The Boxing Blog - Times Online - WBLG

Homework pays off for Timothy Bradley

Some boxers proudly say that they never watch tapes of their opponents, Timothy Bradley, the new WBC light-welterweight champion, is not one of those boxers. In the past, Junior Witter's switch-hitting style has frustrated opponents, but when he faced Witter at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, on Saturday, Bradley had an answer, one he came up with from hours and hours of watching Witter on film.
"My team and I came up with a strategy, a masterplan," Bradley, 24, said. "The smart plan was to come out and be patient, not rush him. He was expecting me to come forward, because I always come forward in my fights, throwing a lot of punches. But I can box and brawl too.

Witter gets his chance to shine

It is a sad fact of British boxing that most people do not know who Junior Witter is beyond being "that guy that Ricky Hatton hates". An even sadder indictment that most boxing fans take it upon themselves to dislike Witter merely as a sign of loyalty to Ricky.
However, while Hatton is using his IBO light-welterweight title (and its handy little rule that mean he can pick and choose whoever he wants to face) as a benefit gig with his upcoming bout against Juan Lazcano, Witter has a very live challenger to his much more prestigious WBC belt in Timothy Bradley, an unbeaten American, on May 10 at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham. And with ITV1 showing the fight live, he has every chance to make a big statement.

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.

Aspland's shot of Ricky a winner

Marc Aspland, Chief Sports Photographer of The Times, explains in graphic detail how he captured the News Picture of the Year at the Sports Journalists' Accociation awards - Ricky Hatton after being knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas.

Witter looking at Torres or Bradley

Denied his big break in the United States when Demetrius Hopkins backed out a bout and sidestepped by Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter, the WBC light-welterweight champion, is now looking at a possible unification bout against Ricardo Torres, the WBO champion in the summer.

The 28-year-old from Colombia, is on a two-man shortlist for Witter's next opponent with Timothy Bradley, the unbeaten American who became the WBC's mandatory contender when Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight for their recent eliminator.

Hatton and Witter at Wembley?

It is the fight that all British boxing fans want to see, but those that are fed up that Ricky Hatton will be facing Juan Lazcano, a Mexican based in California, in his next bout at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24, should not give up hope of ever seeing them in a ring together. And contrary to other reports, HBO, the cable television giant that recently signed Hatton to a three-bout deal had approved the bout.

The world according to the IBF

I may stand alone in this, but generally I try to defend our hapless world governing bodies. But some of their decisions really are dreadful and the IBF are the absolute pits. For all that Larry Holmes and Marvin Hagler did for our sport, I blame them for giving us the IBF. It was in the early Eighties that Holmes and Hagler - tired of being told to do by the other governing bodies - turned to the IBF, an off-shoot of the USBA. Somehow they have survived an FBI sting, the Eugenia Williams scandal and even that thing when Zab Judah kept their welterweight title for a defence against Floyd Mayweather Jr after being beaten by Carlos Baldomir - and still they torment us.

Witter gets a contender by default

Junior Witter found out who the next mandatory contender to his WBC light-welterweight title would be last night, the day before there was supposed to  an eliminator. Timothy Bradley, an unbeaten American who has the nickname Desert Storm, became the WBC's official No 1 and next in line for Witter when Jose Luis Castillo, the Mexican legend, failed to show up for his weigh-in for his eliminator against Bradley in Cancun, Mexico. The weight problems that have dogged Castillo in recent years and cost him most of the money he has earned from an illustrious ring career struck again.

Castillo could be facing more weight trauma

An inability to make weight has cost Joe Luis Castillo (left) dearly in the past. After failing to make the weight for the third fight against Diego Corrales (having already failed to make the weight for the second one) it not only cost him his purse for that bout, but the fine he received took most of the purses for his subsequent two bouts, against Herman Ngoudjo and Ricky Hatton.

On Saturday, at Cancun, Mexico, Castillo is supposed to be facing Timothy Bradley in a bout that has great interest in the UK as the winner will become mandatory contender to Junior Witter, the WBC light-welterweight champion. But Castillo, it appears, may again be having trouble making the weight.

Mayweather back in the ring in March... sort of

Those thinking Floyd Mayweather Jr (left) was taking a break could be in for a shock. A press conference is being held in Los Angeles today which is expected to announce that Mayweather, the WBC welterweight champion, is to return to the ring next month… to fight a 7ft wrestler.

WWE, the huge wrestling organisation, is expected to announce that Mayweather will be taking part in Wrestlemania XXIV at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. And, as if that is not crazy enough, it is expected that his opponent for the match will be Paul Wight, who wrestles under the name of Big Show, claims to weigh more than 30st.

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.

Woods's bout with Tarver a vindication for Hobson

Confirmation that Clinton Woods will defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against Antonio Tarver in Tampa, Florida, on April 12, is not only great news for Clinton Woods, it is also a vindication of his promoter Dennis Hobson. Dumped by Ricky Hatton, after being his promoter for four contests - three in the United States - as he went to pursue his bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr, Hobson has shown he can deal at the big table and work in his own right with American television.

World shrinking for Britain's champions

It used to be a big event when a British boxer went to America, now it happens almost every week. Joe Calzaghe is, of course, off to Las Vegas to face Bernard Hopkins on April 19, but another three of our world champion could find this week that they are heading Stateside too.
Clinton Woods, Junior Witter and Alex Arthur are on the verge of  huge fights and victory in them could set up even bigger matches closer to home.

Witter and Rees leave Hatton to it

I was somewhat surprised that the name of Gavin Rees was put forward by one paper as a likely next opponent for Ricky Hatton, not because I don't think Hatton's people would have fancied the fight but because he is already busy.
Hatton's plans are far from solid, but it seems a late May date (May 24 has been mentioned) at the City of Manchester stadium is the subject of more rumours than anything else.

Calzaghe gets the popular vote

Our poll for the greatest British boxer of all time produced more than 1,600 votes and was won, rather unsurprisingly, by Joe Calzaghe. The WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion has got used winning polls of late and his next bout, against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas, will be announced this week.

Conned in the USA

There is a myth put around in America that boxers who come to Europe get robbed. In fact, anyone going to the United States is just as likely to get a bum steer. Need proof, ask Hermann Ngoudjo, the light-welterweight, who took on the house fighter in Showtime's first fight of the year and got ripped off.

Paul Malignaggi, who retained his IBF light-welterweight title against Ngoudjo in Atlantic City on Saturday night, is not the first home fighter to get protected, but the bout started the new year with a right stink. How is it seen as fair when Ngoudjo, who is from Cameroon but now lives in Canada, has to take on an American in the US, with three American judges and an American referee?

All this Malignaggi talk sounds like a bad joke

I watched open-mouthed last night when Sky did their rerun of the Mayweather-Hatton fight - not at their coverage of last weekend's fight, but at their none too subtle attempts to sell Paul Malignaggi as the best next opponent for Ricky Hatton.

Tszyu praises Hatton

Kostya Tszyu, the man Ricky Hatton beat to first become a world champion, has said that Hatton did a good job against Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas.

Hatton may pay price for his fans' behaviour

The dust has settled on Ricky Hatton's loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr, but if Hatton wants to remain a big player in the US, the loss to Mayweather could be the least of his problems.

After the raucous scenes at Friday's weigh-in, one senior fight analyst compared the scenes to buzz of the crowd to the excitement created during Muhammad Ali's career. That was all thrown in the bin when Hatton's fans booed the US national anthem.

Fight night notes

The chief support to Hatton-Mayweather was Jeff Lacy versus Peter Manfredo Jr, two boxers who went a total of 15 rounds with Joe Calzaghe without even threatening to win a round.

Hatton (Matthew) wins

There was a good start to the night in Las Vegas when Matthew Hatton, Ricky's younger brother won his bout on the undercard at the MGM.

Arum dismisses Hatton's chances

Bob Arum celebrated his 76th birthday on Saturday but he was not in enough of a party spirit to give Ricky Hatton's supporters much hope for the bout later tonight.

Hatton v Mayweather, live commentary from 4am

So the hype has been building, the insults flying and now we're nearly ready to rumble. Floyd Mayweather Jr is the bookmakers' favourite and many experts share the view that Ricky Hatton may come up short against arguably the finest boxer of his generation and the best pound-for-pound fighter today. But Hatton is full of confidence, has got under the Mayweathers' skin in a raucous build-up, has the crowd on his side and claims to be in the shape of his life. Can Ricky do it? We think he can - so come back at 4am for round-by-round commentary and don't wake the neighbours if the Hit Man pulls it off... 

Calzaghe holds his own with Hopkins

If Joe Calzaghe ever wanted to create an impact with the American media, he did it with his appearance in the media centre here on Friday, prior to the weigh-in.

Hatton talks his way into trouble

Taking the microphone at Friday's weigh-in could prove to be an expensive decision for Ricky Hatton.

Murray grinds out win

Manchester got a successful start to the weekend when John Murray won his lightweight bout at the MGM Grand conference centre on Friday night, but it was a tougher than expected night's work.

Graham brings Hatton to the end of the road

Ricky Hatton's trainer, Billy Graham, believe that tonight's bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr could be his last.

Reasons to be cheerful - part 5

Rumours continue to persist that Mayweather is having trouble with his hands.

Graham misses scuffle

On Thursday in Las Vegas the main talking point was still who got the psychological advantage from the minor shoving match between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr at their head-to-head press conference on Wednesday.

Hatton v Mayweather: who wins?

Vote on how you think the WBC Welterweight title fight will finish in our poll.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Reasons to be cheerful - part 4

Floyd Mayweather Jr seems genuinely rattled.

Reasons to be cheerful - part 3

Much has been made by Team Mayweather of how carefully Hatton has been matched, but that criticism can go both ways.

Las Vegas notes

There was disappointment for Lee Meager, the former British lightweight champion, who boxes Jose Gonzalez on the British Invasion show at the MGM Grand on Friday. The MGM Grand casino is full of signs for the show, which also features John Murray, but instead of a picture of Meager, the poster features a picture of Lenny Daws, Meager's stablemate and the former British light-welterweight champion who is not on the bill.

Diary from Las Vegas: the chips are down

Las Vegas never lets you down. We have arrived here to be greeted by a casino floor health scare in which the concern is whether the lead content in gaming chips may be hazardous to your health. At least that was the headline bellowing out of the Las Vegas Sun yesterday. No one seems to be concerned that maybe gaming itself is the real health issue and not the chips.

Reasons to be cheerful - part 2

Floyd Mayweather Jr has not carried his power with him since he moved up through the weights. He has not scored a knockdown in a world-title contest since he boxed at lightweight.

Reasons to be cheerful - part 1

Over the next few days I will be highlighting some of the reasons why we should have every reason to be confident that Ricky Hatton can beat Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night.

Murray gets Munguia

John Murray, the unbeaten Manchester lightweight, has been given a decent test for his appearance in Las Vegas next Friday.

Hatton enjoying his food again

Those concerned that Ricky Hatton gets to eat no more than some boiled veg as he gets down to weight ahead of his fights will be happy to know that he is eating well at the moment.

Khan-Earl sells out

The Floyd Mayweather Jr-Ricky Hatton fight in Las Vegas is not the only hot ticket on December 8. In humble old Bolton, Amir Khan's biggest bout so far as a professional has also sold out.

Roger Mayweather's on the phone - discretion advised

The chance of a chat with Roger Mayweather is an opportunity never to be missed, even if you have to share the opportunity with 40 other journalists. Mayweather, the uncle and trainer of Floyd Jr, took part in a conference call for the US and UK media this week and didn't disappoint. This was Roger at his crazy best.

Hatton beats Calzaghe

Ricky Hatton was the biggest winner at Monday night's British Boxing Board of Control Awards Dinner when he was named Boxer of the Year, beating his fellow nominees Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli and David Haye.

Notes from Camp Hatton

Ricky Hatton believes Britain and Europe have taken over from the United States as the dominant power in the sport. "It used to be the case that we would have to go to America to prove ourselves," Hatton said. "Now we are getting to the stage where Americans are going to have to come over here to prove themselves."