TalkingBoxing Articles
Hatton and the Magnificent Three
WED September 14, BUSTER PARIS - Ricky Hatton and the Magnificent Three: Forever Changing the Light-Welterweights As We Now Know It.
The light-welterweight division is currently boxing's most energized and energizing division. On the horizon are some significant and outstanding bouts. There are impending first losses out there just looming and lurking behind the radiance and excitement of this division.
We’re really at a lucky time as fans in that we’ll be bearing witness to what will most likely be some of the best fights in decades.
My focus right now at 140 pounds is Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton who on November 26th has a match against a very dangerous and very underrated fighter - Carlos Moussa who I can’t decide whether to nickname him “Sideshow” Carlos Moussa or “Mr. Fantastc” because the man is a freak of nature with no discernable center of gravity. He awkwardly bends and stretches like Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. If he weren’t boxing he’d either be a Circus Geek, Sideshow Freak or crash test dummy.
Let’s assume just for this conversation that Hatton makes it by Moussa. There are 4 fights that I’d like to see Ricky have before all hell brakes loose:
Colin Lynes (26 wins / 1 loss) – I’d like to see The Hitman in possession of the IBO belt and title and the experience of fighting Lynes would be good for Ricky.
DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (30 wins / 4 losses) – Getting by DeMarcus is no easy task. The experience alone would be great for Ricky. Courley’s very tough and a Southpaw to boot - it will be very interesting to see how Hatton handles him as most fighters have a tough time with Chop Chop.
“Vicious” Vivian Harris (25 wins / 2 losses / 1 draw) – Again it’s an opportunity to be in the ring with a skilled and high quality opponent. It would do wonders for Ricky’s reputation as well as building his experience.
Junior “The Hitter” Witter (32 wins / 1 loss / 2 draws) – This fight is of interest to me because currently Junior is in my peripheral vision. The situation reminds me of how I perceived Hatton last year, except that Witter is a step closer to my attention than Ricky was – I know little or nothing about him, except that he’s a hard hitting up and comer who is gathering a buzz.
Again for the sake of our chat let’s assume our man Hatton would be victorious in all or any of those bouts that take place – next we enter the 3 bouts that will tear every boxing fans heart out, as they will be forced to make a choice.
We enter the 3 fights that will forever change the world of boxing. Here is where heroes are made, myths and legends are born and the Light-Welterweight division blesses boxing fans with fights unlike anything we have seen.
2 of these 3 bouts will tag an unbeaten fighters record with their first loss.
I’m torn up about these 3 bouts because I’m a Ricky Hatton fanatic and the potential opponents are all on my favorites list - and 2 of them are on my top 10 pound for pound best list.
It’s almost like asking who do you love more – your Grandmother or Grandfather? – Almost –
The Magnificent Three – The inevitability is growing:
Our first fight of the Magnificent 3 puts Hatton up against:
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (39 wins / 7 losses)
This fight is bound to happen sooner than later and as a boxing fan it’s painful to have to pick a side. Forget for the moment the two loyal camps. Gatti has his devoted following, as does Hatton. For these disciples their minds are already made up.
Also forget logic for a minute and view this strictly as an enthusiast of the game – this is one of the hardest choices to make as both fighters bring their heart, soul, blood, guts and lunch pails into the ring and just go at it.
They’re the kind of fighters you love to watch and the kind of people you would have no problem sharing a pint with on any given day. As I’m writing I’m trying to think of a comparison. A fight from the past to show how hard this choice is and I’m coming up blank. There’s no comparison to a Hatton vs. Gatti.
“What about Gatti - Ward?”
Good point, but the topography is too different. The best way I can put it is that Hatton – Gatti is like Gatti – Ward on E (Ecstasy not the cable channel) – all of what Gatti – Ward was, but the whole experience…heightened, hued and humming.
In the end I see Ricky being too much for Arturo and in the immortal words of Forrest Gump: “That’s all I have to say about that.”
Our second fight of the Magnificent Three puts Hatton up against:
Miguel Angel Cotto (24 wins / 0 losses)
When this fight happens look out, it’s going to change the landscape and perception of the Light-Welterweight division. When this fight happens it will most likely be two undefeated amazing fighters facing off. These are two of the best fighters out there in any division and their meeting is part of boxings destiny.
I think Miguel Cotto is one of the most awesomely proficient and talented fighters I’ve ever seen. He is on my top 5 pound per pound list. The things I’ve seen him do amaze me. He is impressively distinctive and exceptionally talented. He fights like Larry Bird played basketball. He is always a step or three ahead of his opponent. He’s like a machine that constantly improves and the game is more than just the sum of its parts, it’s a practice and discipline for him. He is what students of the Sweet Science will be studying for years to come.
To sum it up - he’s awesome. I love Cotto. He’s one of my favorite players.
Ricky and Miguel are both rising super stars and their clash will usher in a new benchmark in pugilism. It’s a rare thing to behold these types of talents and this caliber of fight. There’s no hype involved in this. It’s simply what it is – Discipline vs. Chaos, Science vs. Voo Doo, Gamera vs. Godzilla .. well, maybe that’s a bit too far, but you get the picture.
This is an incomparable fight. There is nothing from the past to point at, as there has never been one like this before – you can point to other fighters that Hatton’s style is similar to – Roberto Duran and Micky Ward pop into mind, but Cotto is unlike anyone that has come before him.
How do I choose between my two favorites Cotto and Hatton? – more interestingly I have no idea who would win. Every time I play it out in my head the ending changes.
Regardless of all the scenarios I play out, this fight is coming. It is fate.
Our third and final fight of the Magnificent Three puts Hatton up against:
“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (34 wins / 0 Losses)
Once again the potential for two undefeated fighters to put an end to the others winning streak and add that first and most painful “1” to the loss column.
This fight presents us with an unyielding relentless tsunami of punches vs. an un-findable and un-hittable light-bending gift of nature. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is truly gifted. If you’re ever asked to prove the existence of God – or of a higher power or even of The Force – you can simply point to “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd’s abilities far exceed anything that can be taught, learned or drilled into you. There will never be another fighter like him. It’s impossible. He is blessed with a superior talent that just comes out of him as naturally as breathing.
Yes, he trains hard. Yes he practices like there’s no tomorrow, but there is more there that transcends all of that and the sport itself. Love him or hate him he is beyond a doubt the most gifted fighter today. He is the number one man on my pound per pound list as well as being number one on the lists of many other boxing fans, scholars and pundits. For you Terminator fans - he’s a T-1000 in a world of T-101’s, but more fluid, faster and with a much better smile.
What happens when Mayweather and Hatton meet? How does Hatton hit what cannot be hit? How does Mayweather defend against an unwavering onslaught?
When it comes to this fight, my Hatton addiction takes over and I want Ricky to win. I want to see it go the way of Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard I – with Hatton in the Duran role, but my instincts tell me it wont be that. Probably more like Duran – Leonard II, but without the “no mas”, and would go the full 12.
Hatton – Mayweather could very well be one of my all time favorite fights and the apprentice of pugilism in me can’t wait for it to happen – it’s a fight we dream about.
Could Mike Tyson in his prime have beaten Sonny Liston – or Jack Dempsey? Could young George Foreman beat older George Foreman? I wish Floyd Patterson fought Joe Frazier – who do you think would have won? What would Duran vs. Jake La Motta have been like?
Questions like this plague us, but Hatton – Mayweather CAN happen – and God willing will.
These are the Magnificent Three – the 3 fights for Ricky Hatton that hopefully will take place within the next year or two – or hey – one per year for the next 3 years. These fights will be the benchmark the same way Diego – Corrales is for 2005 and Gatti – Ward is forever.
There is one fight I mentioned earlier that has never happened and speculation on it has been extremely heavy on my mind as well as the minds of other more important folks. This is a fight that’s been years in the making…
Gamera vs. Godzilla – winner takes all.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions.
Forum
