! If you're up till at least 3 then you may aswell do the full fight and see out the night till about 5am.
NFL or The Hitman? No qustion who wins in the Bennett household.
I mean Im up until 3 at least sun night. And prob 1 tonight playing poker. I'm not as young as I used to be you know!
Interesting.....the Castillo victory which was pretty much a given at the start of the night is closer than expected after 7 rounds. Could be a pretty major spanner in the plans of HBO and Hatton for June 2nd after all if this buggers up.
I still expect Vegas to pull the strings to get him through by 3 clear rounds though.
I still expect Vegas to pull the strings to get him through by 3 clear rounds though.
*SPOILER*///////////////////FIGHT REVIEW BELOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Decision:
Hatton takes the decision and is the new IBF light welterweight champion of the world. All three judges scored the fight 119-109, but that is not a true reflection of a very tough fight for Hatton. The big question that will be asked after tonight is: is Ricky Hatton a fighter past his peak?
Round Twelve:
Hatton running on fumes in the final round but he gets through and should have this fight quite comfortably on the cards. I've got it 118-112 to Hatton, let's hope the judges see it the same way. Not pretty, in fact extremely ragged, but it's very much job done for Hatton, or so I believe.
Round Eleven:
One thing's for sure, the Yanks won't be overly-impressed with this display, as Hatton had hoped. But he's sucking it up and ploughing on. Big clash of heads and Urango looks to have come off worse. However, after the restart, Hatton walks on to a big right hand. Urango lifts his arm at the end of the round, but I'd call that even. I have Hatton 108-102 ahead going into the final round.
Round Ten:
Hatton's trainer Billy Graham is concerned as he tells Hatton to simply last it out for the final nine minutes. "Suck it up" he tells Hatton, and we could be in for a very ragged final few rounds. More spoiling from Hatton, punching on the way in before tangling Urango up and preventing him from firing back. Hatton busier again and that should win him the round.
Round Nine:
Hatton looking a little ragged as Urango lands with a couple of good, clean right hands. A lot of spoiling from Hatton but very little clean hitting. Urango's round for sure and it has to be hoped that Hatton is simply taking a breather.
Round Eight:
Hatton's corner implore their man to grab a rest before the eighth and he continues to get his punches off before grabbing Urango. Hatton's round on work-rate, despite Urango raising his arms at the end of the stanza. It's not pretty, but Hatton is building a handy lead.
Round Seven:
Urango lands with a left hand as Hatton leaves his chin out to dry but Hatton is fighting smart, spoiling on the inside and landing on the break. Another round for Hatton, but is he going to pay for this high work-rate in the final stretch? Urango looks in better nick than Hatton, but is well behind on the cards.
Round Six:
Low blow from Hatton and Urango takes a time out. The referee's not convinced and that could be a good sign for Hatton. A big clash of heads does not, mercifully, lead to a cut for Hatton. The round follows the same pattern as the last one, Hatton starting brightly before being worn down by the brute strength of Urango. Hatton took the round though, but is not making too much impression on Urango.
Round Five:
Hatton starts sharp, floating into range, letting flurries go and then darting out again. But Urango lands with a couple of hurtful body shots as Hatton fades in the final minute of the round. I'll give that round to Urango and there are signs that Hatton could have problems with Urango's strength in the final third.
Round Four:
Good right hook from Hatton and the Brit continues to circle his opponent and pick him off from distance. Hatton, as always, is shipping a punch or two but he looks to have too much ring-craft for Urango at the moment. Hatton, perhaps relaxing a bit, attempts a bolo punch, a la Sugar Ray Leonard. Nice touch.
Round Three:
Urango lands with a couple of big right hooks and Hatton needs to tighten up a bit and protect that chin. Hatton lands with some decent combinations of his own and probably stole the round in the final minute. One thing seems certain, Hatton's not going to take Urango out early.
Round Two:
Decent upper-cut from Hatton as he begins to find his range. Hatton has let tactics go out the window in his last couple of fights, but he has been more controlled so far, bouncing out of range and trying not to get caught up inside by the muscular Urango. Another round to Hatton who lands with a couple of good, crisp combinations.
Round One:
Plenty of movement from Hatton and the signs are he's not going to meet Urango head on. Urango landing with a few as well, but it looks like first blood to Hatton.
BIG FIGHT BUILD-UP
0409 GMT: Michael Buffer doing the honours on the mic - and the Brits go wild for his "Let's get ready to rumble". Marvellous stuff. The roar as Hatton is introduced is something to behold. Urango not afforded the same respect - roars of "who are ya, who are ya?" as he is introduced. Let battle commence....
0404 GMT: Urango makes his way to the ring and looks confident and relaxed. Lots of shrewd money on Urango in Vegas, but the Brit fans don't care about that as he is assailed by a cacophony of boos. It's like the MEN Arena out there.
0402 GMT: Hatton makes his way to the ring to the strains of Blue Moon. He looks intense, as usual. The Paris Hotel has not seen the likes - 3,000 Brits going berserk. That's not really the done thing in American boxing arenas.
0352 GMT: Mexico's Jose Luis Castillo remains on course for a clash with Hatton after he gets a split-decision win over Cameroon's Herman Ngoudjo on the undercard at the Paris Hotel. The former two-time lightweight world champion is scheduled to meet Hatton in June - if the 'Hitman' can keep his side of the bargain. Castillo looked a little lacklustre, but has not fought in almost a year.
0345 GMT: Just seen Urango loosening up in his dressing room and, without wishing to scare any Hatton fans, he looks more like a middleweight than a light welter - very broad of back with huge shoulders. Hatton, while less muscled, looks lean and mean as ever as he goes through his paces with trainer Billy Graham next door.
Edited by Wacky Racer on Sunday 21st January 05:59
He's blown his wollop by not keeping in shape between fights. It's all well and good when you are in your early 20's, but to make a career out of yo yo-ing up and down has cost him 2-3 years of his prime.
As a former fighter, I know it gets harder and harder to lose wieght as you get older, esp. 2-3 stone at a time.
As a former fighter, I know it gets harder and harder to lose wieght as you get older, esp. 2-3 stone at a time.
Sounds like he's learnt his lesson with this one. Heard some bits from a post fight interview saying that he's off for a short cruise and then back in the gym...minus his greasy food.
Going to be away for the Castillo fight so will be interesting who they line up post 2nd June and with which promotion company. Regardless of what was said pre-fight, the lure of a summer outdoor unification with Witter to get the WBC could be too great.
Going to be away for the Castillo fight so will be interesting who they line up post 2nd June and with which promotion company. Regardless of what was said pre-fight, the lure of a summer outdoor unification with Witter to get the WBC could be too great.
I think it could be to late to be honest, the damage has been done. I hope I'm wrong, but once these things take thier toll, a fighter of Ricky's pace are usually spent.
Since most of the best light welters have moved up to 147lbs, I dont think there is to much danger in the 140lbs division, including witter. I think he's got enough to unify the division, he just needs to keep out the way of mayweather, cotto and co.
Since most of the best light welters have moved up to 147lbs, I dont think there is to much danger in the 140lbs division, including witter. I think he's got enough to unify the division, he just needs to keep out the way of mayweather, cotto and co.
Edited by Thunderfoot on Tuesday 23 January 15:58
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff