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Jones vs. Tarver
- Thread starter Gillian
- Start date
I think RJJ will win, but agree that +550 is too high here to not take a shot on Tarver. He came close in 1st fight, but RJJ will be better prepared in this bout. Nice play at a good number Gil . If it doesnt get there, hopefully you will get ur moneys worth in excitement. Tarver is a game fighter who IMO would beat Hopkins if Bernard was ever dumb enough to step up..
+550 is a good price. wsex has a good price on Pinto as well.
http://www.wsex.com/menu/boxing_props.html
http://www.wsex.com/menu/boxing_props.html
Hatton Looking to Hammer Pinto
for WBO Interim Belt
By Curtis McCormick
March 29, 2004; Undefeated British sensation and longtime WBU champion Ricky "Hitman" Hatton steps up to major title contention for the first time as he meets dangerous Brazilian bomber Kelson Pinto for the WBO Interim Junior Welterweight title this Saturday night at a packed Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. This truly huge Sports Network card will also feature WBC Interim champion Sharmba Mitchell against top challenger Mike "No Joke" Stewart as well as British champions Michael Gomez and David Barnes and top prospects Steven Bell and Eric Teymour. Sky TV airs the action live in Britain on Sky Sports One starting at 8PM GMT while Showtime broadcasts via tape delay in the US on its popular program "ShoBox" beginning at 11PM ET/PT. Boxingtalk.com had the good fortune to speak with Ricky as well as his trainer Billy Graham and promoter Frank Warren. You won't want to miss this in-depth look at the Manchester icon's potentially most difficult fight to date and a glimpse into what the future may hold so, read on and see why Boxingtalk remains the boxing site world leader that other media outlets continue to follow.
Ricky "Hitman" Hatton has rolled through thirty four opponents without a loss, twenty five within the distance, during his rise to the top ten of boxing's most exciting and likely most difficult division. In two of his three most recent fights Hatton vanquished a faded but still dangerous former champion in "Cool" Vince Phillips and a hard as nails contender, Ben "Wonder" Tackie who had taken the top two men of the division the full twelve round distance in his prior outings. While critics have leveled charges of Phillips being old and Tackie on the downside of his career, the same cannot be said of upcoming opponent Kelson Pinto.
The lanky Brazilian has earned the reputation of a big puncher in the professional ranks after an exceptional amateur career that saw two victories over the division's hottest young talent, Miguel Cotto, before losing in the Sydney Olympics to eventual Gold Medallist, Mohamed Abdulaev. Since turning pro in December of 2000, Pinto has stopped eighteen of twenty opponents, including eleven in the first round. While the only name of note on that record is that of mercurial journeyman Emmanuel Augustus, the unbeaten Pinto has earned the respect of boxing insiders but at this point is largely unknown to the average fight fan.
At five foot seven, Hatton will be looking up to the six foot Pinto but doesn't consider that to be a disadvantage. "I'm definitely excited about this fight," he said. "Obviously Pinto is a murderous puncher but as I've seen by watching many of his fights on tape, he's got much more to his game; good footwork, balance, left jab and all around boxing ability. His height isn't going to be a problem for me as I think the taller the better. I've always been the shorter guy right from day one and while Pinto will be taller than most of my previous opponents, I'm not really bothered by that. He is very good inside given how tall he is and I can see his punching power, but whether or not he'll have physical strength on the inside is another thing and that's where I hope to win this fight, on the inside"
While trainer Billy Graham is confident of the WBU titlist's chances against anyone in the division, he isn't exactly thrilled to be facing Pinto at this point in Hatton's career. "I think Pinto is more dangerous than most of the fighters in the division's top ten," he said. "I think there's people with bigger names than Pinto who are far less dangerous. I've always said that Ricky Hatton can beat any light welterweight in the world and I stand by that but as a trainer, Pinto would have been the last person I'd have been looking for us to fight right now. I think he's extremely talented and extremely dangerous."
"Other than Emmanuel Augustus, Pinto has fought a lot of people with limited experience and he's just blasted many of them away in the first round. I can see from watching the tapes, however, that the kid is genuine world class. Pinto pulls himself in and out of distance very well and is a better body puncher that you'd expect for a guy that tall. He's not scared to stand inside and he really knows how to look after himself. He's a real tricky operator and a real dangerman. I can see why Junior Witter's people pulled him out of his scheduled fight with Pinto, without a doubt."
A win against Pinto earns Hatton either a WBO title fight against current champion Zab Judah or should the Brooklyn slickster fail to return from his upcoming foray into the welterweight division, the WBO belt itself. Frank Warren, Hatton's promoter and the dominant force in British boxing, is concerned that the opponent's low name recognition among boxing fans won't get his fighter the credit he deserves should he win this potentially lethal interim title bout. "The problem with this fight is that I think we're in for a little bit of a hiding for nothing," he said. "Pinto is a guy with alot of qualities, he's an undefeated puncher who's also a good boxer with good ringcraft but unfortunately not alot of people know who he is in America. Without a doubt, though, this is Ricky's toughest fight but I believe he's the better fighter, that's obviously why we've taken the fight and I hope that judgement is correct. Ricky has to keep Pinto on the backfoot and can't let this guy dictate the fight. The thing about Ricky is that he's a good aggressive fighter and I'm confident he'll do the job."
Sharmba Mitchell, top contender to recognized divisional kingpin Kostya Tszyu, will also be on the Manchester fight card, facing a determined foe in fellow American Mike "No Joke" Stewart. While Hatton wants a matchup with Mitchell, the man who many consider the best pure boxer at 140lbs, he isn't about to let the southpaw's presence on the bill lessen his focus from the job at hand. "It's obvious why Sharmba Mitchell is fighting in Manchester as hopefully a fight between us will be secured down the line," he said. "But with Kelson Pinto being as good as he is, I'd be a fool to pay any interest to Mitchell's fight at the minute. I just want to get my fight out of the way so I can move up to the next step."
From where Hatton is lodged solidly in the top ten junior welterweight rankings, that next step up can only mean a bigger fight with a bigger named opponent. Both fans and critics alike have been looking for "The Hitman" to face a top American opponent and Frank Warren plans on fulfilling those expectations. "Showtime is really pushing for a fight with Mitchell but I the fights I wish were happening now for Ricky Hatton are against Paul Spadafora and Arturo Gatti. Those are the fights I'd like right now because I fancy Ricky against either guy. Mitchell would be a tough fight, there's no doubt about that but there are some good matchups for Ricky out there before we even get to that. Ricky's got to get through this fight with Pinto first and he's got his hands full because it's not an easy job."
Warren has been criticized for not arranging fights in the US against top competition thus far during Hatton's thirty four bout career but expect that to change as many of America's best are likely unwilling to fight in Manchester, despite the financial windfalls involved. "Ricky is going to have to fight in the states and we don't have a problem with that," said Europe's biggest promoter. "The problem I have as a promoter is giving up the gate that we generate from having fifteen to twenty thousand people coming to watch Ricky fight at the MEN in Manchester. That's quite a bit of a thing to give up and who over there is going to draw a gate like that? I can't think of many fighters that do. The Gatti - Ward fights were wars and what we in England call good bangups, and I may be corrected about this, but I don't believe any of the Gatti - Ward fights drew twenty thousand people."
"I think that Ricky showed that he can actually box a bit against Tackie and Gatti, to be fair, showed that he can adapt as well in his last few fights. With all due respect to Micky Ward, I do think Ricky has a bit more of an arsenal and is obviously a younger, fresher fighter in regards to fighting Gatti. Ricky against Spadafora would be a cracking fight as you don't have to go looking for Spadafora and he wouldn't have to look for Ricky. That's one that could be put on in a telephone booth. I look for the fights that will bring out the best in Ricky and the two I believe will do that are against Spadafora and Gatti."
Billy Graham has trained British, Commonwealth, European and World champions during his career and feels that Hatton will continue to leap all hurdles placed in front of him. "Ricky is in a murderous division and I think that without a shadow of a doubt Pinto is one of the best in the weight class," he said. "People who say that Pinto hasn't fought anyone forget that he was a world class amateur who beat Miguel Cotto twice, but Ricky is the best ten stone (140lbs) fighter in the world as far as I'm concerned."
"I hope we get to prove it this year against the big names and I'd much rather this fight was against Arturo Gatti at the MEN on Saturday night. We hope that Gatti keeps winning because everybody raves about him and who couldn't? We have great admiration for Arturo Gatti and I think the main thing about him is his courage, but trust me Ricky Hatton has plenty of courage and he'll fight anybody. I think he beats Gatti and it's a fight we've wanted for a long time. I hope everyone tunes into watch this one against Pinto. The MEN is going to be packed because whether this fight is long or short, it's going to be very dramatic."
The long awaited fights for Ricky Hatton in America are an additional motivating force to arguably the most exciting fighter Britain has produced in quite some time, but the Mancunian is well aware that unless he defeats Pinto, the projected American campaign and therefore his hopes and dreams will likely never be realized. "I think against Ben Tackie I showed that I can box and do things differently when confronted with different styles," he said. "I don't think I need to spell out what my intentions are against Kelson Pinto. There certainly won't be anything poetic about my approach (laughs) and that's probably the best way to describe it as it's not going to be very pleasant. In a way Pinto reminds me of a young Tommy Hearns, really tall, a big right hand puncher, good left jab and can punch to the body as well. I think this could be a mini Thomas Hearns - Marvin Hagler where I go through a few hairy scary moments but I eventually get him and I'm very confident about getting him"
"The best compliment I can give Pinto is saying that he's going to be my toughest opponent yet and considering some of the guys I've beaten, I'd like to think that's ever the compliment. Pinto has had twenty contests but I don't feel he's had a fight yet. I don't feel he's really had his chin proved, had to go into the trenches, or been in a fight where he's seriously been challenged. I think these are the types of questions I've answered and he hasn't had to yet because of the level he's been fighting at. He may have to answer all those questions in one night. I'm really looking forward to this fight against a very, very dangerous opponent and that makes me want to succeed even more."
for WBO Interim Belt
By Curtis McCormick
March 29, 2004; Undefeated British sensation and longtime WBU champion Ricky "Hitman" Hatton steps up to major title contention for the first time as he meets dangerous Brazilian bomber Kelson Pinto for the WBO Interim Junior Welterweight title this Saturday night at a packed Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. This truly huge Sports Network card will also feature WBC Interim champion Sharmba Mitchell against top challenger Mike "No Joke" Stewart as well as British champions Michael Gomez and David Barnes and top prospects Steven Bell and Eric Teymour. Sky TV airs the action live in Britain on Sky Sports One starting at 8PM GMT while Showtime broadcasts via tape delay in the US on its popular program "ShoBox" beginning at 11PM ET/PT. Boxingtalk.com had the good fortune to speak with Ricky as well as his trainer Billy Graham and promoter Frank Warren. You won't want to miss this in-depth look at the Manchester icon's potentially most difficult fight to date and a glimpse into what the future may hold so, read on and see why Boxingtalk remains the boxing site world leader that other media outlets continue to follow.
Ricky "Hitman" Hatton has rolled through thirty four opponents without a loss, twenty five within the distance, during his rise to the top ten of boxing's most exciting and likely most difficult division. In two of his three most recent fights Hatton vanquished a faded but still dangerous former champion in "Cool" Vince Phillips and a hard as nails contender, Ben "Wonder" Tackie who had taken the top two men of the division the full twelve round distance in his prior outings. While critics have leveled charges of Phillips being old and Tackie on the downside of his career, the same cannot be said of upcoming opponent Kelson Pinto.
The lanky Brazilian has earned the reputation of a big puncher in the professional ranks after an exceptional amateur career that saw two victories over the division's hottest young talent, Miguel Cotto, before losing in the Sydney Olympics to eventual Gold Medallist, Mohamed Abdulaev. Since turning pro in December of 2000, Pinto has stopped eighteen of twenty opponents, including eleven in the first round. While the only name of note on that record is that of mercurial journeyman Emmanuel Augustus, the unbeaten Pinto has earned the respect of boxing insiders but at this point is largely unknown to the average fight fan.
At five foot seven, Hatton will be looking up to the six foot Pinto but doesn't consider that to be a disadvantage. "I'm definitely excited about this fight," he said. "Obviously Pinto is a murderous puncher but as I've seen by watching many of his fights on tape, he's got much more to his game; good footwork, balance, left jab and all around boxing ability. His height isn't going to be a problem for me as I think the taller the better. I've always been the shorter guy right from day one and while Pinto will be taller than most of my previous opponents, I'm not really bothered by that. He is very good inside given how tall he is and I can see his punching power, but whether or not he'll have physical strength on the inside is another thing and that's where I hope to win this fight, on the inside"
While trainer Billy Graham is confident of the WBU titlist's chances against anyone in the division, he isn't exactly thrilled to be facing Pinto at this point in Hatton's career. "I think Pinto is more dangerous than most of the fighters in the division's top ten," he said. "I think there's people with bigger names than Pinto who are far less dangerous. I've always said that Ricky Hatton can beat any light welterweight in the world and I stand by that but as a trainer, Pinto would have been the last person I'd have been looking for us to fight right now. I think he's extremely talented and extremely dangerous."
"Other than Emmanuel Augustus, Pinto has fought a lot of people with limited experience and he's just blasted many of them away in the first round. I can see from watching the tapes, however, that the kid is genuine world class. Pinto pulls himself in and out of distance very well and is a better body puncher that you'd expect for a guy that tall. He's not scared to stand inside and he really knows how to look after himself. He's a real tricky operator and a real dangerman. I can see why Junior Witter's people pulled him out of his scheduled fight with Pinto, without a doubt."
A win against Pinto earns Hatton either a WBO title fight against current champion Zab Judah or should the Brooklyn slickster fail to return from his upcoming foray into the welterweight division, the WBO belt itself. Frank Warren, Hatton's promoter and the dominant force in British boxing, is concerned that the opponent's low name recognition among boxing fans won't get his fighter the credit he deserves should he win this potentially lethal interim title bout. "The problem with this fight is that I think we're in for a little bit of a hiding for nothing," he said. "Pinto is a guy with alot of qualities, he's an undefeated puncher who's also a good boxer with good ringcraft but unfortunately not alot of people know who he is in America. Without a doubt, though, this is Ricky's toughest fight but I believe he's the better fighter, that's obviously why we've taken the fight and I hope that judgement is correct. Ricky has to keep Pinto on the backfoot and can't let this guy dictate the fight. The thing about Ricky is that he's a good aggressive fighter and I'm confident he'll do the job."
Sharmba Mitchell, top contender to recognized divisional kingpin Kostya Tszyu, will also be on the Manchester fight card, facing a determined foe in fellow American Mike "No Joke" Stewart. While Hatton wants a matchup with Mitchell, the man who many consider the best pure boxer at 140lbs, he isn't about to let the southpaw's presence on the bill lessen his focus from the job at hand. "It's obvious why Sharmba Mitchell is fighting in Manchester as hopefully a fight between us will be secured down the line," he said. "But with Kelson Pinto being as good as he is, I'd be a fool to pay any interest to Mitchell's fight at the minute. I just want to get my fight out of the way so I can move up to the next step."
From where Hatton is lodged solidly in the top ten junior welterweight rankings, that next step up can only mean a bigger fight with a bigger named opponent. Both fans and critics alike have been looking for "The Hitman" to face a top American opponent and Frank Warren plans on fulfilling those expectations. "Showtime is really pushing for a fight with Mitchell but I the fights I wish were happening now for Ricky Hatton are against Paul Spadafora and Arturo Gatti. Those are the fights I'd like right now because I fancy Ricky against either guy. Mitchell would be a tough fight, there's no doubt about that but there are some good matchups for Ricky out there before we even get to that. Ricky's got to get through this fight with Pinto first and he's got his hands full because it's not an easy job."
Warren has been criticized for not arranging fights in the US against top competition thus far during Hatton's thirty four bout career but expect that to change as many of America's best are likely unwilling to fight in Manchester, despite the financial windfalls involved. "Ricky is going to have to fight in the states and we don't have a problem with that," said Europe's biggest promoter. "The problem I have as a promoter is giving up the gate that we generate from having fifteen to twenty thousand people coming to watch Ricky fight at the MEN in Manchester. That's quite a bit of a thing to give up and who over there is going to draw a gate like that? I can't think of many fighters that do. The Gatti - Ward fights were wars and what we in England call good bangups, and I may be corrected about this, but I don't believe any of the Gatti - Ward fights drew twenty thousand people."
"I think that Ricky showed that he can actually box a bit against Tackie and Gatti, to be fair, showed that he can adapt as well in his last few fights. With all due respect to Micky Ward, I do think Ricky has a bit more of an arsenal and is obviously a younger, fresher fighter in regards to fighting Gatti. Ricky against Spadafora would be a cracking fight as you don't have to go looking for Spadafora and he wouldn't have to look for Ricky. That's one that could be put on in a telephone booth. I look for the fights that will bring out the best in Ricky and the two I believe will do that are against Spadafora and Gatti."
Billy Graham has trained British, Commonwealth, European and World champions during his career and feels that Hatton will continue to leap all hurdles placed in front of him. "Ricky is in a murderous division and I think that without a shadow of a doubt Pinto is one of the best in the weight class," he said. "People who say that Pinto hasn't fought anyone forget that he was a world class amateur who beat Miguel Cotto twice, but Ricky is the best ten stone (140lbs) fighter in the world as far as I'm concerned."
"I hope we get to prove it this year against the big names and I'd much rather this fight was against Arturo Gatti at the MEN on Saturday night. We hope that Gatti keeps winning because everybody raves about him and who couldn't? We have great admiration for Arturo Gatti and I think the main thing about him is his courage, but trust me Ricky Hatton has plenty of courage and he'll fight anybody. I think he beats Gatti and it's a fight we've wanted for a long time. I hope everyone tunes into watch this one against Pinto. The MEN is going to be packed because whether this fight is long or short, it's going to be very dramatic."
The long awaited fights for Ricky Hatton in America are an additional motivating force to arguably the most exciting fighter Britain has produced in quite some time, but the Mancunian is well aware that unless he defeats Pinto, the projected American campaign and therefore his hopes and dreams will likely never be realized. "I think against Ben Tackie I showed that I can box and do things differently when confronted with different styles," he said. "I don't think I need to spell out what my intentions are against Kelson Pinto. There certainly won't be anything poetic about my approach (laughs) and that's probably the best way to describe it as it's not going to be very pleasant. In a way Pinto reminds me of a young Tommy Hearns, really tall, a big right hand puncher, good left jab and can punch to the body as well. I think this could be a mini Thomas Hearns - Marvin Hagler where I go through a few hairy scary moments but I eventually get him and I'm very confident about getting him"
"The best compliment I can give Pinto is saying that he's going to be my toughest opponent yet and considering some of the guys I've beaten, I'd like to think that's ever the compliment. Pinto has had twenty contests but I don't feel he's had a fight yet. I don't feel he's really had his chin proved, had to go into the trenches, or been in a fight where he's seriously been challenged. I think these are the types of questions I've answered and he hasn't had to yet because of the level he's been fighting at. He may have to answer all those questions in one night. I'm really looking forward to this fight against a very, very dangerous opponent and that makes me want to succeed even more."
ricky will have to work his way inside that height and reach advantage....and pinto can hurt you....
this is not,imo,the smartest managerial decision i`ve ever seen...it IS a very dangerous fight.....all it takes is one slashing shot to lay ricky open like klitschko in the lewis fight...
can ricky walk through pinto?.....
do they see something in pinto that makes them think ricky has the advantage?...hatton`s people aren`t stupid...i think...
i,for one,think ricky isn`t a huge puncher.......he doesn`t have what i`d call "one-punch" k.o. power....but,he`s a brutal body puncher...
he has a load of heart...a tremendous work rate to go along with excellent endurance....can break guys down..
but,pinto is a bit of a ?....is this guy over-rated?....who knows...if you go by his amateur record and what he`s done as a pro,it`s hard to say the guy isn`t a big-time risk...2 wins over cotto in the amateurs....this is one of the few times you`ll see a contender fighting a very risky fight without a title on the line.....
it makes no sense....except for the fans...
if hatton wins,he should get a tremendous boost....he will have earned it...he didn`t have to take an opponent that is dangerous and has everything to gain...
kudos to hatton...if i lose my small +525 bet on pinto,i won`t feel bad....i`ll be very happy that a tough,courageous guy like hatton gets a big step up...truthfully,he doesn`t need a win vs a monster prospect......the guy`s gonna fight for a championship regardless of whether he takes a tough fight like this...
he reminds me of tough barry mcguigan when he beat a very,very,very tough eusebio pedrosa to take the title...
ricky`s not the most talented guy in the division...but he`s fearless....and tough....
kudo`s for taking this fight....if he was my guy,he wouldn`t be fighting pinto...i`d take the gatti fight......
[This message was edited by sphincter on March 29, 2004 at 11:56 PM.]
[This message was edited by sphincter on March 30, 2004 at 12:02 AM.]
this is not,imo,the smartest managerial decision i`ve ever seen...it IS a very dangerous fight.....all it takes is one slashing shot to lay ricky open like klitschko in the lewis fight...
can ricky walk through pinto?.....
do they see something in pinto that makes them think ricky has the advantage?...hatton`s people aren`t stupid...i think...
i,for one,think ricky isn`t a huge puncher.......he doesn`t have what i`d call "one-punch" k.o. power....but,he`s a brutal body puncher...
he has a load of heart...a tremendous work rate to go along with excellent endurance....can break guys down..
but,pinto is a bit of a ?....is this guy over-rated?....who knows...if you go by his amateur record and what he`s done as a pro,it`s hard to say the guy isn`t a big-time risk...2 wins over cotto in the amateurs....this is one of the few times you`ll see a contender fighting a very risky fight without a title on the line.....
it makes no sense....except for the fans...
if hatton wins,he should get a tremendous boost....he will have earned it...he didn`t have to take an opponent that is dangerous and has everything to gain...
kudos to hatton...if i lose my small +525 bet on pinto,i won`t feel bad....i`ll be very happy that a tough,courageous guy like hatton gets a big step up...truthfully,he doesn`t need a win vs a monster prospect......the guy`s gonna fight for a championship regardless of whether he takes a tough fight like this...
he reminds me of tough barry mcguigan when he beat a very,very,very tough eusebio pedrosa to take the title...
ricky`s not the most talented guy in the division...but he`s fearless....and tough....
kudo`s for taking this fight....if he was my guy,he wouldn`t be fighting pinto...i`d take the gatti fight......
[This message was edited by sphincter on March 29, 2004 at 11:56 PM.]
[This message was edited by sphincter on March 30, 2004 at 12:02 AM.]
