Hatton's shortlist for comeback reduced to two names

Ricky Hatton (left) will either face Ricardo Torres, the WBO light-welterweight champion from Colombia, or Juan Lazcano in his next fight which will take place at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24. An official announcement for the bout is expected to take place during the first week of March.

Gareth Williams, Hatton's promoter, was in Las Vegas at the weekend tying up details of the deal and a future US television contract for Hatton. But Williams was angry at comments that have appeared in the media in Britain claiming that the May 24 date was dependent on US television involvement.

"We are not dependent on American television," Williams said. "HBO had trouble with May 24 because it is Memorial Day weekend in the United States. But we always said we wanted to do this for the fans in Britain, not just to make money. If we just wanted to make money we would go back to America again.

"The problem is that May 24 is the only date that [Manchester] City can do. We have got a three-fight deal with HBO, but we can start that after this fight."

Lazcano, an American that Hatton had been due to face in May 2006, until he broke a finger in training, is the most likely opponent for Hatton's homecoming date. One boxer he certainly won't be facing in May is Junior Witter, the WBC light-welterweight champion, who is without a fight after a March defence against Demetrius Hopkins in the US collapsed.

Today Mick Hennessy, Witter's promoter, suggested that  it should be Witter whom Hatton faces on May 24. "If Ricky talks about giving his fans a special homecoming then Junior is the only opponent who fits the bill. It is such a shame that they seem to want to avoid what would be one of the biggest all-British fights in generations," he said.

But Williams said that Witter needs Hatton, not the other way round. "I have nothing but respect for Junior Witter for what he has done as a boxer," Williams said. "But the fact is that Junior does not add anything to the television money and brings nothing extra through sponsorship. The only difference it could make would be to put a few more bums on seats.

"If I was Witter's adviser, and I'm not, I would be going after the other guys in the division, not just waiting on Ricky. Why doesn't he fight Gavin Rees [the WBA champion] or Paulie Malignaggi [the IBF champion]. Then, eventually, Ricky would have to fight him."

The bout on May 24 is likely to be Hatton's debut as a promoter, althoughhe is likely to work with an established promoter to organise a high quality undercard. "We want to put together a really good card so Ricky can really make an impact as a promoter," Williams said.

Comments

[zakłady bukmacherskie]

nice blog, i am sure i will back here often

[David Martin]

Hatton may need Witter, but he doesn’t need Witter right now. Witter is a tough fight. Most good fighters after a loss such as Hatton’s against Mayweather would take a fight such as Lazcano fight; unless they were looking to retire.

Oscar De La Hoya is fighting Steve Forbes; a game but certainly undersized opponent, Hatton’s choice of fight is no different to that.

After the Lazcano fight Hatton will probably enter a 3 fight deal with HBO, in that deal Witter will be one of the names on the list. It's not Hatton avoiding him, it's just business

[Dave Amos]

More potentially damaging quotes from Hatton today. On the BBC website:

"But at the minute I would like a homecoming fight to repay the fans because 30,000 went to Las Vegas and sadly only 5,000 got tickets which was a big disappointment.

"Then I hope to go back to America and fight again.

"I think Junior needs to fight a few more creditable opponents because it's all about American television."

This is really sad. On one hand it's all about his fans, but on the other, it's all about American TV. Wrong on both counts - it's about boxing, and what's best for the sport, at least it should be. Hatton fools no-one pretending his fans would rather see him fight Juan Lazcano than Junior Witter, and Witter is already the bigger name. As for saying Witter should fight a few bigger names, this is a bit rich coming from a man who went all the way to 39-0 seemingly content to fight lesser fighters for his joke WBU 'world' title. With the same amount of fights in the can Witter had fought Zab Judah for the IBF title, beaten the likes of Andreas Kotelnik and Lovemore N'dou, the latter in LA, become British, Commonwealth and European light welterweight champion, fought in title eliminators for the WBC and WBO belts and become WBC world champion. In short, a hell of a lot more than Ricky Hatton.

Hatton's regular-guy image and all-action style is a dream ticket for selling fights, and I must admit I really like the guy and wish him well. I'd probably want him to beat Junior Witter if they fought. But I want to see big name fights that should be made, like Calzaghe vs Kessler, Haye vs Maccarinelli, and Hatton vs Witter. I couldn't care less about any other names, because they are poor excuses for a fight that needs to happen.

[Gad]

I can only agree with Dave Amos. It is absolute rubbish that Hatton and his lawyer/promoter are coming out with about Witter. Simply come out and say it, you will fight Witter but realise how dangerous he is and need a warm-up fight, i.e. to see how you come back after what must have been a big blow losing to Mayweather.

[antony owen]

Although there is some truth that the referee stopped hatton fighting his fight when he met mayweather, he had a boxing lesson that night. I hate to say the great but loathesome mayweather is a superior boxer who does not need hatton.Been there done that had the t - shirt. hatton needs him and he knows it, if he is to exorcise the demon of his only defeat.

[Dave Amos]

Gareth Williams is very wrong to say that Ricky Hatton doesn't need Junior Witter. I really feel that at some point he has to fight him, as it's the only question over his career. Beating Juan Lazcano, a man beaten by Hatton victim Jose Luis Castillo, as well as Vivian Harris whom Witter knocked out last year, will prove nothing. Losing to him and he may as well quit. Having fought the likes of Tszyu, Castillo and Mayweather, Hatton should only have big name fights from now on in.

It's interesting to look at the reasons the Hatton camp give for not fighting Witter. They can all be very easily picked apart:

'Junior Witter has made a career of slagging off Ricky Hatton, so he doesn't deserve a shot.'

Not only is this not really true, (Paul Malignaggi, not Hatton, was the name called out after his last victory), but it's also very hypocritical. Hatton landed the Mayweather fight, and his biggest payday, by slagging off his future opponent in the ring, minutes after beating Castillo, and then went on to berate Mayweather as a child, an insecure idiot, and a feather-fisted runner who'd not dropped anyone in ages. I don't see any difference.

'Junior Witter is a no-mark fighter. Ricky is with HBO, and is only looking at the biggest names.'

What, like Juan Lazcano? The biggest names for Hatton are unfortunately at welterweight, and he won't be fighting at that level if he knows what's good for him. Almost beaten by Luis Collazo, well beaten by Mayweather, does anyone, even himself, think he'd have a chance against someone like Miguel Cotto? Hatton is a light welterweight, and the WBC champion at that weight is Junior Witter. Witter is recognised by Boxrec and Fightnews.com as the second best light welter on the planet behind Hatton.

'Junior Witter has nothing to offer Ricky Hatton.'

Well, he's got the WBC belt for a kick off, and anyone interested in boxing knows that whilst Ricky would be able to sell out Eastlands fighting his gran, Witter is the fight his fans really want, and UK boxing fans really want. It's for the world championship, it's a domestic rivalry that's been bubbling for ages, and it's the two best light welters in the world. If Ricky beats Witter he has nothing left to prove at all.

So there you go. If Ricky Hatton retires without having faced Junior Witter question marks will always hang over him. If he cares about thanking his fans in a spectacular homecoming, he'd do it by giving them the fight they want.