It's going to be a loooooooooonnnnnnnngggggg night for Hatton and his fans. Also, despite the hype and '24/7' don't be surprised and angry if this is another defensive fight from PbF and another boring PPV where he expertly outpoints his opponent.

The boring fight thing is a possibility..I really hope this isn't the case.

The boring fight thing is a possibility..I really hope this isn't the case.

You do know he's fighting Floyd Mayweather right? Unless they put some concrete in his sneakers I don't see Floyd staying in one place long enough for Hatton to do any damage. Basically the point of this fight is to see how much Mayweather can run and touch Hatton with his glove. I still think Mayweather is smart to use this type of strategy, why chance getting hurt, they payday is the same whether it's a KO or a decision.

You do know he's fighting Floyd Mayweather right? Unless they put some concrete in his sneakers I don't see Floyd staying in one place long enough for Hatton to do any damage. Basically the point of this fight is to see how much Mayweather can run and touch Hatton with his glove. I still think Mayweather is smart to use this type of strategy, why chance getting hurt, they payday is the same whether it's a KO or a decision.

Well, I'm hoping Hatton can cut off the ring on him here and there, just long ehough to deliver some brutal body shots. Over the course of the fight, maybe they will accumulate and slow Mayweather down.

Boring? bah humbug....it'll be anything but that. Although Floyd's taking his training seriously, I don't think he's taking Hatton very seriously at all. That's not a good thing with a guy like Ricky.

Hatton will close him down eventually and open up, then it's lights out Mayweather.

I hope Hatton murders that loudmouth punk. I've got to say, though - I'm not that optimistic about it.

Well, I'm hoping Hatton can cut off the ring on him here and there, just long ehough to deliver some brutal body shots. Over the course of the fight, maybe they will accumulate and slow Mayweather down.


Has Mayweather ever actually had to ride those kinds of shots before?

no one has, except for when coto gets warmed up on someone, but that's not all the rounds, like ricky...he's a singular fighter, at that weight.

You can't spar someone to get ready for those body shots....with that speed. That factor has kept Floyd in the game, how do you spar to prepare for the slickest guy out there? (exept Calzaghe).....but Floyd has a horrible ass wuppin coming, I'm happy to pay for the right to see it.

You do know he's fighting Floyd Mayweather right? Unless they put some concrete in his sneakers I don't see Floyd staying in one place long enough for Hatton to do any damage.

Yup. There is also the possibility that PbF will voluntarily back himself into the ropes and do that in-the-pocket-pot-shot-the-guy-throwing-hooks-to-the-body thing that he does (see Mayweather v. De La Hoya). Of course, to be fair Hatton loves putting guys on the ropes and pressuring them...still I don't think he'll be able to hurt Floyd, at least not in the way that I hope he can.

Night before the fight. My opinion has not changed.

Hatton, TKO in the late rounds. 9th or 10th.

He will push Mayweather into the ropes and punish him.

Anyone noticed that this fight seems to resemble ROCKY 1 an awfull lot, a huge amount really. Except Hatton is playing a more experienced rocky at this point.

11-4 odds on Hatton becoming BBC sports personality of the year, if he wins the fight he WILL win it, if he loses the fight in spectacular fashion he will win it, if its a really good close fight or draw he will win it.

Hatton is the underdog for a reason, but stylistically I think he has a lot of chance in this fight.

When Oscar pushed Mayweather into the ropes and went to the body, he won rounds. Unfortunately, he didn't stick to doing that consistently, and he got tired in the latter rounds. Hatton goes to the body very consistently, and he doesn't get tired. What he does do, though, is cut. I fear that we'll see both guys landing on each other, with Hatton hurting Floyd but not enough to put him out, and eventually get stopped on cuts.

I will be rooting for Hatton, though. I love hard-nosed come-forward body-punchers.

I love hard-nosed come-forward body-punchers.

Me too..that's why I am geared up for this one.
Cutting the ring off on Mayweather and trying to punish him along the ropes is not an easy task. I mean, he may be an ass, but PbF is pretty slick..Hatton has his work cut out for him that's for sure.

Hatton, round 10 by Leever punches. It's interesting a lot of boxing noteables have picked Hatton to win, including Tzu, and Hopkins.

both are great fighters, but Hatton is definitely the underdog in this fight for a reason.

A lot of people seem to think that Hatton's relentless pressure will wear Floyd down, but to be honest, I've never seen Floyd remotely flustered or gassed. Even when fighting pressure fighters(Jesus Chavez, JL Castillo), he always looks in control and able to stick to his game plan, even when things aren't going his way(think JL Castillo I). He's always in tremendous shape, even when he's fighting less than stellar competition(henry bruseles comes to mind). He may talk a lot of trash, but he always comes into the ring 100% prepared(remember the buildup to the Gatti fight?). Now i'm not saying Gatti=Hatton, but Mayweather trained ridiculously hard for Gatti, do you think he'd take Hatton, who's a much better fighter, lightly?

As for Floyd not being able to find the right sparring, I think Floyd's choice of sparring partners is pretty topnotch. Floyd's using Carlos Baldomir(who is probably walking around/fighting like a middleweight/super middleweight right about now), and Lovemore N'dou(was a 140lb titleholder till he got outslicked by Malignaggi). Both guys aren't exactly like Hatton, but they share some similar characteristics with him. Carlos Baldomir is pretty ridiculously strong, though not nearly as fast as Hatton. If anything, he can emulate Hatton's strength. Lovemore N'dou is pretty fast, and a volume puncher type, which'll help Floyd deal somewhat with Hatton's style and speed. Also, these guys are giving him a workout. I've heard(not from a 100% confirmed legit source) that Baldomir even rocked Mayweather during their sparring sessions, which seems to indicate Mayweather's actually standing in there with him and getting some work in, rather than pecking and dancing away like his actual fight with Baldomir.

As for Hatton, he's a great fighter who's always managed to bring it when he steps up in competition(Kostya Tzuyu comes to mind, less so for JL Castillo since he looked kind of shot when they fought). He's also most likely stronger than Floyd. But if you remember when he fought for the WBA welterweight belt against Louie Collazo, he looked gassed and slow in the championship rounds, and looked like he was ready to fall at the end of the 12th as a result of a Collazo left hand. If anything, I might question Hatton's conditioning at Welterweight, rather than Floyd's. Louie Collazo also isn't much of a puncher. And Floyd hits harder than most people think(if he actually decides to sit down on his punches a la Zab Judah/Sharmba Mitchell fight). With all the talk about Hatton's tremendous punching power, remember that Floyd has a little pop too.

That being said, Hatton's style does match up well with Floyd(Pressure/volume fighter vs. a boxer), and I wouldn't be surprised if it is a tough close fight. It won't be a blowout, but it should be a clear decision for Mayweather.

I don't think Hatton gets credit for being able to box, only slug....he's very technical..but more intense than most.