Fight Day Notes: Graham sues Hatton
by Scott Christ on May 16, 2009 3:08 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Ex-trainer Billy Graham has actually gone through with his threat to sue Ricky Hatton for £1 million. Graham claims he is still owed money from Hatton's 2007 clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his 2008 bout with Juan Lazcano, the last two fights the pair worked together. The trainer says he has been paid £530K, but that's less than the ten percent they agreed to.
I really hope someday Hatton and Graham can come together again -- not professionally so much as just personally, the two were friends for 13 years. Right now though it's clearly a 100% soured relationship.
- AJ Banal (19-1-1, 16 KO) stopped Mbwana Matumla (18-4, 10 KO) at 2:59 of the second round. Ronnie Nathanielsz says he's looking at a spot on the Mayweather-Marquez undercard now.
- Jorge Arce has hired Nacho Beristain to train him for his next fight. He may fight Dmitri Kirilov on June 20.
- Belfast was not kind to James DeGale last night, booing the ex-Olympian despite the fact that he scored a stoppage at just 2:22 of the first round. The immediate backlash on DeGale seems more than a little harsh and unnecessary, honestly. Yeah, he talks too much, but he's also making an effort to stop that and to try and be more aggressive as a fighter. Some fans are weird, man.
- Punch-Out!! for the Wii is getting good reviews. Here's IGN's.
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dear lord
seriously will hatton please just ride off into the sunset quietly
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on May 16, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions
Looks to me like Hatton is the one that should be doing the apologizing
“he slowed down and was holding me back.” Paraphrased yes but close enough. Guess not Ricky, looks like he was doing a whole lot for you for a long damn time. Never should have left him. I’d wager that Ricky would have done better against Pac with Graham in his corner. Hopefully Ricky can get the stones to apologize and pay his man the 2 million US he owes him.
Gimme 1 round!
James DeGale
I know it might appear bizarre that this British Olympian was booed in the UK after the KO – in the same way he was after the first fight. But on this occassion the UK was Belfast. The show was headlined by Martin Rogan who defines himself as Irish/catholic.
The crowd would have likely have consisted largely of pro-Rogan “catholic/Irish” fans. There was also the controversial Olympic semi-final in which James DeGale beat Darren Sutherland (Irish Super-Middeweight). The other two Olympians were booed (albeit less heavily) because they are British and symbols of nationalism because they fought for Britian.
I don’t know why the media don’t highlight these factors when describing the booing of DeGale and Co. It might not reflect well on the progressive nature of our society but atleast it offers a better explanation than an irrational hatred of DeGale.
If I were to say, “James DeGale was booed in Belfast because he’s not Irish-Catholic,” someone would probably take offense.
by Scott Christ on May 17, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair Enough
I wasn’t trying to correct you with the post. It is worth noting that DeGale would have been booed to some extent if he had fought in his home town. Partly due to statements that are percieved as arrogant (although I just thought he had an average level of self confidence for a boxer, particularly one with a gold medal). Mostly, the perception created by tabloid newspapers feeds into the British psyche of self loathing – which manifests itself in any successful person being attacked and discredited.
It was worth you pointing out the booing which is strange and without any merit. Amir Khan has a dose of the some sort of thing. You do have to wonder why those people pay to give abuse to the athletes they are meant to be supporting. I don’t know the situation in US sports but english soccer suffers most from this. Players recieve a barrage of insults and obscenities that should be illegal and would not be accepted in any other walk of life. Then, if they show any sign of reaction to the abuse, the newspapers harangue and lecture them about having a “stiff upper lip”.
Have gone off topic a little there. Much respect to SC
I know you were just giving the probable side of the story, no offense taken or anything. Khan was one of the guys I was thinking of, and have been thinking of with DeGale as a pro. Both have had detractors from day one, and DeGale may be a bit cocky (what young fighter isn’t?), but frankly I think Khan seems like a great kid that works hard and I’ve never gotten the backlash against him. I get people thinking he’s not all that, but other than that what’s to dislike about him? He’s taken good opponents for his age even if many were tailor-made for him, and when he lost he got back in the ring as soon as he could and hired Freddie Roach.
by Scott Christ on May 18, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
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