Ricky and Amir: Nothing but talk for the time being

by SC on Jul 21, 2009 6:41 AM EDT in News Analysis Comment 3 comments

Ricky Hatton (seen here with fiancee Jennifer Dooley) isn't saying whether or not he plans to fight again. (via img.thesun.co.uk)

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Ricky Hatton isn't ruling anything out, but he's also not showing his cards.

Speaking with The Sun, Hatton praised fellow Brit Amir Khan but made no inclination that he's paying much mind to a fight with the younger star, or any fight for that matter:

"I'm not thinking about boxing at the moment. Maybe I'll wake up one day and think let's give it another go, but I might not. I'm not missing it — fighting is the furthest thing from my mind."

...

"I'm delighted for Amir and I can't praise him enough. ... But the fact that he's won a world title has not made me any closer to a comeback. It hasn't entered my head. I don't think I have to beat Amir to prove anything."

He also says that if he does come back, and Amir is still holding a world title, then that is a possibility. Khan's promoter -- and Hatton's former promoter -- Frank Warren has already said he thinks a Hatton-Khan fight is a terrible idea:

Ricky shouldn't be fighting -- it's not good for boxing and it's not good for him more importantly," Warren said on Sunday. "He's just been in hospital for overindulgence or whatever that may be.

"I don't think he should fight again, he should definitely retire. If the fight happened and, God forbidden, something bad happens, everyone would blame boxing. Sometimes fighters go on and at the end of the day bad things happen."

It's a sentiment that has been shared by many UK fighters, sportswriters and fans. In the same article, Khan's trainer Freddie Roach sounds eager to match his fighter with Hatton:

"If he does decide to fight again and continue his career, then he's made for my guy," Roach said. "I'd take that fight in a heartbeat."

Freddie has also recently stated he'd like Amir to fight the washed-up bones of Erik Morales, which is rather appalling all around. Roach also fully supported Khan picking up the withered scalp of Marco Antonio Barrera earlier this year. Freddie's talking big about Khan and comparing him to Manny Pacquiao and all this, but I still sense a little bit of fear from Roach about Khan's future.

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He's not fighting again

“I’m not thinking about boxing at the moment. Maybe I’ll wake up one day and think let’s give it another go, but I might not. I’m not missing it — fighting is the furthest thing from my mind.”

He sounds even more retired than Joe Calzaghe was before he announced his retirement. There’s not a lot of ambiguity there. And why not, he’s earned it…

It is pretty pretty repellent even mentioning Morales for Khan, but with Hatton, thats a hit and run for huge money, so he could hardly not like that fight. Anyone would have to have a little fear about Khan’s future, but it is what it is, and he can only put off the big punchers for so long anyway.

We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)

by BrianBrock on Jul 21, 2009 7:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate, and I mean hate Frank Warren...

.. But what’s happened to Ol’ Fish eyes lately, he put on the best undercard I can remember him ever putting on last weekend, and now he’s being fair and balanced when it comes to Ricky Hatton.

And he’s right. Ricky’s had a tremendous career and done even more than Bruno did on a limited skillset.

The only thing he has to answer is, if he had 100% dedicated himself to the sport – could he have gone further? And the answer is no.

The absolute best version of Ricky Hatton would have been Knocked out by Mayweather. The absolute best version would have lasted longer with Pacman, but the end would have been the same.

by bazzlad on Jul 21, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs