411's Exclusive Interview with Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 12.04.2008
Hatton speaks to 411mania in Las Vegas before the big fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.
Photo by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com
On Wednesday afternoon inside the MGM Grand's Studio, we caught up with junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton as he mingled with the media in anticipation of Saturday night's De La Hoya-Pacquiao megafight. Hatton, who's coming off a win over Paulie Malignaggi on Nov. 22 for his 140-pound championship was in great spirits and appeared ready to watch the fight.
411mania.com: First of all I want to congratulate you one more time on your big win over Paulie Malignaggi two weeks ago. You've recently arrived to Las Vegas and I'm sure you're enjoying yourself but are you also doing a little bit of scouting perhaps?
Ricky Hatton: Yeah very much so. Checking out Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao and with Oscar dropping to 147, well that's not very far from my weight so obviously I'm interested and Manny Pacquiao moving up from lightweight, he's moving to near my weight division so I'm a very interested bystander and I'm in a position now especially with that performance (against Malignaggi) to face the winner.
411mania.com: A lot of us in the media had remarked that you looked about as good as you have in years against Malignaggi, perhaps as good as you did when you beat Kostya Tszyu for the junior welterweight title. Do you feel that way too?
Ricky Hatton: Oh yeah definitely. I think I need a performance like that after my defeat against Mayweather and my fight with Lazcano where I wasn't at my best. Many people thought that maybe the loss to Mayweather took too much out of me and it was nice to prove to everybody that it wasn't' the case. I think it was one of my best performances. Bear in mind, and not to disrespect Paulie but with the amount of holding he was doing, it was tough to look good against him.
411: You know it's funny but you get criticized for clinching in your fights, but in your fight with Paulie, it was actually your opponent that was doing all the holding…
Hatton: Yeah it was and I think that maybe that's why the corner pulled him out in the end. He was doing a lot of holding and not much punching but it was a great win really. I've always said really that I'm not a holding-fighter but sometimes they get a little too close to me and I guess it looks that way (laughs). But I think it was still an exciting fight...he was trying to make things awkward for me and it's tough to shine but I think I did.
411: We had talked about your new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. about how he showed you or as you put it, reminded you to do some things in the gym that you hadn't worked on in a while such as moving your head and slipping punches more and I think it showed in the ring. So what does the future hold for you and Floyd Sr.? Will he remain your trainer or was this a one time thing?
Hatton: I think the relationship is going to grow. Me and Floyd were only together for seven weeks and you can see the difference and I'm sure the next training camp will be even better. I've always been known to be a bit of a banger but some people had seen some glimpses of boxing ability and I think it took Floyd to really bring that out in me.
411: Ok Ricky, De La Hoya or Pacquiao; who's going to win?
Hatton: Ohhh...it's a 50/50 but I think it all depends on how well Oscar's made the weight and if he can get to Pacquiao. I think it'll be Oscar if it's over within the first six rounds or Manny if it goes the distance.
411: Thanks for chatting with us Ricky, and we'll see you Saturday night. I'll get you a Guinness!
On Wednesday afternoon inside the MGM Grand's Studio, we caught up with junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton as he mingled with the media in anticipation of Saturday night's De La Hoya-Pacquiao megafight. Hatton, who's coming off a win over Paulie Malignaggi on Nov. 22 for his 140-pound championship was in great spirits and appeared ready to watch the fight.
