Done Deal: Mayweather and Hatton to meet December 8

by Scott Christ on Jul 28, 2007 3:19 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

All the talking has come to a head: Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Ricky Hatton will put their undefeated records on the line on December 8 in Vegas.

The fight between boxing's top pound-for-pound champion and the Brit superstar will be fought at 147 pounds, where Hatton has just one fight, a tough decision win over Luis Collazo in 2006. He returned to the junior welterweight division in January, beating Juan Urango, and decimated Jose Luis Castillo in less than four rounds on June 23.

Terms for the fight were agreed to yesterday, but Mayweather is not certain if his WBC welterweight title will be on the line.

Mayweather first took serious interest in a fight against Hatton after the "Hitman" beat Castillo, and immediately slammed Mayweather in the post-fight interview. Floyd, who had "retired" following his win over Oscar de la Hoya, went on record quickly with his desire to, in layman's terms, shut Hatton up. And Mayweather is still hot about the issue.

"He's definitely getting knocked out. I guarantee that. He's talked the talk. Let's see if he can walk the walk when he's in there against the best."

I've said it plenty of times, but I still firmly believe that Mayweather will dominate Hatton. I'm glad we'll get to find out for sure, though, and I do hope that Hatton surprises me and makes it a more competitive bout than I think it'll be. I just can't see him being strong enough to bother Mayweather even if he manages to get inside on him, which will be a hard enough task as it is.

Mark it down, no matter how you feel about the fight: Mayweather v. Hatton, December 8.

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COMMMMOOONNNN

apparntly its only "in princople" at the moment, but the financial stuff is sorted which is all mayweather cares about

hatton, do boxing a favour and shut him up for good please

by Rorzy B on Jul 28, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Terrible, Terrible Decision

This is a monumentally bad decision for Hatton, who could have fought Del La Hoya, made more money, and had some chance at least of winning. I'm not even all that interested in the fight. At least with Oscar, I could squint and squirm and eventually cook up some scenario in which Floyd got beat. Not with Hatton. And I like the guy soooo much better than Floyd as a human being. It's a shame.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mosley is the only active fighter with good chance of beating Mayweather right now. Will we get to see this fight before one of the two retires? Only then will we know if Floyd is really as great as he thinks he is.

by Matt Miller on Jul 28, 2007 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Floyd-Hatton

As I've said before, I don't like Floyd. And I actually really like Ricky Hatton. I think he's been great for boxing in the last couple of years. That said, I think Hatton is extremely overrated.

Regardless of Tszyu being old when they fought, I still think it was a pretty close fight at the time of the "quittage." After that, I thought Luis Collazo did enough to beat Hatton. And, well, the Castillo that showed up for Hatton was not the Castillo who fought Floyd, Corrales, Casamayor, et al.

From a business and legacy standpoint, this is a brilliant fight for Floyd. Low risk, high reward. It has just been a matter of time until Ricky Hatton's first loss. I wouldn't pick him to beat any of the top welters right now. I'd probably even pick Malignaggi and Junior Witter over him, truth be told. In a way, in fighting Hatton, Floyd is beating Oscar/Mosley/Cotto/Williams/perhaps even Cintron to the punch. Because I believe any of those guys would beat Hatton. Entertaining as he may be, Hatton is not an elite-level fighter.

All that said, I'm gonna be rooting for Hatton. But I agree with Scott: I expect Mayweather to dominate him. And, this time, I wouldn't be surprised to see Mayweather win by knockout.

by Kevin Gonzalez on Jul 29, 2007 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

Done Deal: Mayweather and Hatton to meet December

Well it looks like its on when just when i thought it would never happen. I would of liked the Hitman to stay away from Floyd but here is my take on it.

It amuses me the amount of people who think Hatton is overated. Before he fought Tszyu & Castillo folk tended to think these as 50/50 tossup fights. They both quit against Hatton and Castillo did on the floor cradleing his bust ribs. Ok collazo was very very close and thats the closest anyone has been to beating Hatton in 40 odd fights.

Ok the mayweather fight. Early rounds PBF will be on his bike while RH will try to hustle and move in against him. PBF has great defence and footspeed but Hattons most Underated skill is his own footwork and he throws punches from all angles. As it moves on PBF will come into his own and start to pick off Hatton a bit like he did to Gatti. The body shots are not going to be any good from RH as PBF keeps it tight down there. I can see a early lead from Hatton to see Floyd close down the rounds.

My head says PBF and my heart is with the Hitman. Could be very tight with Hatton upsetting PBF on points.

I really dislike PBF as a person and he is too good for anybody to box so he has to get ktfo.

He is not a machine..he is a man

by mrdink on Jul 30, 2007 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Floyd as a person

I used to really dislike him, but the Oscar stuff allowed me to see more of Floyd's regular guy side. I find him very funny a lot of the time, and he knows how to sell a fight. I agree that Floyd will circle, stick and move, and just do his usual thing. I do not think he will aggressively go for a KO -- he said the same line prior to Oscar, and he came about as close to knocking de la Hoya out as I have.

by Scott Christ on Jul 30, 2007 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

hatton v mayweather

ok, heres the most unbiased veiw ull get from me (with me being english i lyk hatton n want him 2 knock floyd out)

2 put it simply mayweather will do the ussual and dance aroudn the ring like he ussually does and then hatton will come back into the fight and (hopefully) win on points or maybe a TKO, in the 11th or 12th

having said that i would probably still make mayweather the very slight favourte as it is in america (i know thats totally contridicting myself but mayweather has been untouchable, however i think hatton has the game to maybe de-throne him ( contradicting myself again)

i can't wait for the fight though gunna me major and surly a classicif the so called underdog wins

by Rorzy B on Jul 30, 2007 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

Hatton and Mayweather

I am very excited about this upcoming bout. Mayweather should, and obviously is, the favorite going into this fight. Hatton must watch what Bernard Hopkins did to Felix Trinadad a few years ago and borrow Hopkins' mugging game plan. Mayweather will jab and throw combos and run, but Hatton has to mug Pretty Boy Floyd and turn it into a hooking contest.

Hsalter

by hsalter on Aug 1, 2007 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

That comparison with Hopkins-Trinidad

Doesn't really make much sense. Trinidad, truth be told (and I'm the biggest Trinidad fan you'll ever meet), doesn't really have that much in terms of boxing skills. Whereas Trinidad was a fighter, Mayweather is a boxer. I actually think they're on opposite sides of the spectrum, boxing-style wise. Unless the difference in handspeed and skills is too overwhelming in favor of Floyd, I don't see him engaging in Hatton's hooking contest, as you call it. I could see Mayweather feeling Hatton out for a couple of rounds, and then, if he were to realize how much quicker than Hatton he is, I could see him engaging and possibly knocking Hatton out, much like he did Gatti.

by Kevin Gonzalez on Aug 4, 2007 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions