Ronnie Shields expects an upset
The trainer of Juan Lazcano believes his man is facing Ricky Hatton at the right time. Hatton, according to Ronnie Shields (pictured above with Mike Tyson, whom he used to train), is not the fighter he once was and he is expecting an upset at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday.
"Floyd Mayweather got to him at the right time and Juan is catching him at the right time," Shields said. "He's going to come out fast but whatever he throws is going to be coming right back to him."
Saturday's bout is for the the IBO light-welterweight title, a division Shields boxed in during his career, losing to Billy Costello for the WBC title. As well as Lazcano (pictured right) and Tyson, Shields, who has a gym in Texas, has trained the likes of Pernell Whitaker, David Tua, Evander Holyfield and Juan Diaz. He said he saw signs during Hatton's loss to Mayweather that he had gone backwards.
"Floyd is not a knockout kind of guy, Floyd is a decision guy, but he knocked out Ricky," Shields said. "I had Hatton in front after six rounds but after that he was started getting hit by punches he didn't used to get hit by. That was not the same Ricky Hatton that beat Kostya Tszyu. I think his lifestyle is catching up with him. Ricky has got something to prove."
"Juan is a top class fighter and he's still hungry. In this fight Ricky is going to have more pressure on him than any fight before."
The ref protected Ricky in the Mayweather fight, next year for the rematch, you'll see who the champ is.
Only one Ricky Hatton!
Posted by: HickyRatton | May 23, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Ricky was beaten by Floyd fair and square. Don't believe Shields when he says Ricky was leading, Ricky didnt even win a single minute let alone a round in that fight. He was made into a punchbag like Floyd promised.
That forward style was only done against inferior opponents. The moment Ricky went to America he started getting beat that's why he was clinching more instead of his body punching. This will be Ricky's last win if he wins.
Posted by: PBF The Moneyed One | May 23, 2008 at 01:03 AM
By round 4 it was pretty obvious what would happen in Hatton v Mayweather. For me Ricky is an exciting boxer in that he's overtly aggressive in style. This is far harder to maintain at a high level than a counterpunching style of say a Hopkins (why he's still here at 41 - compare that to Mike Tyson and you can see the relative qualities of either style) as your the one forcing the fight and in just about every fighting discipline the emphasis is on waiting for your opponent to commit and then hit the exposed area.
Other than Mayweathers class the big issue was the step up in weight, Floyds small at his class but 6lbs still makes a huge difference in the kind of power you can generate in punching (and clinching which is part of Ricky's Arsenal) - Ricky's game plan will not succeed at higher weight levels as he does not have the frame for it and will run into stronger opponents; at light welterweight he's still unquestionably a force and though its a tough opponent I expect business as usual come fight night.
Posted by: Jon M | May 22, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I don't think Hatton was "unlucky" against Mayweather at all. He was outclassed, outfought, outhought and outpunched. He was up against the best pound per pound fighter in the world and didn't win a single round. Mayweather fought Hatton's fight - toe to toe - which he wasn't supposed to do, and still beat him. Yes, the ref was "unfair", but Hatton got knocked out cold in a completely one-sided fight.
Hatton was overrated from the off. He beat Tsyzu because the latter hadn't fought for a year, because he was recovering from an operation. He'll probably beat Lazcarno, but I expect that'll be his last victory.
Posted by: Nick Stone | May 21, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Hmmm sounds like the usual bit of contractual pre-fight selling to me. Ricky has failed to convince me in some time now but he still fights at a level of class above Lazcano as well he knows.
Posted by: Nik Wheatley | May 21, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Hatton was easily beaten by Mayweather. Floyd was just different class. Ricky has to stick to light-welterweights.
Posted by: J Jackson | May 21, 2008 at 01:03 PM
i think ricky hatton has inproved over the last few years he worked really hard against floyd mayweather but he was really unlucky against him i think if they fight here in england he will have a really big chance of beating him because he want have to travel so far and he will feel more at home
Posted by: reece | May 21, 2008 at 12:11 PM