Ricky Hatton vs. Jose Luis Castillo in June

[Salvy_Mic]

This is one of the big fights of the first half of this year, and even though Hatton unfairly got stripped of his IBF title, he still has more meaningful Ring title to defend against Castillo, and arguably, the biggest fight of Hatton's career. If Hatton wins, I don't see much else for him to do at 140 honestly. He's already said he won't fight fellow Brit Junior Witter, and the other titlists, Souleymane M'Baye, Lovemore N'Dou, and Ricardo Torres, don't bring money to the table. For Hatton, all the big fights are at welterweight, and unlike the first time he moved up, against Collazo, he can prepare himself better. The only thing Hatton can really do at Jr. Welterweight after a win over Castillo would be to wait on Diego Corrales or wait for Demetrius Hopkins to become a champion and/or star soon. As for Castillo, should he win, he would probably have no problem taking fights against the other titlists, but the most logical thing would be to wait for Corrales, to have the final match of their trilogy, The Battle of the Bulge if you will.

As for the fight itself, it should be hard hitting and action-packed. Both Castillo and Hatton have similar styles, which should make for a highly entertaining, possibly even FOTY-worthy, match. In the end, I think Hatton's youth will overtake Castillo's experience in either a close decision or a very late round stoppage, and especially for Ricky Hatton, make the winner a big star.

[Afro]

this has already been a great year for boxing on paper

[Harlem]

Unfortunately, I think Hatton is too fast and unrelenting for JLC

[Luis Cruz]

Originally Posted by Salvy_Mic

This is one of the big fights of the first half of this year, and even though Hatton unfairly got stripped of his IBF title, he still has more meaningful Ring title to defend against Castillo, and arguably, the biggest fight of Hatton's career. If Hatton wins, I don't see much else for him to do at 140 honestly. He's already said he won't fight fellow Brit Junior Witter, and the other titlists, Souleymane M'Baye, Lovemore N'Dou, and Ricardo Torres, don't bring money to the table. For Hatton, all the big fights are at welterweight, and unlike the first time he moved up, against Collazo, he can prepare himself better. The only thing Hatton can really do at Jr. Welterweight after a win over Castillo would be to wait on Diego Corrales or wait for Demetrius Hopkins to become a champion and/or star soon. As for Castillo, should he win, he would probably have no problem taking fights against the other titlists, but the most logical thing would be to wait for Corrales, to have the final match of their trilogy, The Battle of the Bulge if you will.

As for the fight itself, it should be hard hitting and action-packed. Both Castillo and Hatton have similar styles, which should make for a highly entertaining, possibly even FOTY-worthy, match. In the end, I think Hatton's youth will overtake Castillo's experience in either a close decision or a very late round stoppage, and especially for Ricky Hatton, make the winner a big star.

Hatton was stripped or actually gave up the titles both times because he didn't want to fight the mandatories or he decided to move weights. It was deserved, he can't hold on to titles if he's not going to fight in that division. When he went to 147 it was a wakeup call, he had plenty of time to prepare. He's good at 140 but the guys at 147 will be too big and too strong for him, he won't be able to muscle them around as he did at 140. He won't even crack the top 5 if he stayed at 147. Junior Witter has been dying for a fight with him and begged for a big showdown in England but Hatton refuses which to me if someone wants to fight you and it would be a huge payday at your home and you say no, then you're ducking them. What if Americans didn't fight Americans or other countries doing the same? We would barely have a sport so that's a shitty excuse for him. Diego is fighting at 147 in his next fight, he's skipping right over 140, so that won't happen unless they talk him down to weight or Hatton goes up. But i think that's a real bad move for Corrales and he's going to get beatup jumping up so far in weight at this point in his career.

I agree this Hatton/Castillo fight could be FOTY caliber, but i think Castillo could pull this off. Hatton hasn't seen someone who fights like him with hard body punching, that could be very bad for him while Castillo has been in wars with some of the very best in the sport so Hatton won't be anything new to him. I don't think anyone will win by stoppage but the decision could go either way. If Castillo's rough career has caught up to him, then it'll be a long night for him but if he brings his A game it'll be a long night for Hatton. A very good fight on paper either way, i can't wait.

[Hypergit]

Originally Posted by Luis Cruz

Junior Witter has been dying for a fight with him and begged for a big showdown in England but Hatton refuses which to me if someone wants to fight you and it would be a huge payday at your home and you say no, then you're ducking them. What if Americans didn't fight Americans or other countries doing the same? We would barely have a sport so that's a shitty excuse for him.

Nonsense.

Hatton has dominated the UK for years, and is moving on to the bigger paydays, opponents and fame in the US before retirement. It has nothing to do with him ducking, and the 'what if Americans didn't fight Americans' analogy sucks hard because (a) it is the polar opposite scenario and (b) he's fought plenty of Brits (and indeed the rest of the world less the US). Shame on you.

[Luis Cruz]

Originally Posted by Hypergit

Nonsense.

Hatton has dominated the UK for years, and is moving on to the bigger paydays, opponents and fame in the US before retirement. It has nothing to do with him ducking, and the 'what if Americans didn't fight Americans' analogy sucks hard because (a) it is the polar opposite scenario and (b) he's fought plenty of Brits (and indeed the rest of the world less the US). Shame on you.

That was a counterargument from a fan. I didn't just say the American fighters, i also said other countries. Yes he did make a living fighting nobodies in England but why didn't he ever step up and fight Witter. Witter didn't just start calling him out yesterday, he's been. But Hatton kept taking fights with has beens and no names in England. He took on washed fighters that went over there instead of a real threat like Witter who would have made him more money than any other person he faced with the exception of possibly Tszyu. And thanks for helping my point, HE said he didn't want to fight another countryman but spent his whole career doing it?? Make sense, i think not. He has one of the most padded records in boxing, that is fact. He did come to the U.S. NOW to make a name here and this is the first fight he's actually facing an opponent people see as a threat to him even though Castillo hasn't looked too stellar as of late, i still think it'll be a good fight. A fight with Witter in England is a HUGE payday if they fought over there don't kid yourself, those arenas are huge. He seems like a really cool guy outside the ring and he's a humble and respectful fighter before and after, that i like. But his career is nothing even close to calling great and his picks for fights are very VERY suspect, the proof is in his resume.

[Harlem]

Originally Posted by Luis Cruz

That was a counterargument from a fan. I didn't just say the American fighters, i also said other countries. Yes he did make a living fighting nobodies in England but why didn't he ever step up and fight Witter. Witter didn't just start calling him out yesterday, he's been. But Hatton kept taking fights with has beens and no names in England. He took on washed fighters that went over there instead of a real threat like Witter who would have made him more money than any other person he faced with the exception of possibly Tszyu. And thanks for helping my point, HE said he didn't want to fight another countryman but spent his whole career doing it?? Make sense, i think not. He has one of the most padded records in boxing, that is fact. He did come to the U.S. NOW to make a name here and this is the first fight he's actually facing an opponent people see as a threat to him even though Castillo hasn't looked too stellar as of late, i still think it'll be a good fight. A fight with Witter in England is a HUGE payday if they fought over there don't kid yourself, those arenas are huge. He seems like a really cool guy outside the ring and he's a humble and respectful fighter before and after, that i like. But his career is nothing even close to calling great and his picks for fights are very VERY suspect, the proof is in his resume.

I agree. Not only that, this is a very bad style match up for JLC. I think Hatton's people know this. JLC is slow. He's a good, hard nosed fighter, like most Mexicans but he gets hit a lot, and is not very ring savy. Perfect for someone who throws many punches and stays in your face. I don't think we will see Hatton fight Casamayor or PBF. I think they would box rings around him.

[Afro]

I got Hatton by TKO

[Salvy_Mic]

I honestly think Hatton should fight Witter at some point, to shut him up at the very least. At some point, it'll get to the point where Witter'll become a big enough name to get Hatton's attention, and Hatton'll have no choice but to fight him, if he wants to save face. But the lure of the real big money fights at 147 will probably be too much for Hatton just to stay at 140 his whole career. He'll definitely be the smallest of the big-name welters, at only 5'6", whereas I know for sure Margarito, Cintron, Mosley, Cotto, and Mayweather have more than at least 2 inches of height on him, and fighting Williams would be like fighting Lennox Lewis for Hatton. He'll go up, there's too many names for him not to go up and make a superfight.

[Dork8503]

PBF said after oscar he is going to fight hatton to shut him up