After watching even the first episode you will see the immediate differences between both fighters. They are like night and day in terms of their demeanor, attitude, and style. The intriguing aspect about this bout is the fighters' styles. Keeping true to the moniker that “styles make fights,” this one is sure to be interesting as Mayweather will once again pit his speed and ring savvy against an aggressive, never take a step back style that is Hatton’s. There are similarities between both fighters that in part, have brought them together for this bout. Both are relatively young champions, Hatton 29, and Mayweather 30. Both are undefeated, Hatton is 43-0 with 31 KOs, and Mayweather is 38-0 with 24 KOs. Both boxers keep a very close knit camp and are in tight with their trainers. When looking at the each pugilist’s past performances it is apparent that each has had the poorest performance with fighters whose style closely match what they will face on Saturday night. Mayweather, however dominant in his pro career, had the most problems in his first fight with Castillo. Jose Luis Castillo is known for his Mexican style boxing, utilizing pressure, and body attacks. Pressure and body attacks could easily be used to replace Hatton’s middle name. Although Mayweather fought Castillo immediately following their first fight, a rematch which he won, you cannot take away from the fact that the style gave him the most fits. Equally challenged, was Hatton in his attempt at the WBA Welterweight title. Hatton, moving up for the first time, fought Luis Collazo for the WBA title, and Collazo used his slick boxing skills to provide a night of fits for the Manchurian slugger. Collazo doesn’t have near the talent, ring smarts, or speed that Mayweather possesses, which could make for a long night come Saturday.

Floyd is well known as the number one pound for pound fighter in the sport today, with Ricky Hatton trailing at number 8. Mayweather will undoubtedly bring his best on Saturday night, but the question that arises is how he will deal with the pressure. Money May has dealt with pressure fighters in the past, among them are Diego Corrales, Jesus Chavez, Jose Luis Castillo, and to an extent, Carlos Baldomir. He was able to deal with all of them successfully and in some instances, with a hurt hand. With all due respect to this list of ex-champions, none possessed the kind of psychopathic, forward moving pressure that Hatton is capable of sustaining over the full twelve rounds. None of these champions have the foot speed or the overall strength that Hatton brings. What if Mayweather does injure a hand on Saturday night? Will he be able to keep Hatton at bay? Mayweather has never had his body tested the way that Hatton is intending to do on Saturday night. If Hatton is successful with his pressure, we will see how prepared Mayweather is for the punishment that could follow. Just as there is not a day without night, the same is true of Hatton’s susceptibilities.

Hatton will face aspects of the boxing game that he has never faced, and arguably can only face when facing the Pretty Boy. Hatton has only dealt with one fighter with better speed than his own and he did not fare well against Collazo. Regardless of what his coach Billy Graham has stated as a problem in dropping weight too fast, it is clear that Hatton did not like the speedy hands, and slick angles that Collazo employed. The biggest test on Saturday night will not be dealing with Mayweather’s punching power. He hasn’t had real knockout power since he was at super feather weight, not counting his TKO victories. His last KO was in 1999 against Justin Juuko. Hatton’s biggest problem is going to be the ever moving angles that Mayweather operates by. Mayweather’s left shoulder roll, coupled with his counter attacking straight right hand, is going to prove very difficult considering he fights from a very tight angle and rarely squares up with his opponent. Mix into this recipe the best speed at this weight, and you’ve got the making for a very tough cookie.

With all of these contrasting styles and contrasting dangers that each fighter faces, there is one component of this fight that has been overlooked by most in the media today. Heart. We often hear of heart when conversing about boxing matches, but for whatever reason it has not been addressed much for this bout. It could’ve been overlooked by assuming that fighters at this level of the sport became Champions because they had it, or at least enough of it. What drives the heart of a fighter? Beyond the physical attributes of each fighter, and beyond the motivations of belts and money, hunger is one of the most provoking of them all. Hunger to be the best, hunger to beat the best, and hunger to do what no one else says you can do can drive the A list fighters to A+ status. Nay sayers have been in Ricky’s ear since he faced Kostya Tszyu, I know because I was one of them. No one gave Hatton a remote chance of beating Tszyu. He not only beat him, he made Kostya do something that few in the sport have ever fallen victim to, he made him quit on his stool. “No Mas.” After watching 24/7, and listening to him speak it is obvious that he is hungry to do what no one is saying he can do. This will be the defining aspect of the fight. Watch the 24/7 episodes again with that in mind and judge for yourself. Hatton has heart, and it is abundant with his belief and motivation to beat Mayweather. One thing comes to mind after having listened to both fighters…

… for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45
 

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12-7-2007