By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
Now that the Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton welterweight title fight is well behind us, let me respond to the many that have contacted me and have asked me for my post fight input.
Frankly, I thought the fight was one sided, and I had Mayweather winning every round but two. So when the 10th round knockout came, Floyd was comfortably well ahead on points – on my card.
My good friend and HBO boxing expert, Harold Lederman, saw it much closer; but as I have always said … we see them all differently, and I respect him for the outstanding job that he does, as well as the others who saw Hatton winning rounds which I personally thought he did not.
I admire Hatton for the fact that he tried so hard in every round, in a fight that simply was a carbon copy, in styles, of the fourth Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake La Motta fight in New York, February 1945. I must say that a lot of people also thought that fight was close. Ironically, like Mayweather vs. Hatton, I gave LaMota only two rounds in that fight which was officially a 10 round unanimous decision for Robinson.
La Motta also tried very hard, but was simply outclassed, and out gunned, by a slick boxer-puncher in Sugar Ray.
What’s left at welterweight (147 pounds) for Mayweather … maybe another undefeated champion, Miguel Cotto. But one thing is certain; he has certainly solidified himself as the best “pound for pound” fighter in any weight class in boxing today.
As for Hatton, we have not seen the last of this fierce competitor. Quite frankly, I think he should move back down to junior-welterweight (140 pounds) where he could put himself in line for another “mega” fight against another undefeated champion, Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz, if Diaz would consider moving up from lightweight (135 pounds) to fight Hatton.
I would say if Hatton wants to become world champion again he better move back down.. The welterweights are all to big for him. Plus Im one who would love to see Hatton vs. Daiz that would be a great scrap.
Cotto. Clottey. Margarito. Prime Rank RECYCLABLES