Tide of opinion could turn against Hatton over Witter bout

It seems Ricky Hatton has set his mind on never facing Junior Witter, a decision which, if he sticks to it, he could turn out to regret. It is clear that Hatton seriously dislikes Witter, but tht is not a good enough reason to deny the best all-British fight of the present generation - did Benn and Eubank like each other? Certainly opinion within boxing seems to be turning against Hatton on this issue.

Now I like Ricky, a lot, but I am one of a number of people who are growing increasingly uncomfortable with the Hattons' attitude towards Witter.

Whenever the name Witter is raised at a Hatton press conference, the issue is quickly swept aside. Last week, at a press conference to announce Hatton's May 24 fight with Juan Lazcano, the subject of Witter was dealt with in what has become typical style by Ray Hatton, Ricky's father, who said that after Witter's fight with Demetrius Hopkins had been called off, they had considered offering Witter a spot on the undercard in Manchester. "But Frank [Maloney, the show's promoter - who had tried to deal with the issue by saying they were not there to talk about Witter] had already organised all the four and six round fights," Ray said.

No one I spoke to, including some very close to Team Hatton were comfortable with this remark about the WBC light-welterweight champion. The Hattons would say that they have not been shown any respect by Witter of the Ingles, but they sure aren't showing any back. As they are the ones generating all the money, they resent sharing it with Witter. But the attitude often comes across as bullying.

When I asked Ricky when the last time he had spoken to Witter was, he said it was at the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. It was that meeting he said that convinced him he would never face Witter.

"They got me up on stage, Joe [Calzaghe], Enzo Maccarinelli and Junior," Hatton said. “We all came down the steps. I went on the stage and shook hands with Joe, Enzo and Junior. He then leant over to me and went, 'One day'.

"I just thought, ‘You’ve just pissed that up against the wall there.’ I was half contemplating it. It was a moment where we had all had a good year and out of respect I shook his hand and then he looked at me and whispered that."

The rivalry between the pair goes back to long before they were world champions, however. They were once both promoted by Frank Warren and regularly appeared on the same bills in Manchester, where Hatton's legion of supporters would boo Witter – Hatton referred to Witter as a "boil on my a**". Warren even had a bout between the pair written into Hatton’s contract, although Hatton declined to take up that option.

Witter's big problem is that he has struggled to attract interest from television in the United States – a legacy of a disappointing effort when challenging Zab Judah for the IBF title in 2000, his only defeat - and has nothing like his box-office appeal. Attempts by Witter and the Ingle camp in Sheffield, where he trains, to goad Hatton into a bout have been knocked back.

"They have been like that for eight years and they are now on my brother, Matthew's, case with another of their fighters [Adnan Amar]," Hatton said. "I think, 'why do I want to work with people like that'."

Hatton has certainly never been more popular with the general public than now, as remarkable sales for the Lazcano fight show, but if both continue to win, the Witter question is not going to go away, however much they want it to.

Comments

[Crashing Dashing Kid]

Just as De La Hoya made Vargas wait for years until he was on the slide, so will Hatton. This fight happens when Hatton says not when Witter says.

[steve brookes]

come on its easy for us to sit here and say he should fight witter, i know one thing for sure though if i was in hattons shoes with witter going on all the time i wouldnt fight him either, sad and childish i know but it would really do my head in to have to give in and fight him!!

[Bombay Boy]

Hatton has nothing to gain from a Witter fight. Take the easy option, then fight with New York guy and then if Mayweather wants the money. If he doesn't then Witter could figure, not before.

[Adam C]

Hatton will never fight Witter because he is too scared that Witter will beat him.

[Doug Bates]

I understand why Hatton doesn't want to give Witter a payday, however if he looks at the attitue displayed by David Haye in taking on Maccarinelli he'll realise that he has no choice if he really wants to be seen as the best.

[James Mac]

I don't see what Hatton really has to gain by facing Witter. The boat has sailed on that unless Witter can unify the belts against Kotelnik and Torres, but he needs someone to get behind him like Sky has for Hatton for that to happen

[Scrapiron]

A rematch against Mayweather would be nothing more than a money-making circus. He might as well join Floyd in Wrestlemania. The ending is just as scripted - Hatton loses massively again, thus severely damaging his legacy, if not his bank balance, by highlighting his vulnerability once more. Meanwhile, back at his natural weight, Witter takes over as number one by continuing to look impressive beating meaningful opponents. How's that going to look then? Is Hatton going to go knocking on Witter's door begging for a fight? This stuff about disrespect is total crap. Hatton conveniently forgets that he only got the Mayweather fight in the first place by slagging off Floyd in his post-Castillo press conference. Based on their last two fights, Witter beats Hatton at the moment. Hatton knows that, and that's why he's fighting Mickey Mouse in Manchester instead.

[Crashing Dashing Kid]

Hatton hates Mayweather but he needs Mayweather. Witter was foolish when he insulted Hatton live on television when he and the Ingles rudely sabotaged Hatton's interview. That act has cost Witter millions. Hatton will not turn to Witter unless he has lost his way and needs the fight. If Hatton beats Malignaggi then he can earn the top spot without Witter. And let's be honest, Witter is a boring fighter with a crap resume for a champ.

[Dave/Sweep, Edinburgh]

I believe this fight will happen but only once Ricky secures another mega-fight of the wembley filled mania of a Mayweather rematch magnitude. However, after his comprehensive conquering in the first Floyd fight, Ricky realises he has to earn such a rematch which means getting in the ring and rebuilding his respectability and reputation and for our more influential counterparts across the pond a defeat of Malinaggi will probably suffice. In a perfect British boxing world Hatton-Witter would setup the floyd rematch but the boxing world is far from perfect and this is an all too risky strategy for Ricky as the very real possibilty of defeat to Witter would make Hatton's staus as a formidable opponent for Floyd unteniable. Thus our more realistic hopes rest with Hatton-Witter happening subsequent to the Mayweather rematch. However perhaps the only certainty is Ricky's still rising star will shine less brightly until he takes the Witter fight.

[Dan Crellin]

Personally I think Witter would give Hatton a very thorough examination and would win. The punch that dispatched Harris was very similar to Mayweather's that finished Hatton, obviously Witter doesn't move as well as Mayweather but he punches harder.

As good a fighter as Hatton is, I can't escape the feeling that the Tsyzu fight was his pinnacle.

[GRAHAM]

I'm sure the vast majority of us agree with Ron when he says that he likes Ricky a lot. However, I still can't fathom out why Hatton wants to fight Lazcano when he is a near certainty to comfortably dispose of an average fighter. Or maybe that's the whole point of this...
There is surely no mileage in this fight other than persuading 35,000 people to part with their hard earned cash to see a hugely popular British fighter destroy a man who hasn't fought in over a year. And, if he ever fights Malignaggi who couldn't knock over my 3 year old son then heaven help us.
C'mon Ricky, fight Witter instead of has-beens or jokes like the man from NY.

[Paul Y]

Black Lightning! I can't imagine where the sport is going if even the WBC belt is considered by some to be "low reward"! Hatton won't fight Witter because, like myself, he knows he would probably lose. Hatton is the most over-hyped fighter I can remember.

[Black Lightning]

"High risk, low reward"

The public may demand it, and it is a fight I would like to see, but in truth, Hatton would have little to gain in beating Witter and everything to lose!

The confidence levels of each fighter will have changed since November. Now that Hatton knows he can be knocked out and Whitter knows he was knocked out by a relative none puncher in Mayweather, that could tip the balance in Witter's favour.