[Scarlett.]

I'm rooting for Hatton

[Dan_]

Very impressive win for Amir Khan against Graham Earl.I expected far more from Earl but he just didn't have the speed needed to keep out of the way of Khan's shots.

[Mark]

Do you think the ref was wrong in ending it so early?

Seemed quite a bad decision, and Earl wasn't happy about it.

- Mark

[Mark]

Ah well, Hatton fought his heart out and it just wasn't good enough.

I was concerned after the first few rounds that ricky was trying to do too much too quick, where mayweather was picking his shots out better.

6am now and I'm still full of adrenaline lol, going to have a crazy sleep pattern now.

- Mark

[Gemmer-x]

Hatton fight just on the news, looks like he tried his best and got some good shots but unfortunately mayweather was too strong

[Sunny_01]

Such a shame, if it was all about heart Hatton would have walked it.

Well done to Mayweather.

[Stu]

Outclassed and outboxed. At no time did Hatton look like he was going to win.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by Mark
Do you think the ref was wrong in ending it so early?

Seemed quite a bad decision, and Earl wasn't happy about it.

- Mark

I think Earl's pride wouldn't allow him to say anything different to be honest.

It was only going one way in my eyes and the ref saved him from any more punishment.Khan just blew him away.

[Dan_]

Mayweather is just in a class of his own.I didn't ever imagine that Ricky would get stopped by him though, just expected that he'd get out-boxed and lose a fairly wide decision.

I hope Floyd takes on Miguel Cotto next and Hatton faces Junior Witter.

[GiRTh]

Hatton came out strong and definitely was ahead after four rounds. At the end of the first round Mayweathers corner told him not to worry about something or other - we didn't quite hear the first part of what they were saying - I dont quite know what he was worried about but in the first few rounds Mayweather, at times, didn't look like he fancied it. He was holding on, turning his back and trying various spoiling tricks. The ref kept breaking up the clinches and blaming Hatton for them. I was furious with the ref and so was the commentator Jim Watt. These two guys are both champions, they both deserve to be in the ring in one of the biggest fight of the decade. Why was the ref stepping in so often? A fight of this magnitude should be dictated by the fighters, not the ref. I think the ref definitely contributed to Mayweather getting on top in the fight. After five rounds Hatton had been docked a point, Hatton was clearly frustrated and Mayweather started to dominate the fight. It was only a matter of time before Mayweather finished it.

I think their interviews spoke volumes. Mayweather gave Hatton more credit than I've ever seen him give any one and Hatton clearly knew he'd blown it. Hatton was way too in your face. He needed to time his aggressive bursts so as to confuse Mayweather and not to wear himself out in the way he did.

Mayweather is a man who infuriates me. He always talks about his speed, ability and natural talent, but that was sadly lacking in the first four rounds. He beat Ricky Hatton with ringcraft, boxing nouce and the ability to adapt to Hattons rampaging style. In the end he beat Hatton quite easily. If it was not for the ref it could have been a lot harder for him.

[Dan_]

I had it pretty much level after the 4th round, might even have had Floyd up a point for sheer accuracy of punches.Hatton was the aggressor for the early part of the fight but it was all so untidy with the ref putting himself too much into the fight.He was harder on Ricky that what he should have been.There were times when Mayweather would pot shot Hatton and then clinch but he didn't get told off more than one or two times.

I was surprised at Floyd's tactics early on.I expected him to establish the jab and pretty much stick to getting as many in before he would be in danger.But he opted to get in close himself and do his fare share of the spoiling tactics that we've become accustomed to by Hatton.I'm not so sure it was a matter of not fancying it but more to do with being cautious early on, he didn't want to allow Ricky to get into much of a rhythm.

One thing I'm still bemused by is, where was the body punching from Hatton? He's one of the best at it but he just seemed to spend his time head-hunting.He was well off his game mentally, think the points deduction really got to him and messed up any tactical game plan he had.

The second half of the fight showed what Mayweather is all about.The combinations he put together in that 8th round were something to behold.He made Hatton look pedestrian and pretty one dimensional.I don't think the outcome would have been too much different if there had been a more lenient ref.

[GiRTh]

I had Hatton up by three after four rounds Jim Watt and the HBO people had the same score. Mayweather was getting hit with some good jabs by Hatton. I thought he was supposed to be quick? He didn't look it early on.

Mayweathers spoiling was to duck and bend over as Hatton threw the right hand then to come up under Hatton right arm as he drops it after throwing the shot. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book. It's usually to counter a fighter with a good straight right hand. It was a strange tactic as Hatton was doing most of the damage with the left.

I agree that Hatton should have gone to the body more. In Hattons interview he clearly knew that he'd blown it.

Mayweather infuriates me. He runs his mouth off but seldom produces what he says. He was definitely spoiling early on. There is no question about that. What happened to his speed that he keeps going on about? I got into quite a heated debate with one of my friends who thinks Mayweather is some kind of god or something. My main problem is that Mayweather should have never got away with his spoiling tactic. The ref should have let the fight develop the way the fighters wanted it to develop. He should have allowed Hatton to fight the kind of fight he wanted to. In my opinon, he failed to do that.

[Dan_]

Having a look at the punching stats it seemed to favour Floyd in at least a couple of the 4 rounds.Hatton threw more but ended up connecting with less.Floyd is quite the master at making people miss.

I don't think Mayweathers footwork is that quick but his hands certainly are, he's more of an elusive mover than anything.He knows what to do not to get himself into danger.I feel Ricky's trouble is much of the time he is getting in close and that does lead to it's fair share of holding, he cannot always get away with it and this time he was in with an more fussy ref that didn't allow for any of it.It wasn't a good performance from Cortez but there's always the risk clinches are going to get broken up, sometimes too quick.Hatton's going to have to adjust to that otherwise he'll just end up being a 1 dimensional fighter.

Mayweather ended up backing up the claim he'd knock out Hatton in the end lol.He just keeps on getting the results.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_
Having a look at the punching stats it seemed to favour Floyd in at least a couple of the 4 rounds.Hatton threw more but ended up connecting with less.Floyd is quite the master at making people miss.

I don't think Mayweathers footwork is that quick but his hands certainly are, he's more of an elusive mover than anything.He knows what to do not to get himself into danger.I feel Ricky's trouble is much of the time he is getting in close and that does lead to it's fair share of holding, he cannot always get away with it and this time he was in with an more fussy ref that didn't allow for any of it.It wasn't a good performance from Cortez but there's always the risk clinches are going to get broken up, sometimes too quick.Hatton's going to have to adjust to that otherwise he'll just end up being a 1 dimensional fighter.

Mayweather ended up backing up the claim he'd knock out Hatton in the end lol.He just keeps on getting the results.

Mayweather is indeed good at making people miss but Hatton had a higher work rate and some eye catching punches that knocked Mayweathers head back.

The ref will get justified criticism in my view. In a world title fight he should be seen and not heard.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

Mayweather is indeed good at making people miss but Hatton had a higher work rate and some eye catching punches that knocked Mayweathers head back.

The ref will get justified criticism in my view. In a world title fight he should be seen and not heard.

What do you think is next for Ricky?

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_What do you think is next for Ricky?

He'll keep fightting but who? That's the question.

I was a bit disappointed by the Lacey V Mandfredo fight. It's no surprise they both lost to Calzaghe.

I forgot to mention, I think Hatton showed that he is one dimensional on Saturday. A brawler with a better boxing brain would have made Mayweather work more to get on top. Someone like Marco Antonio Barrera. He was a similar type of fighter to Hatton, but when he fought Naseem Hamed he gve Hamed a boxing lesson. He did what I mentioned ealier, he timed his agressive bursts then stayed back to let Hamed come to him, thus confusing Hamed who was expecting Barrera to be in his face all fight. I think a similar style might have been better for Hatton. It would have confused Mayweather a little and it would have meant that Hatton didn't run out of steam so early. Hatton barely threw a punch after round seven.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

He'll keep fightting but who? That's the question.

I forgot to mention, I think Hatton showed that is one dimensional on Saturday. A brawler with a better boxing brain would have mad Mayweather work more to get on top. Someone like Marco Antonio Barrera. He was a similar type of fighter to Hatton, but when he fought Naseem Hamed he gve Hamed a boxing lesson. He did what I mentioned ealier, he timed his agressive bursts then stayed back to let Hamed come to him, thus confusing Hamed who was expectin Barrera to be in his face all fight. I think a similar style might have been better for Hatton. It would have confused Mayweather a little and it would have meant that Hatton didn't run out of steam so early. Hatton barely threw a punch after round seven.

I'd really like to see him face Junior Witter.Them two have had a war of words for ages and I think it would be an interesting fight.

Do you think that Hatton is perhaps past his peak? Whilst his tactics weren't the best it was his stamina that was rather worrying in my eyes.He was finding it hard at the mid-point of the fight.He's not looked at his best in terms of stamina for a while now, the Castillo fight didn't test it but the the previous 3 fights he was holding on through sheer exhaustion.

I think that style you mentioned may well have been a better strategy to operate.Perhaps someone like Miguel Cotto would be able to operate like that and he's more of a jab based fighter.Cotto's speed worries me though, if Mosley managed to make a fight so close with him then I feel Mayweather would just about outwork him.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_I'd really like to see him face Junior Witter.Them two have had a war of words for ages and I think it would be an interesting fight.

Do you think that Hatton is perhaps past his peak? Whilst his tactics weren't the best it was his stamina that was rather worrying in my eyes.He was finding it hard at the mid-point of the fight.He's not looked at his best in terms of stamina for a while now, the Castillo fight didn't test it but the the previous 3 fights he was holding on through sheer exhaustion.

I think that style you mentioned may well have been a better strategy to operate.Perhaps someone like Miguel Cotto would be able to operate like that and he's more of a jab based fighter.Cotto's speed worries me though, if Mosley managed to make a fight so close with him then I feel Mayweather would just about outwork him.

I think Witter would be a good fight. Witter will give him a good test.

I think Hatton has a few more years in him. He's 29 (I think). His style wont allow him to have too many fights as he gets hit way too often. He'll win world championship again.

I dont know much about Cotto. Is he a bit slow?

What did you think to the Manfredo V Lacey fight? I thought it was rubbish.

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by Dan_
Very impressive win for Amir Khan against Graham Earl.

72 seconds and it was all over!

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva

72 seconds and it was all over!

Quite right too. Some people say the ref should have let it go on longer. Graham Earl is a bit over the hill. For his own safety the stoppage was justified.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

I think Witter would be a good fight. Witter will give him a good test.

I think Hatton has a few more years in him. He's 29 (I think). His style wont allow him to have too many fights as he gets hit way too often. He'll win world championship again.

I dont know much about Cotto. Is he a bit slow?

What did you think to the Manfredo V Lacey fight? I thought it was rubbish.

Witter's been on the radio tonight saying he wants the fight next, just up to Ricky now.Get it on at the MEN arena.I think Junior could even beat him.

Cotto's not the fastest.I'd say he's around the same speed as Hatton but his footwork's slower.

I fell asleep before Lacy vs Manfredo came on,heard from everyone it was rubbish though.Lacy really has been a let down to what people hyped him up to be.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

Quite right too. Some people say the ref should have let it go on longer. Graham Earl is a bit over the hill. For his own safety the stoppage was justified.

Earl's punch resistance is probably pretty low now.He's too brave for his own good.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_
Witter's been on the radio tonight saying he wants the fight next, just up to Ricky now.Get it on at the MEN arena.I think Junior could even beat him.

Cotto's not the fastest.I'd say he's around the same speed as Hatton but his footwork's slower.

I fell asleep before Lacy vs Manfredo came on,heard from everyone it was rubbish though.Lacy really has been a let down to what people hyped him up to be.

Hatton V Witter could be interesting. It could go either way. It's a tough one to call.

If Cotto has poor footwork then he'll be a standing target for Mayweather.

When Lacy was an amateur he was billed as future star. What happened? He looked rubbish on saturday.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

Hatton V Witter could be interesting. It could go either way. It's a tough one to call.

If Cotto has poor footwork then he'll be a standing target for Mayweather.

When Lacy was an amateur he was billed as future star. What happened? He looked rubbish on saturday.

Witter makes things difficult for everyone he faces.He's just got such a frustrating style and Hatton may end up finding it hard to get in close enough to out point him.

The only advantage Cotto really has is strength, he's very comfortable and the weight and he's a fairly big hitter but he'd probably just be too slow.

I think that Calzaghe fight has pretty much ruined Lacy's career.I re-watched that fight a few weeks back, still cannot get over how easy it was for Calzaghe.

[GiRTh]

You're right that Calzaghe ruined Lacy's career. Before the fight, there was so much talk of how Lacy would outbox Calzaghe. In the end Calzaghe completely dominated him.